One out of every five Illinois legislators taking the oath of office next winter will be new to the General Assembly. Thirty lawmakers, many worn down by years of skirmishing between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan over state finances — and just about everything else — have retired or will not stand for re-election in November.

 

Add to that the #MeToo anti-sexual harassment movement, which swept up a Democratic state senator and in recent weeks even singed Madigan; the moderate stances on abortion and immigration that Rauner the fiscal conservative has taken; and the malaise wrought of hundreds of billions of dollars of debt, and there is enough to push voters past the boiling point.

 

Legislative candidates sense that, and while November has long promised a referendum on Rauner vs. Madigan, many are distancing themselves from those established mantles.

 

But first comes the March 20 primary in an election year that is showing divisiveness, even within the parties.

 

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