Downstate legislative races may be close
(The Center Square) – With tight races for the Illinois General Assembly taking place across the state, some downstate races receive less attention than some of the races in the Chicagoland area – even as many downstate races may be just as close this year.
76th HOUSE DISTRICT
Former staff members of Rep. Amy Murri Briel, D-Ottawa, have made allegations of inappropriate behavior and drug use in her office. Those are being leveraged by her Republican opponent Liz Bishop – who lost to Briel by 0.63%, or 595 votes, in 2024.
Mark Cavers, political director for the Illinois House Republican Organization, told The Center Square he thinks complaints about lawmakers including Briel provide voters with a clear choice that favors the GOP.
“That was someone whose own staff has alleged that she harassed them, that she gave them drugs,” Cavers said. “You know, I think voters have a real clear choice in 2026 and that choice increases our benefit.”
Briel did not respond to The Center Square’s request for comment on the allegations.
However, at a town hall event in early September, she denied the allegations, saying the staffer who made the allegations was upset over a position she didn’t get.
Briel also said an investigation by the legislative inspector general found no substantiated evidence of wrongdoing.
56th SENATE DISTRICT
In the Metro East, incumbent state Sen. Erica Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, faces Democrat challenger Marsia Geldert-Murphey.
Harriss defeated her last Democratic opponent by 2.2%, or 1616 votes, in the 2022 general election. Throughout her time in Springfield, Harriss has introduced legislation aimed at keeping jobs in the Metro East region and has voted against most new taxes and fees statewide proposed.
As a civil engineer, Geldert-Murphey’s campaign has placed an emphasis on the state government providing improvements to the region’s infrastructure, and the campaign also highlighted increased education and healthcare funding by the state as priorities for the candidate.
DEMOCRAT-HOPEFUL PICKUPS
Ben Hardin, the executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois, said the party is also looking to pick up seats in the 104th and 114th House districts – both currently held by Republicans.
“I think with the the damage the Republican Party has done, both to itself, but also to our state, I think we have a ton of disaffected voters in both 114 and 104, and hopefully 118,” Hardin said. “[Voters] who are looking for a change, who are looking for a party that better represents their interests, bringing down costs, protecting our democracy.”
In the 104th, incumbent Brandun Schweizer, R-Danville, faces Democrat Mary Catherine Roberson, who is running on prescription affordability, paid family and medical leave and the creation of a state version of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to enforce consumer finance laws.
Schweizer won in the previous election by 0.29%, or 269 votes.
The incumbent’s campaign primarily focuses on policies to lower the cost of property taxes, utility rates, and “everyday life.”
In the 114th district, Kevin Schmidt, R-Cahokia Heights, faces Democrat George McClellan Jr., who supports property tax relief through additional state funding to localities.
Schmidt previously won by 2.24%, or 2,146 votes, in 2024. During his time in office, the lawmaker has introduced legislation to create the Metro East Development Authority, which he says will recruit companies to come to the region and develop new job opportunities.
Additionally, the lawmaker has also sponsored and backed legislation to ease property taxes for residents of the region and to extend some tax credits for local businesses and developments.
Mail-in ballots and early voting is already underway across the state. The election is Nov. 3 election.
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