House - IL 13th - Betsy Dirksen Londrigan

Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Rodney Davis in Central Illinois

video clip: Betsy Dirksen Londrigan for Congress

Betsy Dirksen Londrigan will run a second time for this seat, which she lost by 2,054 votes in 2018. Her decision to run is personal. In 2009, her 12-year-old son Jack lay in the pediatric intensive care unit in critical condition. A life-threatening illness caused by a tick bite left Jack in a medically-induced coma, fighting for his life. He spent 24 days in the hospital. Betsy is grateful for the doctors and nurses who saved her son and the insurance that helped with the medical bills. When she announced her 2020 candidacy, she said: “Quality, affordable health care is an absolute necessity, and it's unconscionable that many in Washington, including my opponent Rodney Davis, don't recognize this. That's why I'm stepping up to run for Congress again."

A native of Springfield, where she lives with her husband and three children, Betsy attended Illinois public schools. She taught for two years in Baltimore, Maryland, with Teach for America. While raising her children, Betsy worked as a self-employed advisor to small businesses and self-employed workers. She also worked for Senator Dick Durbin and with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Betsy has volunteered extensively in her community. She co-founded Women Rising, an organization that works to recruit, support, and elect women to state and local office.

Her opponent is Republican incumbent Rodney Davis, who votes with Trump 93.5% of the time, including to repeal the Affordable Care Act. When Davis refused to attend town halls to discuss healthcare before the last election, constituents launched a “Where’s Rodney?” campaign. Cardboard cutouts of “Flat Rodney” appeared throughout the district. Recently he led the opposition to HR 1, the House Democrats' campaign finance, elections, and ethics overhaul. Even though he won in 2018 by a razor-thin margin, Davis said he wasn't worried about voters punishing him for voting against the reform bill. Davis also has a terrible record on environmental issues -- only a 6% lifetime score from League of Conservation Voters. In 2018 he was one of the top two recipients in Illinois of money from the National Rifle Association.

Trump won the district by 5.5%. Betsy can use our help now in a race that’s again expected to be hard fought and close.