Having an open race for U.S. Senate would normally be a great opportunity for the Illinois Democratic candidates.

But with the Republicans having only a 51-48 majority in the Senate, the Illinois race could be a key race in deciding who has majority control in the Senate.

Some speculate that incumbents have a better chance at winning than challengers because of name recognition and familiarity.

But with no incumbent running, the Illinois Democrats theoretically have as good of a chance of winning the election as the Republicans.

Here is an overview of the eight Democrats who have entered the primary.

Gery Chico

The former president of Chicago Public Schools, Chico hopes to strengthen the education system and economy.

"We need an economy that allows our graduates to be optimistic about getting a job," he said.

Chico leads all Senate candidates so far with $2.8 million raised, and if elected, he would be the first Latino elected to the Senate in more than 30 years.

Blair Hull

A resident of Chicago, Hull has been particularly vocal about his opposition to President George W. Bush, even creating an anti-Bush Web site.

Spokesman Jim O'Connor said Hull is a unique candidate because of his working-class background and the fact that he is not a career politician.

Voters usually have to choose between candidates who are good politicians but might not work in the best interest of the public, O'Connor said.

Hull worked on the assembly line of a cannery factory after finishing high school and founded the Hull Trading Co. which grew into a successful business.

Dan Hynes

The state comptroller, Hynes is the only candidate from either party to have won a statewide election.

Hynes said on his Web site he is running for Senate because he believes the federal government is on the wrong track, just as Illinois was in the recent past.

Spokeswoman Chris Mather said the campaign has started showing television ads downstate.

Hynes was elected as comptroller in 1998 and was re-elected in 2002.

Estella Johnson-Hunt

A public school teacher from the southwest Chicago suburb Evergreen Park, Johnson-Hunt is running to fight against what her Web site calls the "moral decay" of society and loss of religion in schools.

During her campaign kickoff speech, she said she opposed the proposal to eliminate the words "under God" from the pledge of allegiance and felt the elimination of religion from public schools has led to a loss of morals.

Johnson-Hunt briefly ran for the Democratic nomination during the last election

Barack Obama

An Illinois state senator from the 13th District, Chicago, Obama is a strong supporter of the black community.

Spokeswoman Audra Wilson said his campaign is reminiscent of Harold Washington, describing it as a movement to mobilize and revitalize the black community.

Washington was the first black mayor of Chicago and was later a state representative and senator.

Unlike some of the other candidates, Obama's campaign focuses more on personal appearances than campaign ads, Wilson said.

"You have to do more than just run ads," WIlson said, adding that by the time the campaign starts televising ads, the public will already be familiar with Obama because of the public appearances.

Matt O'Shea

The mayor of downstate Metamora, O'Shea is a former member of the Republican Party but he said he left when the party turned away middle class America.

According to his Web site, he wants to increase national security without curtailing civil rights and create more jobs, more cooperation and understanding between educational administration and teachers.

Nancy Skinner

A Chicago talk show personality on both radio and television, Skinner's liberal views led to her decision to run.

Spokeswoman Carol Kay said one of Skinner's major concerns is media conglomerations, and that her campaign strategy is to get in front of as many people as she can.

Besides her broadcast career, she is a former environmental entrepreneur and has experience in improv comedy.

Joyce Washington

A health care executive and nurse from Chicago, Washington is running in order to help families with everyday problems, such as unemployment, lack of education and child care, according to her Web site.

Washington was president and CEO of HCA Riveredge and Chicago Lakeshore Hospitals, where she helped with the creation of an outpatient substance abuse center and an adolescent treatment unit.

With her medical background, she also wants to make health care more affordable and accessible.

Charles Menchaca contributed to this report.