UIS Political Science Professor Looks Ahead To The 2018 Elections

If you thought 2017 was an interesting year politically, 2018 is forecast to be intense. 

In 2018, all members of the US House of Representative are up for election. In Illinois, all statewide offices are up for election, along with all seats in the Illinois House and a portion of the Illinois Senate.

One seat that Democrats covet is the 13th District congressional district, currently held by Republican Rodney Davis. The district is was drawn to be a toss-up, and Democrats want to flip it.

Chris Mooney, political science professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield, says while Democrats are energized for 2018, he says people shouldn’t count Davis out, because he serves his constituents.

"He’s done a really good job at it, he hasn’t had a serious challenger and whether he has a serious challenger remains to be seen," Mooney added.

Five Democrats are running in the March 2018 primary win the right to take on Davis. 

Statewide, Mooney says Governor Rauner is vulnerable in his re-election bid, and has a controversial record to run on.

Republicans made inroads in the general assembly in 2016, picking up enough seats to end the Democrats veto-proof majority in the state house. Mooney says the Republicans picked up competitive seats last year, but the task grows harder next year.

"They picked up the easy ones. Every new seat they pick up will be harder and harder," he explained.

Mooney adds that Republicans still have a chance in Illinois, depending on the candidates they and the Democrats nominate in the March 2018 primary.