Junius Rodriguez, Democratic challenger 18th Congressional

It’s been four months since Junius Rodriguez’s name became synonymous with local politics. Throughout the summer, the history professor said he has been on a quest to show he is serious about heading to Washington, D.C.

Rodriguez, running on the Democrat ticket, is challenging incumbent Republican Darin LaHood for the 18th U.S. Congressional District seat in this fall’s general election. Last year, LaHood filled the remainder of the term left by prior disgraced seat-holder Aaron Schock.

The 18th District, which encompasses all or portions of counties within Central Illinois, has a long history of leaning Republican. But Rodriguez said he believes residents across the region are ready for a change.

Since officially being named the Democratic nominee for the seat, Rodriguez has issued more than a dozen news releases that outline his positions on a range of topics — from biofuels to veterans affairs.

Rodriguez, who teaches at Eureka College, has also touched on an issue that hits close to home: higher education costs.

“We have witnessed a skyrocketing increase in the costs associated with higher education since the early 1980s, when federally backed student loans were made accessible to all who might seek to attain a college or university degree,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

He added, “This infusion of loan money unleashed a torrent of unbridled marketing and expansion as institutions sought to make themselves more appealing to the desires and interests of potential students who were facing a ‘buyer’s market’ of options as to where they might choose to attend.”

Rodriguez said the issues he is touching on in his weekly news releases — others have delved into his positions on environmental protection, race relations and tax reform — represent concerns he has heard from constituents thus far in the campaign season.

Darin LaHood, incumbent Republican 18th Congressional

Within the past month, Rodriguez also has taken aim at his opponent, first for endorsing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and, this past week, for opening a district office in Bloomington months before the election.

At a press conference Tuesday, Aug. 30, Rodriguez took jabs at LaHood for his decision and questioned the timing.

“When a politician makes this type of decision just 10 weeks before a contested election, it is hard to view it as anything more than a crass political ploy to score points using the taxpayers’ dime,” Rodriguez said.

Neither LaHood nor his campaign spokesman, Jim Reis, responded to requests for comment for this story. But in a previously issued statement, LaHood’s communications director, J.D. Alfonso said the new Bloomington office is an outgrowth of the congressman’s goal of being accessible to constituents.

With 80 percent of McLean County falling within the 18th District, Alfonso said LaHood believed it was important to have a prominent presence in the Bloomington-Normal area.

“(McLean County) represents one of the fastest growing population centers in Central Illinois,” Alfonso said in the statement. “It is critical we are able to provide constituent services to … the surrounding region.”

For his part, LaHood has ramped up his own campaign efforts. For instance, he spoke recently at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. While he has not yet addressed Rodriguez publicly, LaHood has instead criticized a number of high-profile Democratic politicians, including President Barack Obama and former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.

“We need change here, and I’m going to work hard to do that,” LaHood said during an event known as Governor’s Day at the fair. LaHood has been a staunch backer of current Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican.

According to information on his campaign website, LaHood has cited health care, jobs, national security and budgetary spending as issues he believes are high priorities this campaign season.

— Rodriguez ramps up efforts to change 18th District blue —