Highland Park mayor, Schneider in for a run at Dold
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering says she'll run for Congress in the north suburbs, setting up a Democratic primary battle with former U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Deerfield, who is set to announce a 2016 bid soon.
The candidates will be trying to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Dold of Kenilworth, now serving his second term in Congress from the north suburban 10th Congressional District.
“I bring a lifetime of advocacy reflecting the progressive values of our district and a record of producing real results to a Congress that has achieved little in recent years,” Rotering said in a statement.
Schneider strategist Eric Adelstein said he'll likely formally announce a campaign in two weeks and has already been polling voters about a potential matchup with Rotering.
Schneider has visited Washington in recent weeks to talk to Democrats about another run, including a meeting with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. He first won a trip to Congress in 2012 but was defeated by Dold last year.
National Republicans pounced at Rotering's announcement, saying a primary could be a “bloody” battle for the chance to face Dold.
And Dold spokeswoman Danielle Hagen called the Democrats' efforts “hyper-partisan campaigns fueled by nothing but hollow rhetoric and desperate political ambition.”
With the last election wrapping less than six months ago, candidates for 2016 still have months more to get in or out of races for Congress.