The Latest: Biden to campaign with Illinois Democrat Kelly

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – The Latest on Democrats’ efforts to retake a southern Illinois district (all times local):

3 p.m.

Former Vice-President Joe Biden will campaign for Democrat Brendan Kelly as he tries to retake a southern Illinois district won by Republican Rep. Mike Bost in 2014.

Officials with the Kelly campaign say Biden is scheduled to campaign Wednesday in East St. Louis with the prosecutor and Navy veteran.

The working-class corner of the state supported Donald Trump by 15 percentage points after twice backing Barack Obama for president. It had been held by Democrats for more than 30 years.

How Kelly and Democrats running in other largely rural, blue-collar districts fare in November could determine whether the party wins the 23 seats it needs to take control of the House next month. It also may signal whether there’s hope of winning back those voters in 2020.

Trump will campaign with Bost on Saturday.

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11:30 a.m.

Democrat Brendan Kelly is trying to retake a southern Illinois House seat that Democrats held for more than 30 years before Republican state Rep. Mike Bost won it in 2014. Two years later the working-class corner of the state supported Donald Trump by 15 percentage points after twice backing Barack Obama for president.

How Kelly and Democrats running in other largely rural, blue collar districts fare in November could determine whether the party wins the 23 seats it needs to take control of the House next month. It also may signal whether there’s hope of winning back those voters in 2020.

Trump will campaign with Bost on Saturday.

Kelly says it’s clear the last few years haven’t brought the kind of economic turnaround Illinois’ 12th Congressional District hoped for.