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With a countdown clock that says 246 days, Ives is focused on November - and beating Casten.
"I think it's going to take a whole year to inform the electorate about Sean Casten - about his polices and what he believes," Ives said.
But Ives must get through the Republican primary first. The former three-term state representative and Army veteran who lost to then-Governor Bruce Rauner in the 2018 Republican primary is running against Glen Ellyn resident Dr. Jay Kinzler.
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"I'm not a career politician," Kinzler said.
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Kinzler is a transplant surgeon and a colonel in the Army reserves. His government experience includes being the former president of the Glen Ellyn Park Board. His conservative views are very similar to Ives.
"I'm pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-less taxes, pro-less government," Kinzler said.
But, Kinzler said the way he delivers his conservative message is much different than Ives, which he says positions himself to beat Casten.
"She has a tendency to be a little bit more divisive," Kinzler said. "She has some pretty bad baggage in the past things she's said, things she has voted on. I think that will be tough for her to beat the Democratic opponent in November."
Some of the baggage Kinzler is referring to is a controversial ad Ives aired against Bruce Rauner. Both political parties called it racist, sexist and homophobic.
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Ives says she won't be running an ad like that in this campaign. The 6th Congressional District - which is shaped like a C and covers parts of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties - has become more economically and racially diverse. Ives is convinced she can gain support among Republicans and independents around policy issues.
"We are united around a policy agenda, not a personality agenda," Ives said.
"We've united the party to bring back the seat."
Ives and Kinzler are trying to win back a seat that was held by Republicans for decades. Casten is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.