Editorial boards at some of the state's largest papers have begun announcing their picks for Congress. The Beachwood Reporter's Steve Rhodes makes a good point when he says some of the choices will probably lead readers to check the front page to see if they've got the right paper

The Sun-Times, which describes the paper's editorial voice as "The Progressive Independent Conscience of the City," is backing Republican candidates in three out of the five most contentious congressional races it's weighed in on thus far. Meanwhile, the Tribune board is endorsing some liberal Democrats in three out of five of the state's most heated congressional contests. Following is a run-down (updated on 10/29):

6th District: The Tribune, Daily Herald, and Des Plaines Journal back Democrat Jill Morgenthaler, while the Sun-Times favors Republican incumbent Peter Roskam.

8th District: Both the Tribune and Sun-Times choose Democratic incumbent Melissa Bean over her Republican challenger Steve Greenberg.

10th District: The Tribune, Sun-Times, and Daily Herald favor Republican incumbent Mark Kirk over Democrat Dan Seals. The Des Plaines Journal supports Seals.

11th District: The Tribune and Sun-Times line up behind Republican Marty Ozinga over Democrat Debbie Halvorson and the Green Party's Jason Wallace. The SouthtownStar endorses Halvorson.

13th District: The Tribune, Sun-Times, Daily Herald endorse Republican incumbent Judy Biggert over Democrat Scott Harper and Green Party candidate Steve Alesch.

14th District: The Tribune, Sun-Times, and Daily Herald favor Democratic incumbent Bill Foster over Republican Jim Oberweis.

18th District: Tribune endorses Republican Aaron Schock over Democrat Colleen Callahan.

Rhodes sums up the lack of continuity between the Trib and Sun-Times this way:

In the end, it seems, institutional history and marketing labels don't account for much; both papers are similarly -- even drearily -- located on the political spectrum. Maybe we shouldn't be surprised by any of their endorsements anymore.