From Crain’s Chicago Business

Five U.S. House districts here likely to flip parties

Illinois has an unprecedented five districts among the top 25 nationally that are most likely to flip party control this fall. At least that’s what The National Journal and The Hotline say in a new House handicapping list out today.

The most likely to flip here is the 8th District in the northwest suburbs, where GOP incumbent Joe Walsh is trying to hold off Democratic nominee Tammy Duckworth.

“The cake is baked,” the piece says, noting Mr. Walsh’s repeated inflammatory comments. “(Duckworth) would have to address issues if Walsh didn’t keep sticking his foot in his mouth.”

Almost as endangered is GOP incumbent Bob Dold in the 10th District on the North Shore, seen as eighth most likely to change hands.

Mr. Dold has “a glimmer of hope” because he has a much bigger war chest than Democrat Brad Schneider, but survival will be tough if President Barack Obama gets 60 percent in the district this fall — and he could — the article says.

The other Illinois races at the top of the list are Democrat Cheri Bustos against Republican Rep. Bobby Schilling in western Illinois, 17th; GOP incumbent Judy Biggert against former Democratic Rep. Bill Foster in the western suburbs, 11th; and the downstate district that covers the eastern St. Louis suburbs, where Republican Jason Plummer is favored over Democrat Bill Enyart to snatch retiring Dem Jerry Costello’s seat.

Meanwhile, Chicago’s new legislative inspector general, Faisal Khan, will speak to the Chicago Area Public Affairs Group luncheon on Friday — his first public foray, to my knowledge.

Perhaps he can explain if the City Council really is serious about cleaning itself up. Tickets are available at capag.org.

And longtime City Hall and most recently Chicago Transit Authority spokeswoman Molly Sullivan has a new gig, handling similar chores for the Illinois Housing Development Authority.

Ms. Sullivan, the daughter of onetime mayoral press secretary Frank Sullivan, says she always has enjoyed working in the housing field.

Follow Greg on Twitter at @GregHinz.