The Chicago Sun-Times reports Duckworth, one of the first female Iraq War veterans in Congress, will declare her candidacy Monday by video and then attend a fundraising event in Chicago.
Duckworth, who recently gave birth to a daughter, is just in her second term in the House. Several Democrats are interested in taking on Kirk, including Reps. Bill Foster, Robin Kelly and Cheri Bustos.
Duckworth was elected to Congress in 2012 after serving as an assistant secretary in the Veterans’ Affairs department. In 2004, Duckworth deployed to Iraq as a helicopter pilot for the Illinois Army National Guard. A rocket-propelled grenade hit the Blackhawk helicopter she was piloting. Both of her legs had to be amputated after the attack, which also caused her to lose partial use of her right arm.
Kirk, whose Senate seat was previously held by President Obama, is a top Democratic target in the 2016 elections. The GOP has a 54-46 majority in the Senate, which means Democrats need a net gain of five seats to regain control.
Alyssa McCurley, a Kirk spokeswoman, told The Hill earlier in the year that the senator looks forward to a “vigorous campaign” but is focused on his Senate duties.
“Senator Mark Kirk is an independent voice for Illinois and is proud of his bipartisan record of achievement in the United States Senate,” McCurley said in January. “While he looks forward to a vigorous campaign, the senator believes there will be plenty of time for politics and he is focused on fighting for veterans who have not received the treatment and respect they have earned from our government, as well as adocating for policies that encourage economic growth and job creation.”
Article Appeared @http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/03/27/tammy-duckworth-senate-mark-kirk-illinois/