New Dem Poll Shows Casten Outpacing Roskam: Report

GLEN ELLYN, IL — A new poll conducted by Illinois Sixth Congressional candidate Sean Casten shows the Democratic hopeful just ahead of incumbent Rep. Peter Roskam (IL-6). The poll is the first in the must-watched race to show Casten outpacing Roskam 47 to 44, according to a news release.

Led by the Garin Heart Young Research Group, the poll interviewed a "cross-section of 402 likely general election voters in Illinois’s 6th congressional district." Voters were surveyed via cellphone and landline between Sept. 8 and Sept. 10.

Roskam, who has faced an increasing backlash from constituents due to an ongoing reluctance to hold an in-person town hall was seen in a negative view for 39 percent of surveyed voters, according to data from Garin Heart Young Research Group. The poll showed that 33 percent of voters said they still viewed the incumbent in a positive light.

The poll showed that 30 percent of voters had a positive view of Casten, whereas 12 percent had a negative view of the candidate, which some interviewed voters attributed to hearing more favorable news about Casten. The poll also reflected a jump in "Casten’s advantage over Roskam on being independent-minded and not just following a party line."

Some voters have taken issue with Roskam siding with Donald Trump on major issues, including gun laws, reproductive rights, and health care. The poll, which showed 58 percent of voters viewing Trump negatively and 52 percent viewing him very negatively, may suggest that Roskam's fidelity to Trump is impacting him negatively.

In a poll conducted prior to Labor Day, Garin Heart Young Research Group showed Roskam leading Casten by 45 to 44 percentage points.

In a statement, Casten said the poll is just "further evidence that we have the momentum to give our community the independent check on the President it wants.”

Rep. Pete Roskam's spokesperson Veronica Vera told Patch in an email, "Everyone knows this race is close, but as 6th district voters learn about Sean Casten’s alliance with Mike Madigan to oppose the property tax freeze and repeal the recent middle-class tax cuts, that he was sued by his own investors for mismanagement, and that he lobbied for special tax credits and taxpayer subsidies to prop up his own businesses, we are confident voters will stick with Peter Roskam who has been an effective leader for Illinois and is rated as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress.“

Image credit: Getty Images/Alex Wong / Staff