While most U.S. House incumbents representing northern Illinois have gotten a pass for the March Illinois primary election, all of them will face challenges from the opposing party in the general election next November.
Of the seven congressional incumbents from northern Illinois, Democrats Raja Krishnamoorthi, Bill Foster and Cheri Bustos and Republicans Peter Roskam, Randy Hultgren and Darrin LaHood automatically will advance to the November general election ballot.
Only Republican Adam Kinzinger, of the 16th Congressional District, faces a challenge within his own party. James T. Marter of Oswego and Jaye DeBates of Granville both have stated they believe Kinzinger is not conservative enough and they want to replace him. Two people have filed objections to DeBates’s candidacy.
The seven Democrats seeking a chance to unseat Roskam in District 6 are Sean Casten, Carole Cheney, Amanda Howland, Ryan Huffman, Kelly Mazeski, Becky Anderson Wilkins, and Jennifer Zordani.
The four Democrats are competing to oppose LaHood in District 18 are Brian J. Deters, Darrell Miller, Donald Ray Reintz, and Junius Rodriguez.
In District 16, providing Kinzinger survives his primary challenge, the incumbent will face one of these four Democrats: Amy “Murri” Briel, Sara Dady, Neill Mohammad, and Beth Vercolio-Osmond. Objections have been filed to the candidacies of Mohammad and Vercolio-Osmond.
The two Republicans who have filed to take on Krishnamoorthi in District 8 are Jitendra "JD" Diganvker and Vandana Jhingan. Objections have been filed to Jhingan’s candidacy.
Two Republicans also are hoping to challenge Foster in District 11. They are Constant G. "Connor" Vlakancic and Nick Stella.
The Republican challengers to Bustos in District 17 are William W. "Bill" Fawell and Mark Kleine.
The state Board of Elections will determine whether objections filed against primary candidates are valid. Final primary ballot certification is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 11.