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* With Republican Congressman Mark Kirk running for Senate, his Democratic-leaning 10th District is up for grabs. And we have our first no-go…
Hours after Mark Kirk announced he’s running for Senate, a state lawmaker expected to make a bid for Kirk’s congressional seat said she’s staying put.
“I’m not going to run for Congress,” said state Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat.
She’s midterm next year, so she had a free shot at the seat, but Garrett really hadn’t laid any groundwork for a bid.
* But another female is apparently considering the bid…
Garrett is close with state Rep. Julie Hamos (D), who she said will move from Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s (D) neighboring district into the 10th district to run. Hamos did not return a call for comment on the race, but Garrett said she would be likely to support her at some point in the campaign.
* Surprisingly enough, Democratic Sen Terry Link is mulling it over…
“I won’t rule anything out. I’m going to look at it and go from there,” [state Sen. Terry Link] said. “I’m going to look at the candidates, and if I think I’m the best one, I will consider it strongly.”
Link said he doesn’t feel rushed about making a decision. “I’ve put campaigns together pretty quickly,” he said.
I do have to agree with Team America Blog, however…
I think the real chances of Link actually making a bid for Congress are about 0%.
* Despite his poor fundraising effort last quarter, Sen. Michael Bond is the only “real” Democratic candidate who has announced to date, but Dan Seals is still out there...
Most Democrats, however, are waiting to see what marketing consultant Dan Seals, the 2006 and 2008 Democratic nominee, will decide about the race. Seals clobbered his 2008 primary opponent and would bring solid name identification to the race; however, national and local Democrats have expressed serious doubts about giving him a third shot at winning the seat.
* Barring a major screwup, Kirk’s seat appears headed for Democratic hands…
Congressman Kirk spent millions of dollars just to hold on to this seat, President Obama won this district with over 60 percent of the vote, and Senator John Kerry carried this district in 2004,” said Gabby Adler, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of House Democrats. “There is no doubt Illinois’ 10th Congressional District presents a great opportunity for Democrats this election cycle.”
* Is Republican state Rep. Beth Coulson in or not? CQ Politics says no. Roll Call says she’s still thinking about it.
* Possible Republicans include…
Dick Green, who has a background in business and runs the stock market analysis service Briefing.com, is one Republican who is likely to enter the race. […]
“In particular, I think there is now too much government involvement in the economy,” he added. “I am an unapologetic defender of free markets, free trade and capitalism.”
Green should be joined in the GOP primary field by Patricia Bird, a business owner who was decisively defeated in an April bid to become mayor of Mount Prospect, a Chicago suburb in Cook County.
And…
Another businessman, Bill Strong, has also expressed interest in the race. A former finance chairman for Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign in Illinois, Strong would also be able to put a significant amount of his own money into the race.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 10:05 am
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Coulson is great, though she would be a major loss to her state legislative district which would no doubt go Dem without her solid moderate credentials in the race.
Comment by Niles Township Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 10:07 am
decisively defeated in an April bid to become mayor of Mount Prospect
Most people would think you ought to WIN your hometown’s election before trying to win a congressional seat! What is she thinking??
Comment by Pat collins Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 10:13 am
Coulson is probably the only GOPer who could win the 10th CD. She actually outpolled Kirk in November 2008 in the part of her legislative district that overlaps with the 10th Congressional, despite being downballot. And she’s got Lake County (Waukegan) roots. I’ll bet the DC-ers are pushing her to run.
Comment by Legaleagle Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 10:37 am
The 18th District is partially in the Congressional 10th, over 4%. Moreover, Julie Hamos has a much better resume than Michael Bond, more legislative experience, and is, frankly, just a much more interesting and engaging individual than Bond. Combine that with the obvious appeal of a joint EMILY’s List/DCCC fundraising effort, and Hamos’s clear advantage in the Jewish and legal communities, who tend to be the most politically active and aggressive fundraisers, and suddenly you have a candidate who could ensure the 10th becomes a Dem seat in 2010. There’s nothing wrong with Bond stepping away from this race now in favor of a stronger candidate. Better now than after candidates staff-up to run for his 31st seat.
