Protecting the congressional seat he won in a special election March 8 for the 14th district, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster defeated Republican candidate Jim Oberweis in Tuesday’s general election by a 57/43 margin.

“Together, we’ve run a fantastic campaign,” Foster said to his supporters and staff at the Long Island Sound Banquet Hall in Aurora.

The biggest applause of the night came when Foster announced Oberweis called him to concede.

Oberweis, who previously ran against Foster in March, after former U.S. Rep. and House Speaker Dennis Hastert resigned, could not be reached for direct comment, having left a campaign reception before the results were announced.

“I am proud of the campaign that we ran this fall,” Oberweis said in a press release on his campaign’s site. “We remained focused on the issues and gave voice to the deep concerns that many voters have with their government.”

Foster said he was in DeKalb earlier today, urging NIU students to vote.

“They’re wonderful,” Foster said of NIU students. “They’re interested in the future, and they’re not afraid of change.”

Foster campaign manager Mike Rendina credited DeKalb voters with helping Foster win by such a wide margin.

Foster said his office is currently working on an initiative to implement open-source textbooks, which would make textbooks available free for download.

Maggie Brown and Marie Mitchell of Aurora, came to Foster’s event not only “to support Bill Foster,” but to “watch history being made” as they glanced at two big-screen TVs in the banquet hall showing results pour in for the presidential race.

“We’ve been waiting a long time,” said Aurora resident Julio DeLeon, referring to President George W. Bush’s presidency. “We’re happy something better’s coming.”