For the first time since taking office in 2016, Republican state Rep. Ryan Spain of Peoria faces an opponent in the general election.
Democratic challenger Nicole Dopler, a first-time candidate from the Quad Cities area, appears against Spain on the Nov. 3 ballot in the bid to represent the largely rural 73rd Illinois House district that includes parts of Peoria and Woodford counties.
Spain said during his five terms in office, he’s worked to bring down the costs of prescription drugs, housing and local government expenses, while consolidating police and fire pensions to provide better returns.
“I’m proud of my accomplishments in Springfield of helping to make the state more affordable, making it a safer place, making it more economically competitive,” said Spain said in an interview with WCBU. “The work of representing this district is something that means a lot to me.”
Spain also works in administration with Peoria-based OSF HealthCare, while Dopler was previously employed in the medical industry. She said her top priorities include advancing legislation that will improve the health care system and help for working families.
“What’s important to me is doing things that make sense for people, doing things that make sense for working families and workers,” Dopler told WCBU. “When I really got into it, I see across the board — it’s not just my industry in health care; it’s all of the industries that are suffering with our workers and our rights.”
Dopler, who served two terms on the Rapids City village board, emphasized a contrast between a caregiver and a health care executive as she stressed a need for improved access for patients and better training for workers.
“Access to care has a lot to do with the fact that more and more hospitals are monopolized,” she said. “When it comes to the rural communities and everything monopolized by one institution, it just means less choices. It means that the dollars aren’t there for the workers, and that we need to figure out how to do things properly without being trained.”
Despite her political inexperience on the state level and competing in a heavily Republican district, Dopler isn’t short on confidence.
“I’m not knocking on the doors of just Democrats because I’m not going to represent just Democrats. I’m knocking on everybody’s doors. I want everyone to know who I am, what I stand for, why I stand for those things,” she said. “And when I talk to people about their healthcare or about their jobs and why these things matter, I know I’m going to win.”
Spain said being a Republican in the current General Assembly requires a delicate balance with Democrats holding a supermajority that he blames on what he calls “insidious” partisan gerrymandering.
“It’s the worst in the country, and it’s not serving our state well as we continue to lose population, lose businesses across the state of Illinois,” said Spain.
“But then, at the same time, you have to work across the aisle; you have to be a bipartisan bridge builder. I am very proud of my record working in a bipartisan manner, and that’s something that I will continue to do because we can create better policies in our state government when we’re working together.”
Spain points to the one-party control as responsible for what he sees as a problem with ethics and integrity in state government.
“It is very frustrating to work with a supermajority that does not take seriously the culture of corruption that exists in Illinois,” he said. “There’s a cost to corruption, and we’ve got to root it out. So we have to have elected officials that are willing to take on party bosses, party leaders, standing up for what’s right.”
Spain said affordability is the biggest issue across the country, and Illinois is no different.
“We have the highest overall tax burden in the country out of any state. Very high property taxes, high sales taxes, lots of regulations and fees. So if you’re a family trying to survive here in Illinois, we need a state representative that works to give you relief so that you can stay here and raise your family, earn a living and succeed,” he said.
Dopler thinks Illinois needs to get back to taxing both families and companies fairly.
“Currently, all of the burden is still on the people, and even though the opposing side talks about lowering taxes and it’s always about taxes, well, that’s always a tax break or no taxes for corporations while we, the citizens, continue paying and not getting the services we need because all of the breaks have gone to those that don’t need it, while all of us are suffering,” she said.
Spain said he believes local governments should have more control over developments such as data centers and renewable energy facilities, and where they are located.
“I’m concerned that there is a coordinated campaign from overseas adversaries to initiate opposition to data centers, so we need to be mindful of that. At the same time, though, we do need smart regulations in the state of Illinois,” said Spain, acknowledging concerns over noise control and resource usage.
“If a community finds that it is of benefit through the property tax revenue that could be used — to build a new school, for example — that’s an appropriate local decision for community leaders to make.”
When it comes to data centers, Dopler said she doesn’t want to push potential business out of Illinois.
“I am all for progress, so as long as those AI data centers are going to come, if they’re going to come to Illinois, I want them again to be built by union workers that make a livable wage,” said Dopler. “I want them to be using equipment that is from our area.
“We really need to look into how to harness AI in a better way first. But when it does come, I want to make sure that we’re taking care of Illinois citizens and not putting a strain on our land.”
Dopler said protecting reproductive freedom is among her priorities when it comes to health care access. She also wants to bolster workforce development so that future generations will have careers that will carry them into retirement, and she believes her message will resonate with constituents.
“Maybe my entire district has traditionally sided with one side, but they’re also open-minded to voting for good humans and voting for things that make sense,” she said.
“What I’m finding when I’m out there talking to people, talking to farmers who have had generations upon generations of farming and now they’re the ones that can’t keep it up, they’re not going to keep voting the same way. They need to vote for themselves.”
Spain said he’s taking this race very seriously, noting the political party holding the White House typically has a tough time in midterm elections.
“I think there’s a lot of energy ... among Democrats, really animated by perhaps national political activities,” he said. “I feel very confident that the people of the 73rd District will appreciate someone who has been working to make the state safer, more affordable, and ultimately successful.
“We have to have a state that is growing jobs and population and families, and not going in reverse. I’m someone that can do that, and I’ll do it by bringing more balance to the General Assembly and working in a bipartisan manner to get things done.”
