PLAINFIELD, IL — Voters will take to the polls Tuesday to decide the fate in the hotly watched contest between Republican Gabby Shanahan and Democrat Jessica Dixon Heitman, who are vying to represent the 97th District in the Illinois House of Representatives.
The race entered the spotlight when incumbent Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) resigned in July and withdrew his candidacy after an investigation determined he committed two separate acts of sexual harassment, Patch reported.
Democrats unanimously appointed Dixon Heitman as his replacement and the party's nominee in the general election.
"She approached the job the same way she has approached everything else in her career—by listening, building relationships and focusing on practical solutions," her campaign website states. "Jessica believes Springfield needs more leaders interested in getting things done than getting attention."
A resident of Plainfield, Dixon Heitman serves as president of communications firm Dixon/Heitman Collective. Her grandfather, Alan Dixon, was the treasurer and Secretary of State in Illinois in the '70s and went on to serve as a member of the United States Senate from 1981 to 1993.
Dixon Heitman said her priorities, if elected, will include lowering costs for families by easing property taxes, pushing for strong public schools with fair funding, supporting law enforcement, creating opportunities for small businesses, and securing funding for infrastructure and schools for her district.
It's Shanahan's second attempt at securing the 97th District representative seat. She ran against Benton in 2024 but was unable to unseat him, losing by about 2,300 votes.
A graduate of Plainfield Central High School, Shanahan said she is running to lower the cost of living, create opportunities for children, and lead with honesty that drives the community forward, according to her campaign website.
"My life has always been about service: at school, in non-profits, in the community, and as a mom," she said. "That's who I am. I'm not trying to climb a political ladder. I'm not in this for power or a paycheck. I'm in this fight because Illinois needs leaders with integrity, people who stand for something, not just themselves."
After Dixon Heitman's appointment, Shanahan issued a statement, saying, it "does not erase months of missed representation."
"Our district needs a new kind of leadership, not just a new name on the door," she said. "The people of this district deserve a representative who shows up, listens, and delivers. That's exactly my record, and I look forward to earning their trust and their vote this November."
Both the Republican and Democratic primaries for the race were uncontested.
District 97 represents more than 108,000 residents, as of the 2020 census. The district covers a majority of Plainfield as well as parts of Joliet, Shorewood, Naperville and Oswego.
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