McAuliffe will be only name on ballot for 20th House District race
by BRIAN NADIG
State Representative Michael McAuliffe’s name will be the only candidate listed for the 20th House District race on the Nov. 6 ballot, virtually assuring him of re-election.
The Cook County Democratic Party recently chose not to slate anyone to run against the Republican McAuliffe, and there are no other political parties with candidates in the race.
“Why don’t they have a candidate running against me? It’s not for me to question,” McAuliffe said. “A couple of months ago I didn’t think it was possible.”
Merry Marwig, who garnered about 44 percent of the vote in her 2016 loss to McAuliffe, was expected to be the Democratic candidate, but she dropped out of the race after the March primary.
The Democratic Party spent a reported $2.1 million on Marwig’s campaign in 2016, while McAuliffe’s campaign reportedly benefited from $2.8 million in expenditures from the Republican Party and political action committees. “Now it’s zero,” McAuliffe quipped about the money being spent on his campaign this year. (But) there are a lot of other competitive races.”
The window to run as a write-in candidate is closing fast. Under state election law those seeking a write-in candidacy must file a declaration of intent at least two months prior to the election.
The 20th District includes portions of Norwood Park and Edison Park and several suburbs.
McAuliffe said that tax relief, pensions and the state budget are the top issues on the minds of voters in the district. “I think they want to see the state be on a good fiscal footing,” he said.
McAuliffe, who also is the 41st Ward Republican committeeman, has served as state representative since 1996, replacing his father Roger McAuliffe, who passed away.
