A tight race is developing in the 13th Illinois Congressional District, with unions splitting their endorsement between incumbent Republican Rodney Davis and his Democratic challenger, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan.

The 13th District includes Bloomington-Normal’s center, extending south to Edwardsville and including parts of Champaign-Urbana, Decatur and Springfield.

The Illinois AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Service Employees International Union, International Association of Machinists, American Federation of Teachers, Communications Workers of America, United Food & Commercial Workers and the United Steelworkers are endorsing Londrigan.

Davis’ endorsements include the Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA), the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters (UBC) and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). 

His support for the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage, infrastructure spending and economic development were all cited.

With the Illinois AFL-CIO endorsement, Committee On Political Education 13th District Chair and IBEW 146 Business Manager Josh Sapp said: “We’re behind Betsy because she will fight to uphold and expand prevailing wage and support policies that protect the right to collectively bargain, educate our kids about apprenticeship program opportunities, and rebuild our infrastructure.”

LiUNA General President Terry O’Sullivan said: “Congressman Davis represents the kind of public servant that Congress desperately needs. … He has repeatedly led the charge in the Republican Conference against the anti-worker agenda of the radical right wing.”

The International Union of Operating Engineers said that: “Congressman Davis believes people deserve a fair wage for a hard day’s work. That is why he has been an unwavering supporter of Davis-Bacon prevailing wages for construction workers, voted against eliminating workers’ rights at tribal gaming operations, and has led efforts to improve Buy American provisions for manufacturing workers.”

The UMWA spoke of his support for mining families and the AFGE for Defense Department and Bureau of Prisons workers.

Gary Peri, Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters also noted Davis’ support for prevailing wages, saying  “This commitment helps workers and their families prosper rather than simply survive, and serves to fuel the engine of economic growth.” 

Painters General President Ken Rigmaiden said,  "Congressman Davis actively reaches out to the IUPAT and other unions to understand issues we care about and their effect on workers and his constituents. Most importantly, he wins critical policy changes