Illinois
Related: About this forumDemocrats in 13th challenge Davis, Trump
While U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, faces no primary opponent, Democrats are preparing for the fall general election, focusing on November and the incumbent instead of each other in the March 20 primary.
The 13th Congressional District that encompasses a wide swath of central Illinois has long been seen as a swing district where Democrats have a chance, and primary candidates have been spending plenty of time and money arguing that the incumbent is a lackey of an unpopular president. Kent Redfield, a retired political science professor from University of Illinois Springfield, pointed out that the district includes several college campuses, where voters tend to vote liberal.
In the 13th youve got Bloomington-Normal, which is Illinois State, Redfield said. Youve got Champagne-Urbana, which is U of I, youve got a chunk of Springfield.
So it has more potential [for a flip] in a competitive year than you would think.
The five candidates running in the Democratic primary include Jonathan Ebel, a University of Illinois professor in the Department of Religion, David Gill, a physician, Erik Jones, a former assistant state attorney general, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, and Angel Sides, a teacher. Londrigan, who has raised more than $560,000, and Jones, who had raised more than $476,000, are leading the money race, according to data from the Federal Election Commission.
Read more: http://illinoistimes.com/article-19782-democrats-in-13th-challenge-davis-trump.html
murielm99
(31,421 posts)I wish I knew something about the others.
davsand
(13,428 posts)She's got a good family name for the Springfield area. The former AG staffer Eric (sorry, his last name eludes me at this exact moment!) has been endorsed by Lisa Madigan. Ebel is running some really nice ads, and seems to be the darling of the Urbana Dems. Gill has been less visible in our local market. ANY one of these Dems will be a huge step up from Davis. Seriously speaking, Davis is an absolute tool. He NEEDS to go.
Laura
murielm99
(31,421 posts)it comes to his young staff. I have worked with a few of them and watched them grow. I don't always agree with his decisions, but Durbin knows how to mentor people. Cheri Bustos was one of his. She is coming along quite nicely as a Congressman and getting into some leadership positions. She is in a difficult district, too. They voted for Trump there, but Bustos gets reelected. There are a lot of Democrats in her district, and a lot of union workers. That helps, but it still takes work to hang onto the voters there.
If I had a vote, I would go with Londrigan. Good luck, Laura, in your district. GOTV!
underthematrix
(5,811 posts)Rincewind
(1,266 posts)Champaign. I know, I live there.
TexasTowelie
(116,591 posts)Of course, she may have relied on spellcheck instead.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)Davis is basically a republican coward who refuses to do town halls and limits his face to face time with his constituents to no more than 6....though he will take in front of thousands if it means money to his campaign. Rodney Davis is nothing but a shill for trump and now its time to make him pay.
Londrigan is indeed a distant relative to one of the finest members of the Senate, Sen Everett Dirksen. The example of what republicans used to be as he was the one who helped LBJ with all his Civil Rights and War on Poverty legislation as the racist "dixie-crats" wing abondoned the the democratic party.
Davis is a typical republican politician who has never worn the uniform of our military nor has he ever worked in the private sector in his life and always lived off the taxpayer.....
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)Davis has huge weaknesses as he has been pretty much a rubber stamp for republicans in the house as well as trump. He is vulnerable in tying him to Paul ryan's agenda against labor, against social security, medicare, meals on wheels AND the huge run up in deficits and debt the republicans are doing to give massive taxcuts to the rich and to corporations. This district can be won by Londrogan and we are back from florida, my wife and I will actively work in her campaign to see she is elected. republicans like davis needs to be sent packing all across america in November.