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Friday, Mar 27, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

Rep. Tammy Duckworth D-Ill., will announce a 2016 Senate bid on Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned. She is aiming to win the Democratic nomination to run against Sen. Mark Kirk R-Ill.

She is expected to release an announcement via some media platform and then later in the day head into a fundraiser at the Hancock Center in Chicago with her best supporters.

…Adding… Roll Call…

State Sens. Tom Cullerton and Mike Noland, as well as former Illinois Deputy Treasurer Raja Krishnamoorthi, are considering bids for Duckworth’s seat, located west of Chicago.

Krishnamoorthi lost a 2012 primary challenge against Duckworth — when Democrats were looking to oust then-Rep. Joe Walsh. Duckworth had support from a number of Illinois Democrats, most notably Sen. Richard J. Durbin. Yet Krishnamoorthi stayed in the primary, raising more than $1 million.

Cullerton, who hails from Villa Park, is from a well-known political family in Illinois. His cousin, John Cullerton, is the state Senate president — a powerful position in Springfield. His other cousin, Timothy Cullerton, is from a long line of Chicago aldermen. Cullerton, an Army veteran, has strong ties to labor — a powerful influencer in Illinois politics. He won his competitively drawn state Senate seat in 2012 with union support.

Noland represents a state Senate district that encompasses Elgin, Ill., located in the far western portion of the district. A Marine veteran, Noland has served in the state Senate since 2007.

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*** UPDATED x1 *** Brown: Exploring an exploratory committee is “under review”

Friday, Mar 27, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Every fake campaign needs a fake campaign announcement, so Steve Brown addressed the public last night about his “possible” 18th Congressional District bid…

*** UPDATE *** We may be seeing a “real” campaign announcement soon…

Former Congressman Bobby Schilling is scheduled to make a “special announcement” Saturday afternoon, according to a news release from Terry Schilling, listed on Google as “Campaign Manager.”

Schilling will speak at the Peoria County GOP Headquarters at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. No other details were available about the announcement.

It was reported this week that Schilling could be considering a run in a special election for the 18th Congressional seat to be vacated by Congressman Aaron Schock at the end of this month.

The political website and newspaper Roll Call reported Tuesday that former Congressman Schilling hasn’t ruled out running for the 18th District seat, according to “a knowledgeable GOP source.”

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*** UPDATED x2 - Durbin out of the running? *** Illinois Republicans react to potential Durbin elevation

Friday, Mar 27, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the ILGOP…

BREAKING: Harry Reid Announces Retirement

This means Dick Durbin would become Majority Leader if we allow the Democrats to regain control of the Senate. We can’t let that happen!

Donate $3, $10, $25 or $50 to help us stop the Democrats.

Tammy Duckworth has recently begun raising money to take on Mark Kirk. This is all part of the Democrats’ secret plan to win back control of the Senate and ram through more dangerous legislation like Obamacare and blocking the Keystone XL Pipeline.

DONATE NOW to help the Illinois Republican Party put a stop to Dick Durbin taking over the Senate.

The Dems have a “secret plan” to win back the Senate?

I thought it was quite public.

* Durbin’s statement…

Harry Reid is one of the ablest leaders of the Senate Democratic caucus in modern history—he has served our country and the people of Nevada with a tenacity and passion rarely seen. The former boxer from Searchlight never forgot his roots and never went down without a fight. He and Landra have been dear friends for more than 30 years, and it has been an honor to be part of his leadership team for the past decade. The Senate will miss his leadership and I will miss his friendship, but with the 114th congress only just underway, Leader Reid and Senate Democrats have a lot of work to do on behalf of working families in this country. I will be by his side every day in that fight.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Well, that didn’t take long…

Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has endorsed Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) to succeed him after he retires at the end of 2016.

“I think Schumer should be able to succeed me,” Reid said in a Friday morning interview at his home in Washington’s West End.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Politico…

Sen. Dick Durbin is telling senators privately he will not challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer for the top spot in the Democratic caucus, sources said Friday.

Durbin’s private comments likely clear the way for Schumer to replace Minority Leader Harry Reid, who surprised the political world when he announced Friday he would not run for reelection next year. Reid promptly said he would endorse Schumer, No. 3 Senate Democrat, which he relayed in a private call to Durbin Friday morning. Durbin, who is the No. 2 Democrat, did not object, sources said.

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