Are Democrats in Trouble in the Suburbs?
New polling shows Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Schaumburg) with just a six point lead over an underfunded, unknown challenger in a safely Democratic district.
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A new poll released by a group promoting term limits shows both President Joe Biden and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Schaumburg) struggling in a suburban district drawn to elect a Democrat.
The new 8th District includes Rosemont, Schaumburg, Barrington, and Elgin. President Biden won the district by around 15 points in 2020 and Governor Pritzker won it by around 8 points in 2018.
The poll, conducted by RMG Research, showed President Biden’s approval rating 12 points underwater in what was expected to be a safe Democratic district. 43% of respondents approve of the job the President is doing while 55% oppose the job he’s doing. 2% were unsure.
In the race between Krishnamoorthi, an Indian-born Congressman elected in 2016, and Palatine Republican Chris Dargis, who was most recently Chief Marketing Officer for Chicago-based cars.com, was far closer than expected.
The survey showed Krishnamoorthi leading by just six points, 45%-39%, with 17% undecided or supporting someone else.
Dargis told The Illinoize Thursday they believe the race is within reach.
"This poll makes it clear what we've known for a long time: Joe Biden's policies have made life harder for Illinois families, and when politicians like Raja Krishnamoorthi rubber stamp those policies it makes them vulnerable,” he said. “We need problem solvers in Washington working for the people, not politicians working for themselves."
The Krishnamoorthi campaign did not immediately respond to The Illinoize.
Does the poll indicate a worse than expected environment for Democrats in November? It depends who you ask.
“There is certainly an anti-incumbent feeling out there,” said a Democratic political consultant. “But once [Democrats] show the alternative to us are radical, right wing, Darren Bailey Republicans, we’re going to do just fine in the suburbs.”
A former suburban Republican lawmaker says Democrats have not been handling crime issues well.
“It seems as though [Democrats] may be overplaying their hand on social issues like abortion,” the former lawmaker said. “People are going to be more worried about their family’s safety than they are about these social issues. That crime and safety question could easily rise above the other issues. Most Democrats are failing to appreciate that.”
DuPage County Democratic Chairman Ken Mejia-Beal says it’s not easy to poll the suburbs, and he takes the poll with a grain of salt.
“We are confident because traditionally polling, especially in the suburbs have been inaccurate in the past,” Mejia-Beal said.
But a suburban Republican legislative candidate said they’re seeing frustrations from voters as they knock on doors.
“Middle and working class families have been left behind,” the candidate said. “Voters see the Democrats’ extreme policies are making it harder to afford daily life, but Democrats in Illinois either keep trying to change the subject away from the economy, or they simply don’t have the credibility on the other issues voters care about.”
What gives Krishnamoorthi an advantage no matter what summertime polling says? As of June 30, right after the primary, Dargis had $10,000 in the bank. Krishnamoorthi had around $12.7 million.
