Congressional & Senate Primaries, Republicans in Heavily Democratic Districts Highlight Petition Filing Final Day
Congressman Danny Davis (D-Chicago) faces a six-way primary to retain the seat he’s held since 1997.
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After a week long filing period for candidates in the March primary, the dust settled late Monday with some longtime officeholders facing big primaries, a few surprises, and a large group of Republican candidates running in heavily Democratic districts.
Pending potential challenges, six members of the state’s congressional delegation face primaries.
Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Chicago) is being challenged by Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez.
Congressman Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) faces Army veteran Jerico Matias Cruz of Chicago and Jonathan Bishop of suburban Palatine.
Congressman Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove) is being challenged by Charles Hughes of Chicago and Mahnoor Ahmad of Oakbrook Terrace.
Congressman Danny Davis (D-Chicago) faces a six-way primary to earn his sixteenth term in the House. Top contenders include Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and activist Kina Collins.
There’s a challenge from the left for Congressman Bill Foster (D-Naperville). He’s being challenged by Democrat Qasim Rashid of Naperville. Foster was challenged from the left by now-Sen. Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) in 2020. Foster won that race by around 18 points.
We’ve written extensively on the race between Congressman Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) and former GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey in the 12th district. More on that below.
In the Senate…
There’s a three way GOP race to face Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort). Hillary Kurzawa of Frankfort, Samantha Gaska of New Lenox, and former gubernatorial candidate Max Solomon of Hazel Crest all filed petitions Monday. Kurzawa appears to be the choice of GOP insiders in the race.
Two more Democrats filed Monday in the 20th Senate district, bringing the total in that primary to four. Appointed Sen. Natalie Toro (D-Chicago) faces progressive activicst Graciela Guzman, Dr. Dave Nayak, and public radio sponsorship salesman Geary Yonker. Nayak and Yonker filed Monday.
Three candidates filed for the seat of outgoing Sen. Win Stoller (R-East Peoria). Chris Bishop and Li Arellano of Dixon face Tim Yager of Geneseo.
Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) gets a primary. Kimberly Earling of Braidwood filed petitions Monday. Little is known about her except a news story of a daughter who died of a drug overdose.
Four candidates filed in the rural 53rd District being vacated by Sen. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City). Six candidates had announced for the race, but Washington Mayor Gary Manier pulled out Monday and Iroquois County Board member Paul Ducat dropped off the radar.
Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has a challenge from Wesley Kash in a primary that has already gotten nasty at times and will likely get worse.
An interesting development Monday was the filing of Republican petitions in at least 19 heavily Democratic districts.
The filings appear to be orchestrated by the conservative-leaning Illinois Policy Institute, which attempted a similar track of filling the ballot with Republicans in 2022.
Many of the races are in districts where Democrats are heavily favored, like in the southside based 5th District where Republican Al Rasho filed to face Rep. Kimberly Neely DuBuclet (D-Chicago). President Biden won the race by 78 points (not a typo) in 2020.
“I don’t know what they’re doing,” said one Republican operative. “Maybe we should be using our resources to win competitive races than doing whatever this exercise is.”
An Illinois Policy Institute spokesperson said Tuesday officials who face competitors must be more in tune with their constituents' best interests.
“The program came about because we found Illinois' historical lack of choice deeply undemocratic. In 2022 and now for 2024, Illinois Policy sought to break a 20-year cycle of voters seeing uncontested elections in over half of House races and then feeling powerless to effect change in the voting booth,” the spokesperson said. “The data backs up the importance of choice: After our efforts, voter turnout last year reached the second-highest level for a gubernatorial general election since 1998.”