Comment by 10th Dem Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 10:39 am
Cross is no doubt doing what he can to discourage Coulson from running for Congress since her departure from the state House would give Democrats a clear advantage on winning that seat in a majority Dem district.
Comment by reformer Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 10:46 am
Julie’s running for the Kirk seat.
She has to be considered the front runner now. Her championing of RTA issues has given her positive name recognition unique for a state representative.
Comment by Capitol View Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 10:48 am
==She has to be considered the front runner now.==
C’mon. She doesn’t even live in the district. They need a bonafide candidate out there not another carpetbagger.
Bond would be crazy to drop out now.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 10:54 am
Bill, Bond doesn’t live in the district either…
And Hamos has indicated she’d move if she does run.
Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 10:57 am
Rich,
Fran Eaton is reporting that “several individuals” listed as endorsing Kirk have not actually done so. She didn’t take the time to note who those people are, however.
Fran’s been wrong on stuff before (big time) but if she’s right on this it means that roll-out wasn’t really running on all cylinders.
Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 11:02 am
I live in Rep. Kirk’s district, and I hope that State Rep. Coulson will run for his seat. She agrees with him about many issues, and she’s been a legislator since 1997. A Republican could win her seat. Her county commissioner is a Republican, Greg Goslin, and his district includes most of her district, including Glenview, Northfield, Wilmette, and Northbrook.
Comment by Conservative Veteran Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 11:04 am
This is a high tax congressional district and it looks like their taxes may go even higher if Obama gets his way. Quigley was successful running as a no-tax candidate last year, and this will look like a better position next year for this district. So any Democrat has to take a no-tax pledge to win, or the GOP candidate would have an attractive message to carry the General.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 11:06 am
I just got an e-mail from Dan Seals saying he’s in the race for IL-10 (the tird time, if anyone’s counting).
Comment by Team America Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 11:16 am
Where are the right-wing candidates? They have had plenty of time to consider potential standard-bearers but, once again, the wingnuts don’t have a viable candidate. Come on! Prove the moderates wrong! Get your formidable political machine behind a candidate in the 10th and show everyone that the key to winning competitive races is a Republican candidate who adheres to your philosophy.
Comment by E Pluribus Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 11:17 am
TA, I’ve already posted the e-mail. Scroll up.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 11:18 am
TA says, “the tird time”
Freudian slip?
Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 11:23 am
yup.
Comment by Team America Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 11:24 am
==Bill, Bond doesn’t live in the district either…==
Wow, neither does Seals. Are there any democrats that actually live out there in the 10th? I guess the few that do are too smart to run.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 11:47 am
Bill, Illinois (and the country) are full of such scenarios from both sides of the aisle. Roskam didn’t live in Biggert’s district the first time he ran for Congress.
Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 11:55 am
Coulson would be smart to jump in. Yes, the loss of an Illinois House seat would smart, but the U.S. House Republican Caucus needs all the members they can get - or keep. With Kirk running, Ms. Coulson offers the same type of balanaced/moderate views on many issues that would appeal to the independents and Republicans skeptical of anyone right-of-center.
I think Ms. Coulson would also have to hedge her bets that the state GOP can (hopefully) pick up a few seats to offset the potential loss of her seat. Then again, no seats won and the loss of her seat would give Mr. Madigan the veto-proof majority he so narrowly missed in 2008.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 11:59 am
PS Bill, Rich’s quote from the Roll Call article clearly says Hamos plans to move into the 10th… she’s not that far outside the district as it is.
Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 12:01 pm
Bean lives in Kirk’s district. For all the kirk love, I have been very very upset as I have noted on team’s blog, at how awful a job he’s done at party building in the district. He spends way too much time on little international issues and has really left his district a lot bluer than when he got it.
