The fall campaign for Illinois governor between Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican challenger Bruce Rauner will feature dueling brands of populism, campaign bankrolls in the tens of millions of dollars and plenty of scorched-earth attacks from groups with a vested interest in the high-stakes race. Indeed, even before Rauner had eked out a tougher-than-expected primary victory Tuesday, Quinn was up on TV with an ad attacking the wealthy Winnetka venture capitalist for his shifting positions on raising Illinois' minimum wage.
Quinn and national Democrats are ... highlighting unsavory elements of [Rauner's] career in private equity and legal troubles at nursing homes owned by Rauner's firm. Rauner has played into this image, describing himself as belonging to the ".01 percent" and at one point during the campaign proposing to lower the state's minimum wage before later saying it should be increased. Quinn bought TV time during primary night local TV coverage in Chicago and Champaign to air a clip of Rauner saying he would lower the state's minimum wage to the federal level.
Former Madison County Judge Ann Callis picked up the Democratic nomination in Illinois' 13th District Tuesday night and will now face a top target of national Democrats, freshman GOP Rep. Rodney Davis.... Davis defeated former Miss America Erika Harold 57 percent to 38 percent, with 65 percent of precincts reporting. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backed Callis in the primary, and party operatives say she is the best candidate to defeat Davis in this swing district.