Illinois election: Budzinski declares victory over Deering in 13th Congressional District race

Two relative political newcomers faced off in the Illinois Congressional District 13 race, a district ranging from Champaign west through Decatur and Springfield and then south to the Metro East.

Democrat Nikki Budzinski and Republican Regan Deering vied to represent the newly crafted district in Washington, bringing with them varying ideas and leveling attacks against each other throughout the campaign.

At about 11:30 p.m. at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield, Budzinski declared victory and thanked her staff and family for all their support. With 96% of the vote counted, she had a 54.7% to 45.3% lead over Deering.

"I made this decision a little over a year ago to run for Congress because I believe that, in central and southern Illinois, working families deserve a champion in Congress," she said, becoming the first Democrat to serve the 13th in 20 years.

Among her priorities as a representative were tackling rising costs, adding to the child tax credit, ensuring Social Security and Medicare, and protecting abortion access.

Budzinski later told reporters that Deering had called her, stating that her opponent was "very pleasant." Deering conceded prior to the call by The Associated Press at 12:06 a.m. during a campaign event in Decatur.

"In the exhaustion that comes with defeat, we may even want to give up," she said. "But, I am standing up here tonight to ask you and beg you to not be defeated because, in the morning, the sun will rise, and when it does, let's let the sweet song of Democracy fill our hearts again."

Budzinski came to the campaign already serving a brief stint in the nation's capital, where she was chief of staff for the Office of Management and Budget. She also was a special adviser to the Pritzker administration.

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The Springfield-based, Peoria-born Budzinski used Deering's personal wealth as a way to distance herself from her competition. Deering is an heiress to the food production company Archer Daniels Midland and has a net worth of up to $142 million according to financial disclosures.

With ads claiming "We can't afford Regan Deering," the campaign also associated Deering with prominent GOP leaders like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, and attacked her anti-abortion position.

Deering, a Decatur small-business owner and philanthropist, had called Budzinski an extension of policies led by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. To the Republican's assessment, the decisions have hurt the nation and caused people to leave Illinois.

Despite having greater personal funds, the campaign finance battle was not one won by Deering. According to campaign finance filings with the Federal Election Commission, as of Sept. 30, Budzinski raised $3.1 million mostly in individual contributions.

Deering's personal loan of $750,000 was still not enough for her to meet her opponent's sum. She finished the quarter with $1.8 million in contributions.

The final weeks heading into Tuesday featured much attention on comments made by Deering regarding Social Security and reporting revealing Budzinski's time as a paid consultant.

Deering was asked about potential changes to the Social Security program during an interview with WMAY's Jim Leach and suggested means-testing — where the amount of annual income one receives would determine how much benefits they receive — as a solution.

"Means testing is something I have heard conversations about," she told Leach. "I think there are those in the upper limits of wealth that might be willing to sacrifice their benefits, knowing that we could have a larger pot of money for those that need it and rely on it and will continue to be on a fixed income."

Budzinski said later the comments constituted cuts and she was not in favor of any form of means-testing.

"That's a slippery slope for seniors that are living on a fixed income," said Budzinski, whose closing television ad focused on the topic. "It's opening a Pandora's box for seniors, who have so much at stake."

The Deering campaign dismissed the characterization and called the Social Security discussion a distraction from the Better Government Association report that Budzinski received $500,000 as a consultant in the 10 months following her role as a senior adviser to the Pritzker administration.

"Regan is a candidate of substance who is ready to discuss any non-cut innovative solutions to securing Medicare and Social Security for our seniors," Deering communications director Whitney Barnes said in a statement. "Nikki tried to pass a progressive tax that would allow politicians to tax retirement income that was, thankfully for Illinois seniors, overwhelmingly rejected by voters."

Budzinski said she "followed all state and federal ethics laws" in her role as a consultant.

Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Nikki Budzinski, Regan Deering compete for 13th Congressional District