Politics
10:00 am
Tue October 16, 2012
12th District Race Up For Grabs
It's anybody's guess who will win in the 12th Congressional District. Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Director David Yepsen says Democrats are at a disadvantage in the 12th Congressional District race against Jason Plummer, who gained recognition as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2010.
Yepsen says he doesn't know that anybody’s more closely tied to the district than others. He says it's sort of Metro East and then south so it’s an interesting mix for a district. Green Party candidate Paula Bradshaw is also vying for the seat.
Yepsen says there’s no clear winner in the district that has been targeted by both congressional committees. It’s kind of a conservative district but it also has a lot of Democratic leanings.
"the 12th District is about a 52 percent Democratic so it's one both sides, either side, thinks they have a shot of winning." - David Yepsen
Democrats have held the district for 68 years. U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello of Belleville is retiring at the end of the term, leaving the congressional seat up for grabs.