IL-03 Dems Snark, Practice Social Distancing To Primary Finish

IL-03 — The coronavirus public health crisis seems to havesucked the momentum out of the competitive Democratic primary in Illinois’s 3rd Congressional District. Three challengers are going after incumbent Dan Lipinski for their party’s nomination this November. Lipinski, the heir apparent to his father, Bill, is running for his eighth term.

IL-03 voters in the Democratic primary will cast votes for Lipinski, Rush Darwish, Charles Hughes or Marie Newman.

In the 2018 Illinois Primary, Newman threw a scare into Lipinski by coming within 2,145 votes of ending the Lipinski stronghold of IL-03. The seven-term congressman is leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of fiscally-conservative Democrats. He is staunchly anti-abortion and has said he believes human DNA starts at the moment of conception.

Lipinski, who bills himself as the “Common Sense Democrat,” voted against the Affordable Care Act in 2010, although he did vote with House Democrats against Trump Republicans’ attempts to repeal it. He voted against the DREAM Act, and co-sponsored the First Amendment Defense Act, which prohibits the federal government from taking adverse actions against a person who opposes same-sex marriage. While he recognizes the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on same-sex marriage as the "law of the land," he is on record as opposing government recognition of gay marriage.

The Western Springs Democrat is staunchly anti-abortion and has said he believes human DNA starts at the moment of conception. In January, Lipinski’s joined 200 Republicans in signing an amicus brief to repeal Roe vs. Wade.

Lipinski missed last week’s vote in Congress on the coronavirus relief package. Newman sent out a snarky email informing supporters that keeping his job was more important than voting for a relief bill that provided free testing for those without insurance, paid sick leave medical leave programs and unemployment benefits.

“Hundreds of representatives stuck around after midnight to cast that important vote,” Newman said. “But Dan Lipinski didn’t even bother to show up. He was politicking at home in Chicago, and lobbing nasty attacks at me on social media.”

Lipinski’s campaign spokeswoman Sally Daley told Politico: “The congressman was prepared to fly back to D.C. to vote for the package but after conferring with House leadership they told him they had reached a bipartisan deal and his vote wasn’t necessary. He definitely would have been a yes vote.”

Nemesis Newman from neighboring LaGrange is the challenger Lipinski is most concerned about. Newman is a former marketing consultant, small business owner and anti-bullying advocate. She’s says the most pressing issue facing the district right how is the “growing un-affordabiity of life,” in which 80 percent of Americans are forced to live paycheck to paycheck.

Newman is running on a progressive platform of a $15-an-hour minimum wage or “something better,” Medicare for all, and immigrant and LGBTQ rights, earned tuition programs toward tuition-free college education, and a Green New Deal. Among her biggest endorsers are Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

All of Lipinski’s challengers are pro-choice.

Former Bill Lipinski-precinct captain Hughes criticizes Lipinski the son for missing opportunities to help IL-03 voters because “he hasn't looked at view points from constituents who have difference of opinion.” Hughes, of Chicago, supports a DCHeath Link that he says would expand plan options for all Americans. He also wants to do away with interest on student college loans and supports campaign finance reform at the federal level.

Palos Hills-resident Darwish owns a multi-media production company. He has served on the executive board of AMVOTE PAC that promotes voter registration, voter information and voter empowerment among American citizens of Middle Eastern ancestry in Illinois. He supports a pathway for immigrants to citizenship except those convicted of violent crimes. Darwish supports enacting Medicare for all who want it and for the uninsured, supports LGBTQ rights, expanding pre-apprenticeship programs for high school students, and creating an “army of teachers.”

Darwish frequently cites his own experience growing up in a working class, immigrant family and being a minority. If elected, he would be the first Palestinian American and first Muslim from Illinois to serve in Congress. He takes issue with being looked upon as a “spoiler” siphoning off primary votes from Newman, and issued the following statement:.

"Our campaign is interested in talking directly to voters. The voters of the 3rd District belong to no one and are looking for someone who is not a status quo politician and not an insider. Our campaign is focused on garnering a plurality of votes. Many people in our district are dissatisfied with Dan Lipinski's performance as Representative. We hope to earn their votes as well as anyone in the district who wants change."

Check back later when the polls close.