97th House District Race Focuses on Federal Issues, Scandals
Appointed Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman (D-Plainfield) chats with supporters at a Democratic women’s event in Joliet Sunday. (Photo: The Illinoize)
Life has moved quickly for Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman (D-Plainfield) since July. Starting the summer as a stay-at-home mom and small business owner, she started the fall as a State Representative locked in one of the most competitive races legislative races anywhere in the state.
“I am typically out knocking doors from the moment I drop my kids off at school until the moment I pick them up. So 9-3:30, I’m out knocking doors, either myself and my staff or just me,” Heitman said after a Democratic women’s rally in Joliet Sunday afternoon. “[I’m] introducing myself from zero. And we saw that in the polls. I had a poll done right out of the gate and nobody knew who I was.”
Heitman replaced disgraced Rep. Harry Benton, who resigned in July after a Legislative Inspector General’s report concluded he had sexually harassed a female staff member and a lobbyist. Heitman previously worked for Benton for a short time at the beginning of his first term.
She faces Republican Gabby Shanahan, a former Illinois Policy Institute and Americans for Prosperity staffer who lost to Benton by around 2,300 votes two years ago.
Knocking on doors in Plainfield Sunday, Shanahan says she and her campaign have knocked on 60,000 of them this cycle, said she’s optimistic about her chances but doesn’t believe the Benton scandal has vanished from the minds of voters.
“I don’t think I’m running against a generic Democrat. I think there’s still a tie to Harry Benton. We go to a lot of doors and they still, they know that unfortunately, yes, Harry Benton’s gone, but we need a culture change,” she said. “There’s still that tie there of somebody that worked in his office at that time knew what was going on and she’s now the appointed representative.”
Heitman said she doesn’t believe voters care about the Benton scandal at all.
“Door to door? No. I mean, the only thing that I have had someone say is ‘I’m so glad you’re here,” she said. “I’ve had a couple of people ask ‘Wait, did you replace that one guy? The everyday person does not know about it.”
House Democrats have attempted to move past the Benton scandal and have attacked Shanahan relentlessly on federal issues, including in one TV ad hinting that Shanahan opposes the release of the Epstein Files. State Representative, of course, has no role in the congressional drama over Epstein.
GOP House candidate Gabby Shanahan speaks to a supporter while knocking on doors in Plainfield Sunday. (Photo: The Illinoize)
“I mean, I do not know Jeffrey Epstein. I do not know Donald Trump, I don’t know Elon Musk,” Shanahan said with a laugh. “That’s all federal stuff. This is a state [race] and I’m my own independent person. I can think for myself and what I want to do is represent the residents of District 97.”
Heitman defended the ads, claiming both sides makes ads out of context.
I think that that is just how these races are run, quite honestly,” she said. “You see it on both sides, both on Republican and Democrat sides. The federal level is being brought in. I like to focus on what I’m trying to do, but she isn’t answering a lot of questions.”
Heitman criticized Shanahan for not representing the views of the district, specifically on abortion, where she accuses Shanahan of refusing to tell voters her position.
“[Shanahan] won’t answer about how she feels about certain issues, specifically pro-choice,” Heitman said. “She will not speak to how she falls on either side of that. And I am pro-choice for a number of reasons, mostly because I am a female and I am raising three daughters, and I think we should have body autonomy and be able to make our own decisions.”
Shanahan appeared unwilling to discuss the issue.
“The debate is settled in Illinois. We have protections in place already,” she said. “If it came down to it, I am in favor of putting a referendum on the ballot so people, so voters can decide what it should look like.”
Asked specifically if she was pro-life or pro-choice, Shanahan didn’t answer.
“It’s been decided here in the state of Illinois,” she said.
Kamala Harris won the district by about 4 points in 2024. Governor Pritzker won it by around 7 in 2022.
