Illinois Democrat Rep. Tammy Duckworth says she's running for Senate in what will be one of the top races to watch in 2016.
In a Youtube video, Duckworth highlighted her sponsorship of the No Budget, No Pay Act and said that she's running "because it's time for Washington to be held accountable."
Duckworth is challenging Republican Sen. Mark Kirk. Kirk, who suffered a stroke in 2012, has made his recovery one focus of his reelection campaign.
An Iraq war veteran who is a double amputee, Duckworth was first elected to the House in 2012.
National Republicans have tried to portray Duckworth as a “partisan” politician.
"Unlike Congresswoman Duckworth, who has put her extreme policies in Washington before Illinois families by voting with Nancy Pelosi 92% of the time, Mark Kirk has been an independent voice,” National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Andrea Bozek said. “Sen. Kirk’s record of accomplishment and thoughtfulindependence will outshine any candidate that emerges from the Democrat primary in Illinois.”
- Mark Murray and Carrie Dann
