Under current map, freshman Kinzinger to face Manzullo

Under current map, freshman Kinzinger to face Manzullo

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger and fellow Republican Don Manzullo appear likely to face each other in a primary next March, the latest fallout from new boundaries drawn by Democrats. 

Kinzinger doesn’t have a lot of options. The Democratic map has left the Manteno resident essentially district-less, so he’s looking north. Unless a lawsuit is successful in tossing out the map, Kinzinger’s spokeswoman, Brook Hougeson, said he’ll run in the 16th District, which already has a Republican. Manzullo has held the Rockford-area seat for two decades.

The race would pit the 67-year-old Manzullo against the 33-year-old Kinzinger. But Manzullo’s spokesman, Rich Carter, said on Monday that the congressman is “pretty confident” the map will be overturned.

Carter said Manzullo raised about $300,000 from July through September, and has roughly a half-million dollars in his campaign account.

Hougeson did not have an estimate for Kinzinger’s fundraising. The total doesn’t have to be publicly reported until Oct. 15th. In July, Kinzinger reported having more than $430,000 in available cash.

If the map stands, this will be one of two incumbent versus incumbent GOP U.S. House primaries in Illinois. The other pairs U.S. Reps. Joe Walsh and Randy Hultgren in the 14th District.