Also if you are looking at the real cost of his senate procrastination it’s that his predecessor on teh gop side will have a lot less time to fundraise and get a campaign going. Granted Kirk didn’t announce until late 1999, but whoever runs would have benefitted a lot from more time.
Comment by Shore Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 12:03 pm
Rob,
I know but it just rubs me the wrong way. Seals promised to move in also. He still hasn’t.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 12:13 pm
Bill, It’ll be moot in 2012 anyway when all the districts are re-drawn.
Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 12:17 pm
Shore, Bean is practically across the street from the 8th and had been in Crane’s district before he had that little blob added into the 10th “to protect Mark Kirk with some GOP voters”.
That said, it just shows the recent Cross/Radogno crowing about redistricting reform was so much hot air.
We have the Congressional Districts we have in part because Republicans were given as much say as they wanted in how to draw the 2002 boundaries. (Denny Hastert was Speaker at the time and needed all the GOP House members he could get in order to keep the Speakership.)
Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 12:21 pm
I remember the 1999 scenario in the 10th. John Porter suddenly announced that he was not running for re-election in mid-October, in the middle of the petition period, and after he had scheduled petition-signing parties. Several district state reps had already announced for re-election. Even by late November the GOP was scrambling for candidates (filing then was in December). My point is that this could remain fluid in both parties well into October (petitions now due in early November).
Comment by Legaleagle Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 12:56 pm
So the choice for Dem.’s is between Seals, Bond and Hamos? What a trifecta. I never thought I would say this but go Julie … that just hurts to think about. But at least it gets her out of Springfield.
Comment by WOW Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 1:00 pm
Bill - I don’t claim to be the Seals expert, but I think he promised to move to the 10th only if he won. Obviously that hasn’t happened yet.
Comment by Team America Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 1:07 pm
I would not paint this seat blue juuuust yet (see WOW’s comment)
The seat has to be 53-47 tops and without Obama on the ballot it certainly can be a toss up.
Strong is an interesting name. I’ve worked with him in the past and he is sharp and really is a genuine nice guy. Oh yeah, and the cash would help too.
Comment by Bakersfield Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 2:21 pm
the record of republican millionaires running up there is about as good as milton bradley’s batting average. congressmen mcsweeney, greenburg, margaret donnelly, cox, goulka and senators mckenna and jack ryan all for some reason don’t seem to have office space on capitol hill yet.
here’s kirk video from last night.
http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=42,8,74&vid=072009b
Comment by Shore Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 2:25 pm
No serious Republican will run for the 10th district seat. They are afraid of redistricting after the 2010 Census. I am sure that played into Kirk’s decision to run for Senate too. Senate seats don’t get redistricted.
Comment by 10th Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 4:34 pm
I can’t imagine Beth Coulson running if for no other reason than she would be a total outcast in the DC Republican party. She’s a moderate pragmatist who would find herself way more comfortable among DC Dems than DC Repubs.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 6:38 pm
Three-term Highland Park City Councilman Jim Kirsch is also considering a bid for the Democratic nomination in the Tenth. His name has been mentioned in the Daily Herald (http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=308171) and Pioneer Press (http://www.pioneerlocal.com/libertyville/news/1675463,glenview-kirkforsenate-072009-s3.article).
Jim was raised in the Tenth District (Highland Park) and chose to raise his family there. His business life has a social purpose finding jobs for people as managing director of Professional Diversity Network. He also chairs Highland Park’s finance committee and understands financial responsibility. In these times, there may not be a better candidate.
Comment by DemLifer Tuesday, Jul 21, 09 @ 10:51 pm
Bond is not in the same league as Julie Hamos when it comes to policy or legislative experience, but it’s not clear that she is a good fit for the 10th Congressional district. Maybe Jim Kirsh of Highland Park is the fresh face who will step up and capture the seat for the Democrats.
Comment by Demsarebest Wednesday, Jul 22, 09 @ 5:26 pm