Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s controversial remarks could affect the Illinois U.S. Senate race, according to one expert.
Northern Illinois University political scientist Matt Streb says he can’t remember a time when candidates distanced themselves from their party’s nominee. He says this is affecting the race between incumbent Republican Sen. Mark Kirk and Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth.
“Kirk has kinda made this argument in a sense: `We’re forgoing the Presidential election. Make sure you vote for me to make sure the Republicans keep control of the Senate,’” Streb says.
Trump faces hurdles in a blue state like Illinois. But Streb says it’s not clear how his nomination would affect GOP races in other battlegrounds like Wisconsin.
