Thursday, May 20, 2010

Should Illinois incumbents watch their backs?

After three decades, Arlen Specter's Senate career came to an abrupt end Tuesday. The five-term Pennsylvania senator lost the Democratic primary to Rep. Joe Sestak in the latest example of the anti-incumbency fervor that seems to be sweeping the nation.

As the establishment body count increases each week, should Illinois incumbents be looking over their shoulders as November draws closer?

“You have the worst economic conditions probably since the Great Depression combined with very rapid social change,” said Kent Redfield, a political science professor at the University of Illinois Springfield. “All of that brings a real sense that the people in charge aren’t connecting with or representing the people on Main Street.”

Redfield's comments were published in a Medill Reports: Chicago article on May 18, 2010.

Download a PDF of the article