Amid talk of a potential blue wave, Democrats already have begun to turn the tide in GOP suburbs

In 1995, the suburbs were the center of Illinois’ Republican universe, the bucolic backyards the home of the leaders of the state legislature as they strove to drive an agenda as a political force to be reckoned with for future generations.

Now, nearly a quarter-century later, it is the Democrats who have advanced in collar counties that were once the Republican firewall to Chicago’s massive Democratic vote — a confluence of changing demographics, uncertain GOP messaging and a partisan mapmaking process.

While Democrats talk of a “blue wave” sweeping nationally as Election Day approaches on Tuesday, it’s clear that they’ve already begun to turn the tide by encroaching into the traditional GOP-leaning suburbs. The votes cast there will be key in determining Illinois’ immediate future, with potential long-term political consequences for both political parties as ballots are cast for governor, the state’s congressional delegation and deciding the makeup of the General Assembly.

And among those suburban areas, there is no place more central to Illinois’ fate than DuPage County, where there has been an evolution politically, ideologically and demographically.

Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-midterm-elections-suburbs-20181101-story.html