Democrat Message Testing Leans on Trump Attacks
House Speaker Chris Welch speaks with Democratic members following a caucus meeting in 2025. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
Voters in the west suburbs may not have paid much attention to a text message poll that buzzed their phones earlier this week, but it may give political insiders some insight into how House Democrats plan to message for their candidates headed into November.
The poll appears to be for Rep. Matt Hanson (D-Montgomery), who is running for re-election in a likely safe Democratic district against Republican Jesse Rodriguez. Kamala Harris won the district by about 16 points, Governor Pritzker won it by about 17 points in 2022, so few consider it much of a battleground.
A screen recording of the poll was provided to The Illinoize.
The House Democrat political arm did not respond to inquiries from The Illinoize Monday night.
Message testing is nothing new in the late summer and early fall of a campaign season, but some experts believe a poll in a district like Hanson’s could
The poll seems to focus on issues like “real property tax relief,” eliminating so-called “junk fees,” capping costs of Epi pens and inhalers, and eliminating medical debt.
The survey also highlights stopping the 1.3¢ inflation adjustment in the state gasoline tax when lawmakers chose not to reduce the nearly 50¢ per gallon gas tax or 6.25% sales tax on gasoline.
“That’s a nice little swerve,” one Republican consultant said. “I hope we hammer them when they brag about stopping a 1 cent increase when they’re killing us with gas taxes. I hope Republicans are paying attention to this.”
The poll also tests voters on attacking Republicans on issues like abortion, claiming Hanson’s opponent is “backed by extreme politicians that want to ban abortions with no exception.”
Respondents are also asked about Democratic responses to disgraced former Rep. Harry Benton, who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations earlier this month. The poll, seeking Hanson’s vulnerabilities, asks voters if they were concerned when Hanson “stood silent” about Benton and accepts funding from House Speaker Chris Welch “who helped fund and protect and officeholder who sexually harassed women.”
The questionnaire also ties Hanson’s opponent, and likely most Republicans, to President Donald Trump, who has a low approval rating in suburban districts like Hanson’s.
“Donald Trump is the Achilles heel for Republicans in the suburbs, and everyone knows it,” said the GOP operative. “They used to say ‘all politics is local,’ but you can bet Democrats are going to nationalize the hell out of these races.”
The poll asks respondents their opinion of data centers in Illinois, views on Donald Trump and his handling of the economy, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Governor JB Pritzker, House Speaker Chris Welch, “Republicans in the state legislature,” Democratic Senate candidate Jared Ploger, Hanson, and labor unions.
“I think it’s pretty obvious Democrats see their vulnerabilities on some of these issues,” said the GOP consultant. “The question is: will voters buy their story? And will Republicans have the money to respond with any hits that work? I guess we’ll see.”
