The Illinois Democratic primary elections this week saw voters race to the polls in unprecedented numbers, and at levels so extraordinary that one political strategist warned Republicans could face a “rage turnout” from Democrats in November’s elections.
“I think there’s a strong likelihood of a rage turnout this year,” said Avivia Bowen, a Democratic strategist based in Illinois, speaking with NOTUS in its report Friday.
Held last Tuesday, Illinois’ Democratic primary elections saw substantial increases in voter turnout when compared with the previous midterm elections. The Democratic Senate primary election, for instance, saw a close to 50% increase in voter turnout, and the race to represent Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, a 63% increase. The Democratic primary race for Illinois’ 9th Congressional district saw a 71% increase in voter turnout.
Recent polling supports Bowen’s prediction. Democrats carry a 6-point lead in taking back control of Congress according to a recent NBC poll conducted between Feb. 27 and March 3, with President Donald Trump’s historic unpopularity appearing to drag down GOP candidates nationwide.
The possibility of a Democratic “rage turnout” this November has also sparked hopes of ousting Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), who’s held his seat since 2013.
“We will flip this seat,” said Eli Cousin, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, who went on to call Perry “extreme and deeply unpopular,” speaking with NOTUS in its report Friday.