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Illinois
Senate
ILLINOIS |
Nov. 8,
2016 U.S. Senate |
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Plurality: 828,248 votes (15.08 percentage points) IL
State Board of Elections
DEMOCRATIC PICK-UP Notes: Freshman Sen. Mark Kirk (R) was consistently identified as the most vulnerable Republican senator seeking re-election in 2016, and Democrats targeted this seat for a pick up. First, Kirk was running in a blue state. On top of that, Donald Trump cast a big shadow over the race. Kirk distanced himself from Trump fairly early on. On June 7, following Trump's remarks about a judge with Mexican ancestry, Kirk issued a statement that, "While I oppose the Democratic nominee, Donald Trump's latest statements, in context with past attacks on Hispanics, women and the disabled like me, make it certain that I cannot and will not support my party's nominee for president regardless of the political impact on my candidacy or the Republican Party." There were three debates, each with only the two major party nominees: Oct. 3 with the Chicago Tribune editorial board for over an hour (>); Oct. 27 for 90 min. at the University of Illinois Springfield(>), and Nov. 4 on ABC 7 for an hour (>). Both candidates are disabled, Kirk from a stroke in 2012, and Duckworth from a combat injury. The Duckworth campaign reported disbursements of $18.8 million compared to total disbursements of $12.8 million for the Kirk campaign (>). Campaign Managers Mark Kirk: Kevin Artl (2015) Political director of the Illinois House Republican Organization, 2007-13. Policy director for the Republican caucus in the Illinois General Assembly, 2003-07. Executive director of Rudy Giuliani's 2008 presidential campaign in Illinois from July 2007. Has managed municipal and congressional campaigns in Illinois including Judy Biggers' 1998 campaign. Attended Loyola University Chicago. Tammy Duckworth: Matt McGrath Campaign manager on Jason Carter's run for governor of Georgia in 2014. Spokesman on Cuyahoga County Executive Ed Fitzgerald's campaign for governor/Ohio Democratic Party to Jan. 2014. Press secretary on Obama for America in Michigan from Feb. 2012. Communications director for the Kentucky Democratic Party, from Aug. 2011. Communications director on Dan Hynes' campaign for the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Illinois and earlier worked on Alexi Giannoulia's 2010 U.S. Senate campaign. Worked on Obama's campaign in Ohio in Fall 2008. Trip director on John Edwards' 2007-08 Iowa caucus campaign. Directed South Carolina Democrats' Coordinated Campaign in 2006; earlier worked Paul Hodes in New Hampshire, helping to set up his successful campaign for Congress. In 2005, McGrath served as the Kentucky state director for Americans United to Protect Social Security. Regional field director for Anchorage for Tony Knowles' U.S. Senate race in 2004. Organized parts of Southeastern Iowa for Edwards in 2003-04, and then continued with the campaign in Tennessee and Ohio. |
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