Duckworth projected to beat Walsh in IL House race

Democrat Tammy Duckworth will unseat Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) in the race for the congressional seat representing Illinois' 8th district, according to voter projections by CNN.

With 53 percent of state precincts reporting as of 10:30 pm EST, Duckworth, a U.S. Army veteran who lost both of her legs while serving in Iraq eight years ago, led Walsh 56 percent to 44 percent. The Chicago Tribune reported that the race was one of several Democrats were relying on in their bid to end the GOP's House majority.

The race became personal during the summer, when Walsh accused Duckworth, who was Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from 2009 to 2011, of attempting to "muddy the water" by discussing her service, which prompted Duckworth to label him "an extremist loud mouth for the tea party."

Walsh now joins Richard Mourdock and Todd Akin as anti-abortion candidates to lose a congressional race this year; he was criticized for opposing abortion under any circumstances because, he said, "with modern technology and science, you can't find one instance" where a woman's life would be endangered by giving birth.

Duckworth over a bizarre attack involving her picking out a dress for this year's Democratic National Convention.

"Yes, I do sometimes look at the clothes that I wear," she said. "But for most of my adult life, I've worn one color — it's called camouflage."