[Hat tip Josh Kalven for the great news about Scott Harper]
Elected just last month in the 14th Congressional District, Bill Foster is the first Democratic congressman in the district since Democrat Chester C. Thompson was defeated in 1938 (DuPage was then represented in the 11th District - by Republicans). While the district boundaries have changed over time - in the 1960s the 14th encompassed all of DuPage - Foster is likely the first Democratic Congressman with part of their district in DuPage in 35 or more years.
The 6th Congressional District with part of DuPage hasn’t had a Democrat since George W. Collins died in 1972 - and the 13th Congressional District, the third and final district encompassing DuPage today, hasn’t had a Democrat since William M. Springer in the late 1800s.
Would it be an understatement to say that it’s simply an amazing turn of events that not only has DuPage gained it’s first Democratic congressman in 35 years last month - but that congressional Democrats believe that the other two DuPage congressional districts (6th and 13th) are in play. Let me repeat: Amazing!
While the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has long targeted the 6th Congressional District where Democrat Jill Morgenthaler is battling one-term incumbent Republican Peter Roskam, the DCCC now is targeting the 13th District where Democrat Scott Harper faces incumbent Republican Judy Biggert.
This may sound a bit “rah-rah” - but big congratulations to Bill Foster, Jill Morgenthaler and Scott Harper. It’s been 35 years for DuPage Democrats - but this year we get a congressman and possibly two more. Amazing!
Comments 4
I live in the 13th, and I would love nothing more than to have a Democrat representing me in Congress. But, (the evil but), our system should cause candidates to be accountable at two levels, first in the primary to the party, and second to all the people in the general election. It seems that the 13th has really only been accountable in the primary, so there is a range of voices represented by the Democratic party that are not heard. These are issues that are too easily ignored. I am going to do everything I can do get Harper to win, but even if we force the Republicans to expend resources to hold the 13th, that is a first step. It promises to be a fun summer and fall!
Posted 10 Apr 2008 at 5:43 am ¶Yes, the elephants have underestimated the power of the blue force! It’s time the 13th rid itself of Biggert. We need to be patient and just chip away. Eventually DuPage will be ours.
Posted 10 Apr 2008 at 7:34 pm ¶…….IF WE RUN A MODERATE DEMOCRAT IN HER PLACE.
–ROBERT JONES
Posted 14 Apr 2008 at 12:51 am ¶Hi Troy, Mario and Robert,
Thanks for commenting!
There’s no doubt that Judy Biggert is still the favorite - but there’s also no doubt that Scott Harper is likely to make it a competitive race. It won’t be easy, but I really think he could do it this year.
Posted 16 Apr 2008 at 10:19 pm ¶Trackbacks & Pingbacks 1
[…] Harper may be in a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) “targeted race,” indicating that the party thinks he has a real chance of winning, but under traditional campaign […]
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