Endorsement: Casten for Democrats in Congress, Dist. 6

This endorsement is a consensus opinion of the Daily Herald Editorial Board.

Three candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress from Illinois District 6, but only the two who are presently serving merit serious attention.

Sean Casten, of Downers Grove, is the incumbent 6th District representative. Marie Newman, of LaGrange, currently serves the 3rd Congressional District, but new congressional maps pushed her residence out of the district, so she set her sights on the 6th. Both were first elected to Congress in 2020 and are viable contenders for the 2022 Democratic nomination with proudly and reliably progressive records.

We favor Casten, who stands firm on his liberal convictions on issues like immigration, gun control, government spending and - his particular field of expertise as the former owner of an environmental company - climate change, but presses his case with calm persistence that leaves room for reasonable debate and discussion.

Newman is not necessarily lacking in that department, but her campaign so far - including a notably tasteless TV ad built around a defecating dog and questionable, sometimes downright incorrect claims about Casten's record - seems shaped to highlight inflexibility and pugnacity, even in defense of a congressional ethics investigation of claims leading back to her 2020 campaign that she adamantly denies.

Charles M. Hughes, an operation tech for Nicor, rounds out the field, but, totally lacking in political experience and mounting an almost invisible campaign, he offers little promise of a successful run in the November general election.

Democratic voters concerned about electing a candidate true to current party values will have no quarrel with either sitting congressman. But we're convinced they'll be best served with Casten as their candidate. He gets our endorsement.