Five Senate Races to Watch
The Illinois Senate chamber in Springfield.
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OPINION
Yes, Democrats have financial advantages in every race, but it isn’t nearly as stark as House GOP struggles thanks to billionaire Richard Uihlein dropping around $2.3 million into the Senate GOP coffers over the last six weeks.
Here are five Senate races to watch over the last two and a half weeks.
(The partisan rating show how much JB Pritzker or Bruce Rauner won the district by in 2018):
19th District: Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort) vs. Patrick Sheehan (D+15)
In a normal year, this race wouldn’t wind up on this list. But mounting ethical and personal issues for Hastings have potentially put this race in play. Republicans have had a hard time scraping up money to get Sheehan on TV, but have been putting mail into the district. Senate Democrats aren’t helping Hastings, but he had a pile of cash to begin with.
23rd District: Sen. Suzy Glowiak-Hilton (D-Western Springs) vs. Dennis Reboletti (D+4)
Glowiak Hilton was the first Senate Democrat up on broadcast TV against Reboletti, a former State Representative. The district includes parts of Hinsdale, Western Springs, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, and Carol Stream. This could prove to be one of the least predictable races as results are coming in on November 8.
36th District: Rep. Mike Halpin vs. Mike Thoms (D+8)
Halpin is looking to move up in this new gerrymandered Quad Cities district, which cut incumbent Senator Neil Anderson out by a mile. Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms is the GOP nominee in the race and was up on TV early, though it looks like they are not currently on the air, which is a bad sign for their chances here. The Quad Cities have not been trending great for Democrats in recent years.
48th District: Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) vs. Rep. Sandy Hamilton (D+5)
Appointed Senator Doris Turner is being challenged by appointed Rep. Sandy Hamilton. Turner was appointed to replace Andy Manar and Hamilton replaced Mike Murphy in a House district that essentially disappeared thanks to redistricting. More Republican ballots were pulled in the primary than Democrat ballots. This race has gotten nasty with a ton of money spent. Republicans think this may be their best pickup opportunity.
56th District: Sen. Kris Tharp (D-Wood River) vs. Erica Conway-Harriss (D+8)
Tharp, a former Madison County Sheriff’s Captian was appointed to replace Rachelle Crowe when she was sworn in as U.S. Attorney for southern Illinois. Both candidates are slinging nastiness on TV and Tharp is at a bit of a disadvantage with a late entry in the race. While Gov. Pritzker won the district by 8 four years ago, that had to do partially with Bruce Rauner’s pathetic showing in the south. Donald Trump won the district by 3 in 2020. A lot of Republicans think Darren Bailey do very well in Madison County, which could be a boost to Conway-Harriss.