Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), left, and Republican challenger Jack Vrett, right. [Campaign websites]  

Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) first joined the House in 2009, riding former President Barack Obama’s coattails into office. Two years later, the conservative Tea Party movement swept him out of office before he was reelected in 2018 during the Democrats’ blue wave.

Now he is working to withstand a rumored red wave and a challenge from Republican Jack Vrett of Arlington Heights.