I was gonna ask Muon, or really any IL poster, is turnout usually that low in CD8? Seems like the average was about 200K votes per CD, but CD8 was just 150K. CD4 was even lower, but that's par for the course.
It shouldn't be that comparatively low, but muon would know more about it than me. It's a largely-white, suburban district (~70%). Contrast with some of the minority-heavy districts in the city where we would expect lower turnout. Pretty spectacular that Rauner was able to win two D+8s and a D+7 by double digits, though.
As for general comments, those suburban numbers from 2010-2014 really do tell the story. ILGOP got right the second time what they should have the first - nominate someone that will appeal in the suburbs. Downstate will go your way anyway nowadays. Rauner killed in in these suburban districts.
It's not minority districts, but more specifically Latino districts and other areas with large immigrant populations that have low vote totals. IL-1,2 and 7 are all 50% black and get a reasonable vote total. IL-4 is the VRA Latino district and has the lowest vote total. IL-11 has heavily Latino Aurora and has the third lowest vote total. IL-8 was drawn to take in a number of Latino population centers including Elgin, Carpentersville (far NW in the map), Streamwood, Addison and Bensenville. There are also a number of smaller minority and immigrant pockets gerrymandered into the district.
The current Census estimates put IL-8 at 28% Latino, 12% Asian, and 5% Black, with about 28% foreign born. By comparison IL-11 is about 27% Latino, 11% Black, and 7% Asian, but more importantly only 19% foreign born so it has a higher citizen voting population. For reference CD-4 is 70% Latino and 35% foreign born.
