Republican state Rep. Dan Swanson, 67, faces Democratic challenger Kermit Thomas to represent this Western Illinois district. Swanson told us the biggest challenge his district faces is “keeping families, young people and businesses in Western Illinois” due to high taxes and rising cost of living. Because of his focus on growth, he is also a staunch opponent of higher taxes, much needed in our revenue-obsessed Statehouse. We have not heard much from Thomas, a military veteran and longtime resident of the Quad Cities region.
Dan Swanson is endorsed.
Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois general election here.
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