Illinois: Harper Launches Rematch Against Republican Rep. Biggert

By Greg Giroux | June 26, 2009 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Scott Harper

Illinois businessman Scott Harper is waging a rematch campaign in 2010 against Republican Rep. Judy Biggert.

Harper, a Democrat, said Friday that he would again run in Illinois' 13th District, a collection of suburbs southwest of Chicago that Biggert has represented since 1999. Biggert won their 2008 contest by a margin of 54 percent to 44 percent.

"I am looking forward to traveling around the district to build on the grassroots support I received last year by showing voters I am this person and discussing my ideas for getting our economy back on track, and building a better future for our families, children, and communities in the 13th District," Harper said.

While Biggert's 10-point win didn't make the race a nailbiter, it was her smallest margin of victory. Harper was helped last year by the top-of-the-ticket presence of Illinois Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, who defeated John McCain by 54 percent to 44 percent in the 13th District presidential balloting.

More than half of district residents live in southern DuPage County, an area that includes Naperville, and the rest live in northern Will County or southwestern Cook County.

In announcing his 2010 campaign 16 months before the election, Harper is getting an earlier start on his rematch campaign. He organized his 2008 campaign in August 2007 and spent $1.1 million on his campaign, compared to $1.6 million for Biggert.

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