By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Don’t forget – there is a primary election Tuesday! 

“Largely, a pretty low-key affair” statewide, said Chris Mooney, a political science professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. He adds there are “pockets of competition for certain offices; for example, the state’s attorney’s race in (Cook County) is pretty hot. The only statewide office that is up is (that of U.S. Sen. Dick) Durbin, and the Republicans don’t seem to be all that energetic in their efforts to unseat him.”

There are five Republicans battling for that slot against Durbin (D-Ill.).

In addition to the presidential race this fall, Illinoisans will vote whether to change the state’s income tax from flat to graduated, by which higher earners will pay at a higher rate. 

“All the energy and focus is end up being on this fairly significant constitutional amendment  proposal,” Mooney said. “It’s going to be interesting to see how they’re conducted and how people are going to respond to them.”

Mooney is attached to the U of I’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].