* Tom Kacich…

What a difference two years makes for Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, the likely Democratic opponent next year to Rep. Rodney Davis in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, which includes Champaign-Urbana.

Two years ago at this time, Londrigan had recently announced her candidacy, barely had any campaign money and was one of six candidates (eventually five) who had either jumped into the Democratic primary election or was considering it.

This time she’s the only announced challenger to Davis, she already has more than $450,000 on hand, she has lined up support from a number of Democratic members of Congress including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and she’s got the name identification from a 2018 campaign in which she came within about 2,000 votes or less than a percentage point of upending a man who has been a member of Congress since 2013.

In the fundraising quarter that ended June 30, Springfield native Londrigan reported raising an impressive $504,627 — far more than the $382,350 brought in by Davis. The Taylorville Republican still has more cash on hand than Londrigan — $532,913 versus $453,326 — but the trend favors her.

* Washington Post…

Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) is facing a rematch with Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, whom he beat last year by about 2,000 votes. Londrigan raised $521,887 for the quarter vs. Davis’s $422,070, though Davis has more cash on hand.

“You’ve got to hand it to the Dems and give them some credit for being able to go out and get donors from throughout the nation to support candidates, but . . . when you have cities like New York and San Francisco and Los Angeles supporting candidates in central Illinois, their values may not be the values of the constituents that I serve,” Davis said.

* Londrigan op-ed…

Why do politicians like Congressman Rodney Davis vote against lowering the cost of prescription drugs? Why does he vote to raise health care prices? Why does he vote against protecting people with pre-existing conditions? Why does he vote — time after time — against ensuring that people in the 13th district can get affordable access to quality health care?

I think the question should be: If he isn’t voting for us, who is he voting for?

Follow the money. During his time in Washington, Congressman Davis has taken more than $600,000 from pharmaceutical and insurance companies. Even worse, over 75% of the money in Congressman Davis’ campaign coffers comes from special interest donors and PACs, instead of the people he has pledged to serve.

* Public Radio…

Betsy Dirksen Londrigan pledged to not take any money from corporate political action committees, or PACs, in her second run for Illinois’ 13th Congressional District.

In an email Wednesday, incumbent Rep. Rodney Davis’ campaign said that’s not true, since Londrigan accepts money from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which does take money from PACs. […]

“The part that I’m responsible for is what I’m going to do, and I’m not accepting a dime of corporate PAC money,” she said. “Because I refuse to be beholden to these corporations and special interests.” […]

“Davis is honest with voters about his support from job creators. Corporations cannot directly donate to congressional candidates. Their PACs are made up of donations from hardworking employees,” the Davis campaign email stated. “He’s proud to be supported by companies like ADM, State Farm, and many others who have deep ties to our communities and create jobs.”

* Bernie…

While the DCCC takes corporate PAC money, much of the group’s spending is through independent expenditures — not coordinated with candidates even as it backs those candidates. Republicans and Democrats both are helped these days by independent expenditures of various groups.

“Londrigan also personally profits off of corporations with her husband being a lobbyist at McGuireWoods for multiple corporations, including Horizon Pharmaceuticals,” Phelps said. “It’s disingenuous and voters see through it.”

* More Bernie…

Londrigan reiterated that she thinks Davis is “bought and paid for with corporate PAC and special interest money.”

Phelps said that because Londrigan gets help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which takes corporate political action committee money, she is “participating in a corporate PAC money laundering scheme.”

“Meanwhile, Davis is honest with voters about his support from job creators,” Phelps said.

Londrigan told reporters that while “Democratic leadership wants to elect Democrats to Congress” and helps via the DCCC, she is “not accepting a dime of corporate PAC money” directly through the campaign committee she controls.

Gonna be a long campaign season.