RATINGS CHANGE: Illinois’ 17th District

Schilling will try to come back to Congress in 2014. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Schilling will try to come back to Congress in 2014. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Posted July 24, 2013 at 1:47pm

Former Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Ill., is going to put a Democratic gerrymander to the test.

Democrats redrew the congressional map in Illinois before the 2012 elections to defeat Schilling and some of his GOP colleagues. They were successful, as Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., defeated the incumbent, 53 percent to 47 percent, in a competitive race that didn’t end up being particularly close.

Without Schilling, Republicans wouldn’t have much of a shot of defeating Bustos. But since Schilling is running again, the contest should be competitive.

Now that Schilling is in, we’re moving the race from Democrat Favored to Lean Democrat in the Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call ratings.