Illinois Dems eye outgoing lieutenant governor for House race

Illinois Democrats are hoping they can convince outgoing Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon (D) to run for Congress — and she’s not ruling out a challenge to freshman Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), according to local television station WSIL.

{mosads}Simon has a long political career in Illinois and a famous last name in the state as the daughter of former Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.), a liberal icon. The family is well-known and well-liked throughout downstate Illinois, and she has deep ties to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the party’s most powerful downstate politician. 

Simon is coming off a loss. While she chose not to run for reelection alongside unpopular Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D), who lost his reelection bid, he dragged down the rest of the Illinois Democratic ticket, including Simon, who ran for comptroller.

The southern Illinois House district will be a top Democratic target in 2016.

Republicans were quick to take shots at Simon, tying her to Quinn.

“Southern Illinois families have already been hurt enough by the policies of Sheila Simon and Pat Quinn. The last thing folks need is the out-of-touch Quinn-Simon agenda wreaking havoc on them from Washington,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Katie Prill said in a statement.