Democrats Make a Play for Hastert Seat
June 28, 2007
By Nicole Duran,
Roll Call Staff
It would be difficult to find a Republican, or Democrat, in Washington,
D.C., or Illinois who thinks former Speaker Dennis Hastert
(R-Ill.) will seek a 12th term next year.
Even with the tantalizing prospect of an open seat dangling in front of
both parties, Democrats seem to be the only ones mobilizing.
"I think it speaks to the real appetite for change in the district and
the frustration on the part of voters that not much is being done in
Washington," said Thomas Bowen, campaign manager for physicist Bill
Foster (D).
Foster already has a team in place, dropped his first mailing and
declared this week that he intends to spend $1 million of his own money
to secure the 14th district Democratic nomination and another $1 million
if he makes it to the general election. But he will not have the
Democratic field to himself.
St. Charles attorney Jotham Stein began his campaign in January. John
Laesch, the little-known candidate who took 40 percent of the vote
against Hastert last year, intends to try again. And state Rep. Linda
Chapa LaVia (D) has formed an exploratory committee.
Interested Republicans are hamstrung until Hastert announces his
departure from Congress, which is expected no later than mid-August.
Hastert aides have said the man who holds the longevity record for
Republican Speakers will make his plans known before Congress adjourns
for the August recess.
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns established an exploratory committee. He is
expected to be joined in the GOP race by state Sen. Chris Lauzen and Jim
Oberweis, the wealthy dairy owner who has run unsuccessfully for Senate
and governor.
According to knowledgeable Republicans, state Rep. Tim Schmitz, a
favorite of many Hastert allies, now seems unlikely to run.
Officials at the National Republican Congressional Committee say the
suburban Chicago district will stay in GOP hands regardless of who their
nominee is. The 14th, with its Kane County population base, gave
President Bush 55 percent of the 2004 presidential vote, 11 points
better than he did statewide.
But Democrats say the district slowly has become more Democratic.
Given the Prairie State's preference for Democratic presidential
candidates and the possibility that Illinois' own Sen. Barack Obama
could be the Democratic nominee, Democrats like their chances.
"Whether Dennis Hastert retires or not, there is a strong appetite for
change in Illinois and the environment is only going to get worse for
the GOP in 2008," said Ryan Rudominer, a Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee spokesman.
As for Foster's resources and early push, NRCC spokesman Ken Spain
retorted: "He will need every red cent he can get his hands on because
this is a safe Republican district."
Foster, who has spent the last six months working as a fellow for
freshman Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), made his money early.
At just 19, Foster and his brother started making lights for use in
theatres, rock concerts, school plays and the like. His 24 percent stake
in what is now known as Electronic Theatre Controls Inc. is worth
between $5 million and $25 million, according to his personal financial
disclosure report.
>From there he went on to earn numerous degrees, including his doctorate
in physics from Harvard University. Foster spent 22 years with the
prestigious Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, culminating in being
part of the discovery of the heaviest known form of matter, the top
quark.
Foster left Fermilab last year and got political. He worked on Murphy's
winning campaign and followed him to Washington.
Although Foster still is a political novice, Bowen said that will not be
a hindrance.
"I think what voters are going to be looking for is someone who can
address their real problems, like global warming, bringing home the
troops from Iraq, achieving energy independence and getting more
stem-cell research," Bowen said.
Foster has surrounded himself with seasoned consultants.
Squier Knapp Dunn is handling his media, Global Strategy Group is
overseeing polling and Peter Giangreco of the Chicago-based Strategy
Group is in charge of mail.
Giangreco worked on Obama's 2004 Senate campaign and is now the Iowa
point man for his presidential campaign.
Chapa LaVia is the only Democratic contender who has held public office.
She won a third term last year with 73 percent of the vote, and visited
Washington in February and met with DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen
(Md.), House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) and a number
of unions.
Her spokesman, Ron Cook, said she enjoys good relationships with both
Obama and Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.) not to mention state House Speaker
Michael Madigan, who also serves as chairman of the state Democratic
Party.
"Democrats in this district to succeed need someone who has already
succeeded in electoral politics in this district," Cook said.
Yet, Chapa LaVia has said she will only pull the trigger if Hastert bows
out.
Illinois moved up its traditional March primary to Feb. 5, 2008.
Candidates can begin collecting signatures to get on the ballot in
mid-August.
That change both shortens the campaign and basically requires Hastert to
step aside once petitions begin circulating.
As for Hastert, "he remains an active and engaged Member of Congress,"
according to John McGovern, Hastert's top political aide. "If he has an
announcement, he'll make it at the appropriate time."
3 thoughts on “Democrats Make a Play for Hastert Seat”
[…] ArchPundit has it. Only new news I see is that Democrat Bill Foster says he will put $1 million of his own money in for the primary and the same for the general election. I knew he planned to put some of his own money in – I don’t remember it being quantified. […]
Looks like he’s trying to clear the field. Laesch couldn’t come up with anywhere near that amount. Based on Q1 results, Stein’s not exactly setting the world on fire ($30k raised, $18k CoH), which still gives him a lot more than Laesch, but not in the million dollar ballpark.
Hastert’s still raking the cash in, as well. $289k raised in Q1, $60k on hand.
I would love to see that district flip, but I can’t say I’m super comfortable with some novice coming in to try to buy the election.
We’ll see what things look like once Q2 numbers come out.
[…] ArchPundit has it. Only new news I see is that Democrat Bill Foster says he will put $1 million of his own money in for the primary and the same for the general election. I knew he planned to put some of his own money in – I don’t remember it being quantified. […]
Is the million also a move to try and keep Linda out of the race?
Looks like he’s trying to clear the field. Laesch couldn’t come up with anywhere near that amount. Based on Q1 results, Stein’s not exactly setting the world on fire ($30k raised, $18k CoH), which still gives him a lot more than Laesch, but not in the million dollar ballpark.
Hastert’s still raking the cash in, as well. $289k raised in Q1, $60k on hand.
I would love to see that district flip, but I can’t say I’m super comfortable with some novice coming in to try to buy the election.
We’ll see what things look like once Q2 numbers come out.