Tammy Duckworth To Run Against Mark Kirk In 2016

Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who defeated Republican Congressman Joe Walsh in 2012, will run against Republican Senator Mark Kirk in 2016:

WASHINGTON – Rep. Tammy Duckworth D-Ill., will announce a 2016 Senate bid likely on Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned. She is aiming to win the Democratic nomination to run against Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill.

On Monday evening, Duckworth gathers some of her top donors at a home in the Hancock Center in Chicago to discuss securing the Democratic nomination to run against Kirk, who is seeking a second term.

In the letter to Duckworth’s best fundraisers about the Hancock event they were told, “contributions are encouraged but not required. We realize it is early in the election cycle, but we are asking our top supporters to consider a donation. The maximum an individual can give before March is $5,400. If Tammy decides to not to run for Senate, we will offer you a refund. If she does run, this support will be key in keeping up with Senator Kirk’s $2 million and counting campaign war-chest.”

Duckworth jumps in the Democratic primary as three other U.S. House Democrats from Illinois are considering a run: Rep. Bill Foster, Rep. Robin Kelly and Rep. Cheri Bustos.

Of all the Republican incumbents up for re-election in 2016, Kirk is probably the most vulnerable simply because Illinois is likely to go heavily for the Democratic nominee for President just as it has in every election since 1992 Additionally, as it was Kirk’s win in 2010, a very good year for Republicans, was by a razor thin margin. While Kirk has done much to distinguish himself from his more conservative Republican colleagues, he’s still going to be a Republican running in a very Democratic state.

FILED UNDER: 2016 Election, Congress, US Politics, , , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Surreal American says:

    Meanwhile, Joe Walsh sees his big chance for a political comeback!

  2. michael reynolds says:

    I tossed her a C-note to help get started. And now my email inbox will always be full.

  3. Grumpy Realist says:

    @Surreal American: oh gosh yes. I don’t think the Illinois Republican Party is so stupid as to nominate him over Kirk, but if it does, there won’t be room for all the axes and dirks and chainsaws that will get thrown at him. He REALLY pissed off people while he was here.

  4. Guarneri says:

    Keep it in your pants, people. Joe Walsh ain’t running instead of Kirk.