Democrats priority on Illinois House races: 5 on Red to Blue list

below, from the DCCC, the Democratic House political operation..

DCCC Chairman Steve Israel Announces Illinois Red to Blue Candidates

Following yesterday’s Illinois primary, DCCC Chairman Steve Israel today announced five (5) candidates who have qualified for the highly competitive Red to Blue program as the latest in the DCCC’s ‘Drive for 25’ campaign to win the House. These candidates have earned a spot on Red to Blue by surpassing demanding fundraising, organization and infrastructure goals and with candidates that demonstrate they are problem solvers who will represent new priorities when elected to Congress.

“The road to the majority goes through Illinois. These Illinois candidates are going to be aggressively holding Republicans accountable for consistently choosing Millionaires over Medicare, oil companies’ tax breaks over middle class tax cuts, and ideology over solutions,” said DCCC Chairman Steve Israel. “In 2012, House Republican candidates are going to have to defend the indefensible. Representatives Allyson Schwartz, Jared Polis, and Donna Edwards know what it takes to win and will provide top notch leadership to our candidates.”

Illinois redistricting created six Democratic districts that President Obama would have won and are currently represented by Republicans: IL-08 (Walsh) 62.4 percent, IL-10 (Dold) 63.7 percent, IL-11 (Biggert) 62.1 percent, IL-13 (Johnson) 55.6 percent, IL-17 (Schilling) 60.9 percent. Four of the newly created completive districts were also won by Senator Kerry. IL-12, an open seat, was also won by both President Obama by 55.7 percent and Senator Kerry by 51.4 percent.

The Red to Blue program is co-chaired by Congressman Jared Polis (CO) and Congresswoman Donna Edwards (MD), and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz serves as the National Chair for Recruitment and Candidate Services. The DCCC announced its first round of 2012 Red to Blue candidates in January.

Illinois Red to Blue Races (5)

Tammy Duckworth (IL-08)

Brad Schneider (IL-10)

Bill Foster (IL-11)

Brad Harriman (IL-12)

Cheri Bustos (IL-17)

About Red to Blue

The DCCC’s Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support. The program will introduce Democratic supporters to new, competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising base for these campaigns.