Republican Scott Preston and Democrat Sharon Chung are running for Illinois’ new 91st House District, which covers most of the Bloomington-Normal area. Both candidates participated in a debate at Illinois State University, and have heavily promoted their campaign to residents in recent weeks.
Preston is an ISU alum and serves on the Normal Town Council. But Chung’s campaign funding is much more endorsed, as she introduced Gov. JB Pritzker at a rally in downtown Bloomington in September.
“This is one of the most exciting transformations in a county that we have seen in many years. Mclean County is a democratic county,” Pritzker said, right outside the Museum of History in downtown square.
The stakes are high with this election, as Democrats currently have a supermajority in the Illinois House. State Rep. Ryan Spain of Peoria, chairman of the House Republican Majority campaign committee, has called this election “one of the most important races in the state”.
With an open seat and a new political geography, many in Mclean County are playing a large role in this election. If Chung were to win, it would be Bloomington-Normal’s first time being represented by a Democrat since 1982.
Between both candidates, they have spent more than $1 million dollars to win. With Preston’s community leadership and Chung’s drive, as she personally knocked on over 8,000 doors in the district, this election is one that many are watching closely.
One of Preston’s top priorities is cutting taxes and stopping wasteful government spending. Chung’s campaign focuses on reproductive rights, attacking Preston’s “pro-life” policies and “his extreme MAGA allies.” During the ISU debate, Preston responded to reproductive health rights by telling the audience that he and his wife welcomed their first baby recently, after a difficult battle with IVF treatment.
The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois will be held on November 8, 2022. Illinois Wesleyan’s Student Senate will hold a voter registration tabling event October 25 and 26 and again, right before elections, on November 1 and 2.