Senate Republicans Shift Resources to Save Harriss, Lewis
Sen. Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon)
Senate Republicans have moved money out of another suburban district in an effort to save two struggling incumbents clinging to re-election hopes amid an expected blue wave.
The Senate GOP campaign arm denied they had pulled out of the race of Sen. Darby Hills (R-Barrington Hills). A direct mail in kind was reported by the Illinois GOP this week, but the caucus hadn’t made an investment in the race since October 15.
Now, multiple sources say the caucus has pulled out of the race to replace retiring Sen. Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles). Danielle Penman, the GOP candidate, last reported spending on direct mail on October 16.
Neither Penman or Senate Republicans returned messages seeking comment.
Instead, it appears the Senate GOP is circling the wagons around two incumbents who are locked in incredibly tight races. Sources say polling in the suburban district of Sen. Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) and the Metro East district of Sen. Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon) show both candidates are locked in dogfights.
“It’s pretty clear the Senate Republicans think the Darby [Hills] and DeWitte districts are gone,” said a GOP strategist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “So they’re putting everything they have left into Seth [Lewis] and Erica {Harriss].”
The Senate GOP reported sending Harriss another $290,000 this week to buy broadcast ads in St. Louis. She began airing broadcast ads Monday and is scheduled to be up on St. Louis TV through Election Day. Senate Democrats put their candidate, Marsie Geldert-Murphey of Glen Carbon, on St. Louis broadcast last week.
Senate GOP Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) was in the district Thursday, we’re told.
We’re told Senate Republicans weren’t prepared for Harriss’ race to get so tight, as the Metro East district has trended toward the GOP in recent years.
President Trump won the district by around 2.5 points in 2024. Darren Bailey won it by about 5 points in 2022.
Lewis also appears to be hanging on by a thread in his suburban district, though Senate Democrats aren’t putting nearly the resources into challenger Ben McAdams’ campaign as they are other top races.
The Senate Democrats have given McAdams, a self-described Democratic Socialist from Bloomingdale, $15,000 in cash and have reported around $100,000 in direct mail. Some unions, including teachers unions, have cut larger checks for McAdams.
“This is really frustrating for Republicans. It doesn’t even look like [Senate President] Don Harmon wants to win this district, but the environment is so bad for us, they may just win it anyway,” the GOP strategist said. “It’s demoralizing.”
Lewis put $100,000 of his own money into the race in recent days. Senate Republicans have given him $330,000 in cash this month. Lewis started a small buy on broadcast TV on October 14 and expanded the buy this week.
Senate Republicans have put fewer resources into the race of Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry), though, we’re told they believe he is in better shape than Lewis and Harriss.
The caucus has also hardly dipped its toes into the one potential pickup opportunity they had this cycle, for Sangamon County Recorder Frank Lesko, who is challenging Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield).
Lesko has received in-kinds for staff, but no direct support from the caucus with the exception of a $25,000 check from Curran in September.
“Too many mouths to feed when you don’t have any money to buy groceries,” one Republican insider said.
