Where House Dems Think They Can Expand the November Map
Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Bourbonnais) and her Democratic challenger Billy Morgan.
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If Democrats are going to expand on their 78-seat majority in the House of Representatives, they need to pick up some slightly Republican leaning districts.
It appears Democrats have identified one of those possible flip district.
Democrats are spending tens of thousands of dollars on mail and digital ads targeting Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Bourbonnais) and for her opponent, Billy Morgan, a former aide to then-Gov. Pat Quinn and township trustee.
“I’m no stranger to tough campaigns,” Haas said. “I’ve been through some tough races before. This will be no different than any of those others.”
Haas says she is focused on what she can control.
Morgan, meanwhile, echoed the digital ads hitting Haas on abortion and IVF.
“Whatever the reason, Jackie Haas’ votes on issues of choice have been abysmal,” Morgan said. “I think letting voters understand what somebody who represents the district does when they go to Springfield is an important thing for us to do.”
Morgan called her voting record on choice issues “pretty out of touch.”
But Haas defended her position.
“I think I’ve been a pretty strong voice for promoting women’s health care,” Haas said. “I’ve been supportive of IVF.”
She didn’t address abortion.
The 79th District covers most of Kankakee, Bradley, and Bourbonnais and much of rural Kankakee County, which are generally more friendly to Republicans. It stretches north to include portions of Will and Cook Counties, including parts of Monee, University Park, and Park Forest, which are heavily Democratic.
It’s a heavily blue-collar district, and both candidates agree cost of living and the economy are the issues truly at the top of minds of voters.
“People with families are very worried about [buying] groceries and being able to feed and clothe their kids and put gas in their cars,” Haas said. “Those are the top issues we’re hearing in this district.”
“What I’m hearing, overwhelmingly, is that the cost of living is what’s driving people right now,” he said. “The rising cost of groceries and gas and utilities and prescription drugs are making it difficult for a lot of folks out there.”
Democrats will likely continue their track record of nationalizing the race and trying to paint issues, some federal in nature, against Haas.
“I think the majority party is really inflating some of the national issues, and I’m really sticking with running on my record and representing my constituents to the best [of my ability] in the time that I’ve been in office,” she said.
Morgan said he’s finding the top of the ticket is re-energizing voters for Democrats up and down the ballot.
“Kamala Harris has re-energized the Democratic Party and re-energized a lot of people in the middle who weren’t excited with the choices that they had,” he said. “Since Kamala Harris became the presumptive nominee and then the nominee, I’ve seen a really big shift in people’s enthusiasm to go out and vote.”
But in Illinois, where Democrats control all branches of government and could potentially “own” cost of living, property taxes, and other economic issues, Morgan blamed Haas.
“Voters are tired with the business as usual in Springfield, and they don’t see people like Jackie Haas making much of an impact,” Morgan said. “People are trying to make it paycheck to paycheck and they just want a breath of fresh air and somebody new who will fight for them everyday.”
But, Haas stood by her accomplishments in four years in office.
“I’ve been able to get pieces of legislation through that have been very bipartisan and have worked well with, not just leaders in my community and throughout my district, but on both sides of the aisle,” she said. “I’ve been able to translate that into my work in Springfield which has helped me move legislation forward to help my district and help the state, as well.”
Morgan said he breaks with Democrats on gun policy and would have voted against the Democratic assault weapon ban in 2023.
Morgan also said he wants Democrats to be more mindful of spending, and says he would have voted against the state budget this spring and the tax increases on business pushed through by Democrats at 4:30 in the morning on the final night of the spring session.
Morgan, 33, worked for Gov. Pat Quinn while he was in office and shortly after Quinn left the Governor’s office and now works at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. He serves as a Monee Township Trustee.
Haas is a longtime social worker and served on the Kankakee County Board before moving to the legislature.
Haas won the seat in 2020 and was appointed to the seat the next month to replace former Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst, who became a judge.
President Trump won the district by under one percentage point in 2020. Darren Bailey won the Governor’s race in the district by about six points in 2022.
