The old 5th is only slightly less Democratic than its predecessor; Obama won the district in 2008 with 70% (down three points from the old 5th), and 2010 Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias carried it with 55% of the vote. No Democrat filed to run against him. Only one Republican filed, self-employed businessman Dan Schmitt.
The 5th Congressional District has become slightly less Democratic since its previous representative. In 2008, Barack Obama won the district with 70%, a decrease of three points from the previous election.  In 2010, Democrat Alexi Giannoulias received 55% of the vote in the same district. No other Democrats ran against him, and only one Republican candidate, Dan Schmitt, filed to run.