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* Tom Kacich…
It’s five months out from the filing period for next year’s primary election, and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin still doesn’t have a top-name Republican Party opponent.
The Federal Elections Commission lists three possible Republican opponents, each one less politically fearsome than the next: Peggy Hubbard of Belleville, Thomas Tarter of Springfield and Dean Seppelfrick of Aurora.
Hubbard, a former St. Louis County Police Department court officer, had raised the most money as of March 31: just over $50,000.
Durbin, meanwhile, had more than $2.4 million on hand.
Another Republican recently announced that he hopes to challenge Durbin, although the familiar name Robert Marshall may be even less frightful to the four-term senator from Springfield. Marshall ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010, for Congress in 2016 and for governor last year, each time as a Democrat.
Seppelfrick has reported raising no money and Tarter has reported raising about $1,500 so far.
Hubbard did report raising about $53K, mostly in small, unitemized contributions. But she spent almost all of that money in late February and March. Hubbard reported having just $1,379.65 cash on hand after that spending spree, much of it to out of state consultants.
And she’s not exactly in the political mainstream…
“That’s why, if elected to the U.S. Senate, you can count on me to fight to defund Planned Parenthood — entirely — and also fight to end abortion on demand in America through passage of [Kentucky Senator] Rand Paul’s Life at Conception Act,” she said.
* Meanwhile, as subscribers have known for weeks, Durbin has no primary opponent, either…
Freshman Democratic state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray of Naperville has formally ended her long-shot bid to challenge three-term U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin in the March 2020 primary, documents filed with the Federal Election Commission show.
Stava-Murray, who announced her challenge to Durbin even before being sworn in to her state legislative seat, filed a termination notice for her federal campaign committee on Monday. She had only raised $175 since formalizing her candidacy — $150 from herself — and ended the second quarter of the year with a balance of $9.72.
It’s the latest move by the unorthodox Stava-Murray, who in the November election upset a Republican incumbent to win a seat in the statehouse without spending much money or getting any financial assistance from powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan.
She became much more comfortable in the House this spring and actually appeared to be having some fun by the end of the session.
* Related…
* Democrats Casten, Underwood ahead of GOP rivals in fundraising
* Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot raises $2.7 million while Emanuel spends big on parties, makes donations
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:23 am
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===It’s the latest move by the unorthodox Stava-Murray, who in the November election upset a Republican incumbent to win a seat in the statehouse without spending much money or getting any financial assistance from powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan.===
And just like Lou Lang’s appointed successor, I’m sure the Madigan-led Democrats have already recruited a “suitable” Democrat to run against Stava-Murray in the primary.
Comment by Former Quigley Supporter Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:28 am
==She became much more comfortable in the House this spring and actually appeared to be having some fun by the end of the session.==
Cue the Cyndi Lauper music…ugh.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:31 am
I hope it’s Thomas Tarter, just so I can keep saying that name…
Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:32 am
It would appear that Hubbard did not pay attention to last year’s election results here in Illinois.
Comment by Bourbon Street Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:32 am
Per opensecrets.org, going back to ‘82 incumbent US Senators get re-elected 80% of the time. Don’t care what the “national mood” is, that’s long odds.
Comment by efudd Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:37 am
There’s still time for Oberweis to make his 9th or 10th attempt.
Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:37 am
Seppelfrick and Tarter sounds like a buddy cop sit-com name from the 70’s…
Comment by LoyalVirus Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:39 am
Republicans would be wise to focus on battles they can win. Of course, that’s never stopped them before!
Comment by McGuppin Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:40 am
Are there any A-listers even left in the Raunerite IL GOP?
Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:45 am
“Seppelfrick and Tarter”
OMG
Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:46 am
=== She became much more comfortable in the House this spring and actually appeared to be having some fun by the end of the session. ===
Had she not been such a goof before she took office, she might have had a decent career as rep. Unfortunately, her trip to space, made her a duck before she took office.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:49 am
===Are there any A-listers even left in the Raunerite IL GOP?===
Narrator: There aren’t.
Ms. Anne Stava-Murray went to Springfield to “teach”
Hopefully in 2020, she’ll learn a lesson, be it a primary or general election situation.
Ms Stava-Murray learned one thing… she’s not the one that can take on Durbin.
