Republican Congressman Mark Kirk is leading Democrat Dan Seals in a closely watched rematch in northern Illinois.

Early results show Kirk with 56 percent of the vote compared to 44 percent for Seals with 18 percent of precincts reporting.

The contest is one of Illinois’ marquee races. Seals is a business consultant who portrayed himself as an agent of change like fellow Democrat Barack Obama, and Kirk played up his contributions to the district.

Kirk and Seals first dueled in 2006. After comfortable margins in elections against other challengers, Kirk beat Seals then with only 53 percent of the vote.

Illinois’ 10th Congressional District is a mix of wealthy and working-class communities that border Lake Michigan and stretches north of Chicago to almost Wisconsin.