Lipinski gets primary pass as Illinois candidates file

While Republicans deal with the prospect of arduous primaries in many of their top-targeted races next year, it should be noted that a primary target on the Democratic side appears to be getting a pass.

Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), who has taken 54 percent in two primaries since controversially inheriting his father’s seat in 2004, has just one, little-known challenger.

The centrist-leaning Lipinski will face immigration activist Jorge Mujica. The incumbent’s apparent pass highlighted the last day for Illinois candidates to file petitions Monday.

In other races:

Despite some consternation about whether they would qualify, both Cheryle Robinson Jackson (D) and Patrick Hughes (R) filed for the state’s open Senate race. Both will be underdogs in their respective primaries.

Seven Republicans and four Democrats filed for Rep. Mark Kirk’s (R-Ill.) battleground seat, with Kirk running for Senate. The race is among the biggest in the country, and there were no last-minute surprises. A trio of Republicans have put together big money, while state Rep. Julie Hamos and two-time Democratic nominee Dan Seals face each other on the other side.

Five Republicans filed to face Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.), including attorney Ethan Hastert, state Sen. Randy Hultgren, businessman Jim Purcell and former Defense Department employee Mark Vargas.

Iraq veteran Adam Kinzinger, who has been endorsed by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), was the lone major candidate to file against freshman Rep. Debbie Halvorson (D-Ill.).

Democrats were unable to find a top challenger to Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) in a somewhat competitive suburban Chicago district. Roskam landed only a minor challenger, Benjamin Lowe of Wheaton.

Six Republicans filed to face Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), but none of them has yet raised good money for the race. The perennially disappointing GOP target has fallen off the map in recent months as Republicans have landed challengers elsewhere.

Eleven candidates, including Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), filed for the Democratic primary for Davis’s seat. Davis has also filed for Cook County Board President, but he will have to decide between running for that office and seeking reelection by next week, the deadline to drop out of a race.