Nope.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 10:49 am
I don’t want to give her any ideas, but I don’t understand why Jeanne Ives isn’t taking on Durbin. She’s going to lose whether she runs against Casten or Durbin so why not take on Durbin.
But if she doesn’t, #ImwithSeppelfrick just cause I love the name.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 11:03 am
Democrats lost 9 Senate seats in the 2014 midterm. It was a bloodbath. Durbin meanwhile didn’t exactly stroll to reelection but he walked at a steady pace and won over 53% of the vote.
It ain’t gonna happen in 2020 in this climate and everyone knows it. And is it a big career booster to go up against Durbin and get whipped? But maybe the rich money types should recruit someone to go out and endlessly crusade against the progressive tax vote, then reward him / her with a nice job afterwards.
Comment by ZC Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 11:04 am
Where did she find someone goofy enough to give Stava- Murray $25? She run a lemonade stand?
Comment by Peorgie Tirebiter Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 11:04 am
I’ll give them a semi-fanciful suggestion: recruit Scott Turow. He’s kinda famous, friendly with the old-school party, moderate (i.e., possibly electable), no Rauner ties I know of, and smart enough to bone-up and present as a credible potential senator.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 11:15 am
” ending campaign”
Or she realized the probability of lightning striking twice really was pretty small
Comment by Fav Human Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 11:23 am
Durbin’s problem is that he has a weak record as a Democrat from a reasonably blue state. He supports record increases in defense spending and opposes Medicare for All. One good thing Durbin is doing now is to try to make it possible for individuals to include student loans as part of a bankruptcy filing. We should demand far better from both of our Senators.
Comment by Blue Dogs are Blind, Deaf, and Dumb Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 11:46 am
==Durbin’s problem is==
…exceedingly small and manageable.
I’m not saying IL wouldn’t vote for a Senator further left than Durbin. But this very post demonstrates that IL is by and large pretty happy with him.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 11:54 am
Is the Todd Ricketts property tax story a Team Durbin oppo hit? Maybe Todd was the A-list opponent Durbin was worried about.
Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 12:00 pm
Why should Madigan recruit a primary challenger for Rep. Anne Stava-Murray? Why bother? Just let her be and in 2022 resolve the issue with a new map.
Also of interest is the apparent lack of a GOP challenger for Stava-Murray’s seat.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 12:04 pm
===Why should Madigan recruit… ===
Meh. They find one. They don’t. One appears, one doesn’t.
===Just let her be and in 2022 resolve the issue with a new map.===
The best way for MJM to resolve his “supermajority problem” is exactly this; kinda draw a map *for* her… to find her exit… and lowering that supermajority number.
Me? I was personally hoping Olsen or The Owl would find their way back in the race.
Olsen showed a real lacking in his muni run, after losing the House seat. Can’t see the want of Olsen phoning in another campaign.
I think Sandack likes The Pulpit he has now…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 12:10 pm
Ives *would* be entertaining.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 12:27 pm
Durbin might still get a big challenger- Congressman Krishnamoorthi has over $5 million in the bank. You don’t raise that money for a relatively safe congressional seat.
Comment by Concerned Joey Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 12:27 pm
@Oswego
Even if the Owl did successfully come back (that race would be a hoot) he could find himself sharing a house district with Leader Durkin for the 2022 race.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 12:41 pm
- Hamlet’s Ghost -
Well played.
Mr. Sandack’s twitter, which is still a hoot, a must if you need a giggle, makes it apparent he’s not looking to go back. He likes The Pulpit he has now I’m guessing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 12:44 pm
At this point………anyone but Durbin. He has done nothing for Illinois for a long time, particularly the southern part of the state.
Comment by Wondering Wendy Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 12:44 pm
“She became much more comfortable in the House this spring and actually appeared to be having some fun by the end of the session.”
Very pleased with her and other Democrats, who acted like the party should instead of neoliberal-ish or frightened, and got a lot of previously-difficult or impossible legislation done.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 12:57 pm
@ Joey –
Please. No doubt Raja fashions himself the next Senator from the State of Illinois & knows that building his bank account is his best path….but he ain’t running agains Durbin.
Comment by McGuppin Wednesday, Jul 17, 19 @ 2:07 pm