According to projections by AP, Republican challenger Keith Pekau lost the close election for the 6th Congressional District to incumbent US Representative Sean Casten.
Casten overcame an incumbent U.S. competitor. Just a few weeks after the passing of his 17-year-old daughter Gwen, Rep. Marie Newman ran for office in the June primary.
After the reaction against then-President Donald Trump, Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives in 2018, the year Casten was first elected to Congress.
During a year that is anticipated to be favorable for Republicans, who many specialists and political watchers project to regain control of the House, he will be fending off Pekau.
Republican candidates like Pekau have made an effort to criticize Democrats on the unprecedented inflation that has plagued the American economy in recent months.
Casten justified his votes during the previous two years for significant spending initiatives like the American Rescue Plan, an infrastructure law, and a major health care and climate expenditure package. While recognizing to CBS 2 that those bills probably contributed to cost increases, he claimed that they put more money in the pockets of workers.
In contrast to where the economy was in 2020, which saw dramatically rising unemployment and a massively declining GDP, Casten said, “I would much prefer to be in the position we’re in now.”
After the Supreme Court overturned the almost 50-year precedent set by the Roe v. Wade ruling guaranteeing the right to the procedure nationally, Democrats have concentrated on portraying their GOP opponents as extremist on abortion rights.
In contrast to his support for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is in danger, Pekau, according to Casten, supported the court’s ruling. Pekau, though, reaffirmed his support for such exclusions and told CBS 2 that he is in favor of making adoption and other alternatives more accessible.
He added that he was adopted and that “we have to find a way to make that more cheap and a better choice for individuals.”
Real Clear Politics gave the district a “toss up” rating with less than two weeks until election day, but the Cook Political Report gave it a “likely Democrat” rating.
According to a Daily Kos study, President Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the freshly redrew district in 2020 by a score of 54% to 43%.
The redesigned district extends as far west as portions of Wheaton up to Lombard and Elmhurst, starting in the south with Orland Park, Alsip, and Oak Lawn. Previously, the district reached western Lake County and McHenry County to the north.
