There’s nothing like an open Senate or congressional seat to bring out the candidates. Accompanying those crowded fields are loads of negative advertising.
Across Chicagoland, we’re seeing that happen as hopefuls vie for political plums. Most of that action is on the Democratic side and the sniping is getting downright churlish as we near the March 17 primary elections.
As journalist and author Allen Drury once observed, “Few people can hate one another with more cordial enthusiasm than a bunch of Democrats.” In the early days of the runup to voting on St. Patrick’s Day, there was sort of a collegial tone to debates and appearances among candidates seeking to move up the Illinois political ladder.
Prior to this month, they had a common enemy: President Donald Trump and his policies, which are anathema in this strongly blue state. That lasted for a while, and now they are turning on each other in several high-stakes primary contests.
Going at it hammer and tongs are 10 candidates who want to replace a pair of retiring octogenarian Democrats, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and 9th Congressional District Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston.
In the Senate race, charges and counter-charges have escalated between U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and Robin Kelly of South Suburban Lynwood, and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton over who does or doesn’t want to disband the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, and who has or hasn’t taken funds from Super PACs. They’ve also accused fellow candidates in a slew of expensive television campaign ads of accepting money from MAGA donors and not standing up to the Trump administration.
It’s only going to get muddier before the primary. Seldom do this many federal seats become available in an election year.
Indeed, it is historic to have this many political openings in the state at the federal level. Which is why the races are brimming with candidates.
Four congressional districts — the 8th, 2nd, 7th, and 9th — have open races without incumbents on the Democratic primary ballot. The 8th was held by Krishnamoorthi, the 2nd represented by Kelly and the 7th by long-time Congressman Danny Davis of Chicago, who decided to retire this election cycle.
The 8th has eight candidates, the 2nd has 10 candidates, and in the 7th, there are 13. In the 9th, 15 Democrats and four Republicans are seeking to replace Schakowsky.
The Chicago-centric district, like the 5th Congressional District, seeps into Lake County through a snake-like gerrymandered remap. In the county, the district includes the communities of Buffalo Grove, Barrington Hills, Hawthorn Woods, Island Lake, Lake Barrington, Long Grove, Port Barrington and Wauconda.
The seat has been solid Democratic since 1949, unparalleled in the state for one-party rule in a congressional district. That means whoever makes it out of the GOP primary — Rocio Cleveland of Island Lake, John Elleson of Arlington Heights, Paul Friedman of Chicago or Dongbo Mark Su of Chicago — has little hope of victory.
The last year the seat was open was in 1998 when incumbent Sidney Yates stepped down and Schakowsky won the primary and general election. One of her defeated primary opponents was JB Pritzker, now Illinois governor, who this year is seeking a third term as the state’s chief executive.
The 15 Democrats in the 9th District include some familiar names to voters, especially those in the Cook County portions of the district. Those include state Sen. Laura Fine of Glenview, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, state Sen. Mike Simmons of Chicago and state Rep. Hoan Huyh of Chicago. Others in the crowded field are making their first try for public office.
The primary also includes the rare opening for a statewide office, Illinois comptroller, where four Democrats, including Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim of Mundelein, want to replace incumbent Susana Mendoza, who decided not to seek re-election. Mendoza last week endorsed Kim for the job over state Reps. Margaret Croke of Chicago and Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego, and state Sen. Karina Villa of West Chicago.
These primary contests aren’t for the faint-hearted, as a flurry of last-minute attack ads soon will become prevalent on our TV screens. Negative campaigning, many will advise, works. In most cases.
After all, “politics ain’t beanbag” is the prevailing tenor in the rough-and-tumble political arena of Illinois elections.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor. sellenews@gmail.com. X @sellenews.
