Illinois Democrats Bobby L. Rush, Robin Kelly and Danny K. Davis are all facing questions about their nomination petition filings, a procedural hurdle one campaign attorney characterized as “a cheap ploy to drum up free press for the challengers.”  

The deadline to challenge the supporting signatures collected by congressional campaigns expired Monday. According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, Reps. Rush and Davis garnered two objections each, while Kelly was dealt just one.  

Kelly campaign advisor Keiana Barrett told Roll Call the text of the complaint repeatedly referenced non-existent appendices.  

“There’s nothing for us to respond to,” she said of the incomplete filing the campaign’s lawyers Wednesday sought to have dismissed. Rush attorney Brendan Shiller seemed confident that the 12-term lawmaker would emerge unscathed from the attack by primary challenger Howard B. Brookins Jr.  

“It’s a pretty frivolous filing,” Shiller said of the Chicago alderman’s attempt to have Rush removed from the ballot.  

The Brookins campaign Monday blasted out a press release accusing Rush of fraud by calling into question the validity of the names recorded on multiple
petition
forms .  

“For years Bobby Rush has not shown up for his constituents and it’s clear the community is no longer there for him,” Brookins charged.  

Davis’ office did not respond to calls for comment on how he planned to address the two objections lodged against his campaign.  

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