Illinois Republican Nominees Hit the Campaign Trail in 2022

Illinois Review ^ | July 14, 2022 | John F Di Leo

[jfd1776]

This is an unusual election year, and not for the usual reasons.

Midterms have a certain dynamic, as it’s a different environment to have a US Senate candidate at the top of the ticket, as opposed to a presidential candidate as in leap years.

And the “2” years – 2002, 2012, 2022 – are always a challenge because it’s the first year with a new map, so all the candidates and their respective constituencies are just beginning to learn the new districts, both for Congress and the state legislatures.

But it’s an especially odd season for Illinois, because we are accustomed to spring primaries, and for the first time, Illinois had a summer primary this year, just under two weeks ago, on June 28.

Campaigns are normally fully engaged by now, in general election mode. Summer can be prime campaigning season – but not when the nominees aren’t even identified until July. Primaries this late are often thought of as incumbency protection plans, nothing else. They shorten the campaign season to just a few months, making everything easier for incumbents and harder for challengers… as if incumbents didn’t have enough advantages already.

This writer attended an election meeting presented by the Arlington Heights Tea Party on Saturday, July 9. In a welcome change of pace, this was an outdoor event, on a beautiful day. Instead of the usual backdrop of curtains and hotel meeting room walls, this was in a public park, with the candidates carrying a hand-held mic, surrounded by green hedges and public gardens. This is what summer political events ought to look like.

There were three speakers at this one, all challengers... Lieutenant Governor nominee Stephanie Trussell, and Congressional nominees Chris Dargis and Tommy Hanson...

(for the full article, see Illinois Review at https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2022/07/illinois-republican-nominees-hit-the-campaign-trail-in-2022.html )