No Democratic incumbent can take anything for granted in this political environment, but Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth is the clear favorite to win a third term.
Seven Republicans are vying to take on Duckworth, but scant public polling has shown most voters remain undecided. In a poll for the Chicago Sun Times by left-leaning Public Policy Polling conducted June 6-7, two-thirds of voters remained undecided. Only two candidates — attorney Kathy Salvi and Navy veteran Peggy Hubbard — even barely broke double digits with 10 percent apiece.
Salvi — who unsuccessfully ran for the GOP nomination in the 6th District back in 2006 — has raised just over $300,000, the most among the primary field, but $250,000 of that came from her own pockets. Her husband, former state Rep. Al Salvi, won the Republican nomination for Senate in 1996 but lost to Democrat Dick Durbin in the open seat race. Financial planner Bobby Piton ranks behind Salvi in fundraising and also has the endorsement of controversial former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Duckworth, meanwhile, has raised nearly
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