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MIDTERM WATCH: Illinois' 3rd District Combats Voter Apathy

Gigi Gastevich |
October 31, 2014 | 11:59 a.m. PDT

Senior Arts Editor

Sharon Brannigan campaigning in her district. Facebook, Sharon Brannigan for Congress.
Sharon Brannigan campaigning in her district. Facebook, Sharon Brannigan for Congress.
Flower shop owner and Congressional candidate Sharon Brannigan’s biggest issue isn’t convincing a Democratic district to vote Republican; it’s convincing them to vote at all. 

Because of the close number of Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, the race in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District plays a key role in deciding which party will take power in the House following the midterm elections.

Yet this fall, voter apathy has turned into a major issue for the 3rd District. The deciding factor in the coming election could be not one of platform or political party, but rather which candidate convinces more people to vote.

“There’s not a moment of the day where it’s not about talking to people and telling them to vote,” said Brannigan.

In an email questionnaire I sent to 40 political science, social studies and history teachers at schools in the 3rd district, half of the teachers who responded said that they weren’t following or weren’t qualified to comment on the race in their school’s district. 

One social studies teacher says he doubts he’ll even vote. “I have voted in every election since 1996, and this is the least enthused I’ve ever been,” says Stephen Long at Oak Lawn Community High School.

Of the instructors who did choose to comment on the race, all but one mentioned a public (or personal) dislike for Dan Lipinski, Brannigan’s Democratic opponent and current Congressional incumbent. Lipinski got his seat from his father in 2005 under circumstances some say are dubious. “I always vote for his opponent because he took his seat in a manner I consider deeply corrupt,” says Graham Peck, a professor of 19th century political history at southwest Chicago’s Saint Xavier University. 

Still, Peck’s peers doubt that a general dislike of Lipinski can change the election results. 

Long predicts that incumbent Lipinski “will win the race in a cake walk.” 

“The challenger’s only hope [is] a surge of anti-incumbent sentiment, which is there, but not among motivated voters,” says Matthew Costello, a professor of political science at SXU. “Therefore my prediction is Lipinski will keep his seat.” 

Congressional incumbent Dan Lipinski talks to voters. Twitter, @RepLipinski.
Congressional incumbent Dan Lipinski talks to voters. Twitter, @RepLipinski.
It turns out that finding “motivated voters” anywhere in the southwest Chicago suburbs is pretty difficult. I called 30 3rd District businesses, and not a single person felt engaged with or informed enough about the race to discuss it. 

“I don’t think I’m in that district. I’m not familiar with that race,” said a woman working at Charmed Events Chicago.

“Who are the people running again?” asked Donna Stevens, a member of the circulation staff at Homer Township Public Library.

Brannigan wishes the voters were more engaged. “The district that I have here is incredibly large,” she said. “There are about 850,000 registered voters. But only 200,000 voters came out for the last presidential election. I’m not sure why. People are very discouraged.”

Lipinski did not return any of my four phone calls.

Some teachers think people are so discouraged because they feel the race is already won. “[Lipinski] has yet to field a serious challenge in this gerrymandered fiefdom of a district,” says Long. 

Peck agrees, saying, “Lipinski will win because this is an overwhelmingly Democratic district…unfortunately, there's not going to be a serious fight over issues.”

Long also perceives the candidates to be on unequal footing thanks to unequal funding. According to OpenSecrets.org, Lipinski currently has 218 times more “cash on hand” than Brannigan. He’s raised almost $620,000 compared to her $20,000. 

While 65 percent of Lipinski’s fundraising has been contributions from PACs, Brannigan’s money is coming almost exclusively from “small contributions” and her own pocket.  “I don’t have money for this race,” she said. “I’m putting my own funds in as much as I can and I’m getting some support…my donations are small.”

If Brannigan wants a fighting chance on Election Day, she’ll have to capitalize on her grassroots supporters and mobilize the currently unmotivated voters in her district. She thinks small-scale outreach will be most effective. “I’m going to the people,” she explains. “I keep plugging away and getting more volunteers… I think it’s just a matter of reaching out and talking to people.” 

Contact Senior Arts Editor Gigi Gastevich here.



 

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