In a crowded race for Congress on Chicago’s southwest side, three Democrats are hoping to unseat a relative newcomer to the office. But that incumbent has the remnants of his father’s ties to the old Chicago Democratic machine to help him through the election.

Learn more about the 3rd District at The Election File.

Incumbent Congressman Dan Lipinski has a big target on his back. Actually, he has three targets on him. One for each of his opponents in the Democratic primary.

The Congressman’s going for his third term in office, and standing in his way are challengers like Jerry Bennett—the long-time Mayor of South Suburban Palos Hills.

BENNETT: Good morning. Thank you. You staying warm this morning? Ohh, yes, two or three layers. I’m mayor out in Palos Hills for the last 27 years.

On a recent weekday morning, Bennett’s out at the Oak Lawn Metra stop greeting commuters. And yes, the frigid weather does help break the ice when approaching constituents.

Once out of the cold at a nearby Dunkin’ Donuts, Bennett says Lipinski hasn’t done nearly enough with his time in office.

BENNETT: I think certainly this district needs a more aggressive congressman.

It’s a complaint echoed by another primary challenger Mark Pera, a Cook County prosecutor.

At the Metra stop just 15 minutes down 95th Street from Bennett, Pera’s greeting commuters near Chicago’s Washington Heights neighborhood.

PERA: Good morning ma’am. I’m Mark Pera. That’s pretty brave, no hat. Yeah, thank you very much.

Pera points to issues like abortion and stem cell research where he says Lipinski’s opposition doesn’t reflect the views of most Democrats.

PERA: I’m a mainstream Democrat and Dan Lipinski is a very conservative Democrat.

And like Bennett and a third challenger, attorney Jim Capparelli, Pera’s also critical of how Lipinski first got into office.

PERA: People in this district do not believe that a congressional seat is a family heirloom to be handed down but it really is an office of public trust.

Lipinski’s father, Bill,  was a congressman in the district for more than 20 years. When he retired he helped his son take over. Pera says he knows there’s a long tradition of people punching the Lipinski name on election day.

PERA: The first step of winning any election is name identification.

GITELSON: It certainly is a legacy and some would argue, and some have strongly argued that it’s a classic case of nepotism.

Alan Gitelson is a political science professor at Loyola University. He says the Lipinski name still carries a lot of clout in the 3rd District and that will show on election day. But there’s an active effort  to change that.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights says it’s registered a thousand new voters in the Third District, where the Latino population is growing. 

HEREDIA: My name is Carlos Heredia or Heredia.

He’s with the Latino Organization of the Southwest which provides adult educational services to Latinos.

Heredia says he’s been part of efforts to register new citizens to vote and he calls Lipinski anti-immigrant mostly because of his support for the famed Sensenbrenner bill that ultimately failed. Plus…

HEREDIA: He hasn’t really acknowledged the fact that there’s a huge immigrant population that keeps growing every day and whose concerns aren’t being even acknowledged, to say the least addressed.

LIPINSKI: I actually have a group waiting in my lobby right now to come in and speak to me about the immigration issue.

Lipinski also contends as a congressman, he is in line with the Democratic Party and he says he doesn’t mind all the targets on his back. He says he’s already been elected twice and expects voters to support the Lipinski name once again.

I’m Tony Arnold, Chicago Public Radio.