WHEATON – Early Wednesday morning, Democrat freshman Congressman Sean Casten announced to his supporters in Illinois' 6th CD that he would be facing Republican former State Rep. Jeanne Ives in November. He urged donations in order to "keep IL-06 blue."
Casten beat former Congressman Peter Roskam in the Democrats 2018 "Blue Wave" – turning a once-red congressional district blue.
Ives, who challenged incumbent Republican Governor Bruce Rauner in the 2018 GOP gubernatorial primary, won nearly 2 to 1 over her 2020 primary opponent Jay Kinzler, an emergency room physician.
Ives commented on Facebook Tuesday night after her primary victory was declared:
Today, we held an election. This was a good thing. Governor Pritzker made the right call by allowing it to go on.
But tonight – and in the days to come – our focus must not be political, as much as it should be on putting in place policies and procedures that protect the health and safety of our communities and our loved ones.
We need our representatives in Congress to put political differences aside and work toward substantive solutions until we have gotten through the COVID-19 crisis. As a state legislator and as a candidate, I have been a policy person. I have looked for and advocated for serious solutions to our most difficult problems. I was happy to work with Democrats and Republicans alike to pass good legislation.
We are listening to the advice that is coming down from the CDC.
We will have to work together to rebuild our economy, to shore up our health care and social service organizations and to ensure that our transportation systems can operate smoothly once again.
As a state legislator, I worked with my constituents to ensure government's reach into their lives served them and was beneficial. As a candidate and a Congresswoman, I will use my platform to ensure that we are delivering results for the families and businesses of the Sixth District.
I am grateful to you for your support and your confidence in my ability to lead in uncertain times.
