The Primaries will be held this upcoming Tuesday in the Land of Lincoln (my home state). I will give you a rundown of the key races occurring.
Remember to go vote on Tuesday. Polls open at 6AM CDT and close at 7PM CDT.
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IL-02:
Former Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson faces off against incumbent and notoriously corrupt Jesse Jackson, Jr. I endorse Halvorson.
Poll
IL-03:
DINO Dan Lipinski faces off against longshot progressive Farah Baqai. I endorse Baqai.
Poll
IL-08:
Tammy Duckworth, the former challenger to Peter Roskam (R) and Iraq War veteran, will face off against the 2010 Democratic Comptroller candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Too close to call, but Duckworth gets the nod.
Poll
IL-10:
Progressive favorite Ilya Sheyman faces off against DINO Brad Schneider, US Air Force Colonel John Tree, and Attorney Vivek Bavda. Polling has this favoring Sheyman, and he's my pick for this district.
Poll
IL-11:
Former Congressman Bill Foster, Orland Fire Protection District President James Hickey, and former Aurora Township Clerk Juan Thomas will face off against Judy Bigger. My pick is Foster.
Poll
IL-12:
On the Democratic side to replace Jerry Costello (D), we have former St. Clair County Superintendent Brad Harriman against Granite City-based ConservaDem and frequent primary challenger Kenneth Wiezer running. This one's easy: Harriman. If Miller still was in, then it would've been him instead.
Over to the Evil Elephants: We have the failed 2010 Lt. Gov. candidate and spoiled brat 1%er in Jason Plummer, former Belleville mayor and party-switcher Rodger Cook, and 2010 Republican Primary loser Theresa Kormos.
Teri Davis Newman, the 2010 Republican Party candidate for this district, has been kicked off the ballot. My Endorsement for the GOP Primary will be Kormos, because it'll be easier for Harriman to win.
Democratic Primary: Poll
Republican Primary: Poll
IL-13:
The Dems will have physician and multiple-times challenger against Johnson David Gill and Greene County State's Attorney Matt Gotten. My pick here is Gill.
On the Repub side, we have IL-15 Congressman Timothy V. Johnson, 2010 Republican Primary challenger to Shimkus Mike Firsching, and retired ironworker from Glen Carbon Frank Metzger. My endorsement goes to Metzger, just so that Gill (or Goetten) has a better chance of winning in Novemeber.
Democratic Primary: Poll Poll
Republican Primary: Poll
IL-17:
Dems are running Augustana College's Director of Multicultural Services Greg Aguilar, East Moline alderwoman Cheri Bustos, and Freeport mayor and 2010 Democratic Congressional candidate against Manzullo in IL-16. My pick is Bustos here. However, had Dave Koehler stayed in, then Koehler's my 1st choice.
Poll
Republican Presidential Primary:
Mittens The Job Cremator (Mitt Romney), Man-On-Dog (Rick Santorum), Thrice Married and Ethically Challenged Former Speaker (Newt Gingrich), and Ron Paul are the nominees. I hope Santorum wins it, because it will make this race a lot harder for Romney and improves Obama's chances more.
Poll
Illinois Supreme Court:
I endorse Mary Jane Theis for 1st Appellate District Supreme Court Justice.
I live in the 5th Appellate District.
NOTE: Do the "Operation Hilarity" thing to keep the GOP primary going ONLY if your district does NOT have major downballot races.