Illinois Rep. Tammy Duckworth announces Senate bid

Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., spoke during a 2012 Democratic National Convention. (H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY)

Rep. Tammy Duckworth rigourously announced her candidacy Monday for U.S. Senate in Illinois with a video highlighting her story as an Iraq War veteran.

Duckworth, who mislaid both legs and prejudiced use of an arm in a 2004 battle, is a initial distinguished Democrat to enter a 2016 competition with a idea of holding on GOP Sen. Mark Kirk. The Illinois Senate competition total prominently in a conflict for control of a Senate.

“The usually reason we done it home was since of a intrepidity of my bold buddies who risked their lives to save mine,” Duckworth says in her video. “I perspective my time now as a reward and that has authorised me to pronounce adult but fear.”

The congresswoman, initial inaugurated in 2012, vowed to work for some-more pre-K funding, affordable college loans, and taxation cuts for a center category and tiny businesses.

Kirk, inaugurated in 2010 to a chair once hold by President Obama, is deliberate one of a many exposed Republicans adult for re-election subsequent year. Democratic Reps. Bill Foster and Robin Kelly are also eyeing a race. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., told CQ Roll Call

But if Duckworth is a Democratic nominee, a Illinois competition could underline dual possibilities with constrained personal stories and troops backgrounds. Duckworth was deployed to Iraq as a helicopter commander for a Army National Guard. Kirk, a former Naval comprehension officer, suffered a cadence in 2012 and uses a wheelchair to get around a Capitol and a shaft for walking. He recently told Politicoinspiration for others

In a matter expelled after Duckworth announced her candidacy, Kirk orator Kevin Artl remarkable a senator has worked opposite celebration lines to “take on a Veterans Administration for crime and indignity of a returning heroes in Illinois, cut spending and retard Iran from receiving a chief weapon.”

“Senator Kirk looks brazen to a review on a issues that matter many to electorate opposite a state, including his proven record of thoughtful, eccentric leadership, and his work any and each day to offer Illinois families,” Artl said.

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