BRONZEVILLE — State Rep. Ken Dunkin is fighting to hold onto the seat he’s held for more than a decade against challenger Juliana Stratton in one of the most heated races in the city.
The race has been one of the most watched — and likely the most expensive — in this election cycle and has dragged President Barack Obama back into local politics.
Dunkin has held the 5th District seat since 2002, but has faced a tough race with Stratton, an attorney and criminal justice policy administrator with Cook County who has been backed by Obama and top Democratic political leaders in the state.
Many leading Democrats have chosen to endorse Stratton after Dunkin missed several votes or voted with Republicans to deny Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan a super majority to break a partisan stalemate in Springfield.
On the campaign, Dunkin said he is independent of Madigan and voted in the best interests of his constituents, while Stratton said his failure to vote on key issues has hurt his constituents by prolonging the gridlock in Springfield.
Dunkin’s claims to bipartisanship have been challenged by the nation’s top Democrat. Obama chastised Dunkin from the House floor during his February visit to Springfield and weeks later recorded a campaign ad for Stratton, which analysts have said has never happened in an Illinois House race before.
Though final spending numbers won’t be available until after the election, it’s likely the 5th District race will be the most expensive House race in state history.
The amount of money that has poured into to the race is staggering.
Stratton raised $450,000 in a single day on March 8 from the Service Employees International Union, other Democrats and Grosvenor Capital Management CEO Michael Sacks.
Dunkin raised $300,000 on March 4 from the Illinois Opportunity Project, the group run by former Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft.
The media has labeled the contest a proxy war between Madigan and Rauner with Madigan’s grip over the House at stake.
The ferocity of the campaign has also lead to some bold allegations, including a claim by Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) that she had video evidence proving Dunkin was paying people in her ward to vote for him.
The race has also been marred by allegations that an anti-Dunkin billboard was defaced by armed men.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is investigating and a spokeswoman on Monday said the case was still under investigation.
The primary election is on Tuesday and the Republicans have not yet fielded a candidate for the General Election.
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