Democrats May Lose Illinois' 10th Congressional District in 2014

image
Created: 04 Mar, 2014
Updated: 14 Oct, 2022
3 min read
In

Illinois, a state where Democratic U.S. representatives outnumber Republicans twelve to six, at least one north suburban Chicago district may see a switch from Democrat to Republican.

With U.S. Representative Mark Kirk running for and winning a U.S. Senate seat in 2010, the 10th congressional district became open for the first time in a decade. Small business owner and Republican Robert Dold defeated three-time candidate Dan Seals, 51-49, in the general election. After redistricting, however, Dold became one of the more vulnerable incumbents in 2012.

In 2012, Dold faced Democratic consultant firm proprietor Bradley Schneider. A first-time candidate, Schneider defeated Dold 51-49. The raw vote difference was fewer than 3,000. By contrast, President Obama defeated Mitt Romney in the district 58-41.

After the 2010 redistricting, the 10th district encompasses the northern suburbs of Chicago, stretches from the northeastern border of Illinois at Zion, and bumps out to the west at Round Lake Beach before finally moving south to Arlington Heights.

Incumbent Bradley Schneider has spent his short time in office working to introduce legislation to direct funds from the Small Business Administration to start-up companies. In 2013, Schneider voted against the so-called Amash Amendment that would have stopped the surveillance programs of the NSA. He also voted to delay the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. In a move that mirrors one of President Obama's objectives for 2014, Schneider co-sponsored a bill to eventually raise the minimum wage to $10.10.

Dold likes to present himself in the mold of now-U.S. Senator Mark Kirk and Kirk has

appeared in campaign ads for Dold. In his initial race, Dold earned the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune for being in the "moderate, pro-choice independent mold of Kirk."

During his time in Congress, Dold angered some social conservatives for taking a pro-choice position, even to the point of voting against a ban on sex-selective abortions. However, in a district where social issues do not take precedence, he tried to mediate his position by opposing public funds for Planned Parenthood. Dold's vote became an issue in the 2012 race.

In the 2012 race, Dold frequently eschewed the party label, describing himself as an independent, rather than identifying with the GOP. He also referred to the health care reform legislation as the Affordable Care Act rather than "Obamacare." In a letter to supporters last May announcing he was running again, Dold did not mention his party affiliation, saying he is an "independent-thinking moderate."

In the latest fundraising reports, each candidate has raised more than one million dollars. In his October fundraising report, Dold detailed that more than 90 percent of his funds came from individual donors in Illinois. Fundraising could end up playing a significant role in the 10th district. In his 2012 loss, Dold's $4.5 million outspent Schneider's $3 million. A similar amount, however, was spent by outside groups on both candidates.

More Choice for San Diego

In 2012, the presence of President Barack Obama on the Democratic ticket likely helped Schneider. This year, Schneider will be appearing on the same ballot as Governor Pat Quinn, a Democrat whose political base of support is practically relegated to Cook County. So while it is early in the 2014 election season, the Illinois 10th congressional district is very likely to produce another close finish.

Latest articles

Several ballot boxes with different colored ballots sticking out.
Open Primaries Bill Passes New Mexico Senate, Moves to House
With a short legislative window to work with, the updates on a bill to open New Mexico's taxpayer-funded primary elections to more than 330,000 independent voters are happening fast -- and so far, it is good news for reformers....
21 Feb, 2025
-
1 min read
100 dollar bills.
15 Years After Citizens United, Seattle Can Show the Way Forward
January 21, 2025, marked the 15th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, a decision that opened the floodgates for unlimited corporate spending in elections. Since that ruling, super PACs and outside spending have skyrocketed, and the voices of everyday voters have been drowned out by wealthy donors and corporate interests. The impact of Citizens United is clear: the political system is increasingly controlled by the rich, while ordinary voters are left behind....
20 Feb, 2025
-
3 min read
Donald Trump at rally.
Poll: There's Strong Support Among Independents for Trump's Bipartisan Potential
The Independent Center released the fourth and final installment to its 2025 State of the Union Poll, highlighting where independent voters, Democrats, and Republicans have the most secure common ground....
19 Feb, 2025
-
2 min read