At Petition Deadline, Sen. Diane Pappas Won't Seek Full Term
Appointed Sen. Diane Pappas (D-Itasca) won’t seek a full term in November. She was appointed to replace Tom Cullerton, who resigned amid federal corruption charges.
Appointed Sen. Diane Pappas (D-Itasca), who lost a race for re-election to the House in 2020 and was appointed to replace former Sen. Tom Cullerton, who resigned in disgrace, will not seek a full term in the Illinois Senate.
Yesterday was the last day to file paperwork to be slated for the November campaign and Pappas did not file in the new 24th Senate District. She would have gotten a rematch with Rep. Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett), who defeated Pappas in 2020 and was redistricted out of his House district, prompting a run for Senate.
Instead, former DuPage County Board member Laurie Nowak was slated by local Democrats to challenge Lewis.
The new 24th Senate District is considered quite swingy. President Biden won the district by 8 points in 2020 and Governor Rauner won the district by around 6 points in 2018.
The vast majority of filings Monday were in longshot districts, but here are a few of note:
Republican Maria Vasquez filed to challenge Sen. Scott Bennett (D-Champaign). Vasquez is a strong Bailey supporter and Bennett’s district was strengthened for him in redistricting. Gov. Pritzker won that district by around 23 points in 2018.
Podcast host Heidi Henry filed in the 75th House district. Rep. David Welter (R-Morris) was defeated by Bailey supporter Jed Davis in the primary. Governor Rauner won the district by around 15 points four years ago.
Park Ridge City Clerk Sal Raspanti filed to challenge Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) in the 28th Senate district. Gov. Quinn seemed very cautious to let them win. Pritzker won the the district by around 11 points four years ago.
Lake Villa Trustee Allena Barbato will challenge Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) in the new 32nd district. Donald Trump won the district by around 5 points in 2020 and Governor Rauner won it by around 11 points in 2018.
Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) has a challenger in the new 47th District. Democrat Jackie Williamson, who claims to have been inspired to run at a Roe vs. Wade protest last month. Joe Biden won the district by around 12 points and Bruce Rauner won it by around 9 points in 2018.