The woman tasked with getting more Democrats elected in Congress next year feels the party is well positioned to win a Central Illinois district that's long been in Republican hands.
Western Illinois congresswoman Cheri Bustos chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Bustos predicts Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan of Springfield will perform better in the 2020 race against U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis than she did last year when she lost to Davis by less than one percentage point in what became one of the mostly closely watched congressional races in the country.
“She lost only by the equivalent of three votes per precinct, and I’m confident she can win those votes and then some by just showing the good person she is and what she’ll fight for,” Bustos said.
Davis, R-Taylorville, is serving his fourth term in the congressional district that includes parts of Bloomington-Normal and portions of 14 counties. He hasn’t said whether he plans to run for a fifth term.
Bustos said Democrats should run on health care next year after Davis and others tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
“When Rodney Davis voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, he goes out on the White House lawn and is doing high-fives and is laughing and joking how proud they were of repealing the Affordable Care Act,” she added.
Health care was also a key issue in the 2018 race, when Davis won by about 2,000 votes.
Londrigan has said health insurance saved her family from bankruptcy after her son had a life-threatening illness as a child.
Davis has called for replacing the ACA, saying the plan has sharply increased premiums for most Illinoisans.
WGLT depends on financial support from users to bring you stories and interviews like this one. As someone who values experienced, knowledgeable, and award-winning journalists covering meaningful stories in Central Illinois, please consider making a contribution.
