The incumbent Democrats who represent Chicago and its suburbs in Congress head into the Nov. 5 election with a sizable advantage over their Republican challengers.

Running in districts drawn by Democrats in Springfield to maintain their party’s edge after the state lost a congressional seat following the 2020 census, the 12 incumbents in the Chicago region collectively have outraised their opponents by a more than 16-to-1 ratio, according to federal campaign data.

But the GOP is hoping to make inroads by focusing on the high prices consumers are still finding in stores, despite declining inflation, and the number of migrants who have arrived in Illinois from the southern border that has resulted in strained city and state budgets.

Democrats, meanwhile, are hoping to capitalize on their home-field advantage of representing a heavily Democratic region. They also have renewed energy among their base, particularly women and young voters, with Vice President Kamala Harris now leading the ticket as the presidential nominee versus the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.

On the issues, Democrats are focusing on protecting reproductive health care, including abortion rights, and warning of what another Trump presidency with majorities in the House and Senate would mean to American democracy.

Here’s a look at the races in the Southland.

1st District, South Side to southwest suburbs

Rep. Jonathan Jackson is in a solidly blue seat once held by former Rep. Bobby Rush before he retired two years ago. After beating out more than a dozen opponents in the 2022 Democratic primary, Jackson — one of the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s three sons — ran unopposed in this year’s Democratic primary.

Early in his freshman term, Jonathan Jackson said he planned to use his position as a member of the Agriculture Committee to help the whole 1st Congressional District, including its more rural areas, following complaints for years Rush ignored parts of the district. The district snakes from Chicago’s South Side to far southwest suburban Braidwood. Jackson also was an early supporter of a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, a position held by many progressives supportive of Palestine.

Jackson’s opponent in the general election, Republican Marcus Lewis, is an ardent Trump supporter and, in a recent interview with the Tribune, echoed some of Trump’s rhetoric about Harris that she is “unqualified, a dummy” as well as that she was “selected by the devil” to run for president. Lewis described abortion as “protection for sexual immorality” and, speaking about schoolchildren, said he opposes “training them up to see homosexuality as normal.”

Jackson, whose campaign did not make him available for an interview, has raised more than $592,000 during this election cycle and had $78,000 in his account through the end of September, according to the most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission. Lewis has not reported receiving or spending any campaign cash.

2nd District, south suburbs to Danville

The 2nd Congressional District covers city, suburban and rural areas, from 43rd Street and Lake Michigan on Chicago’s South Side to south of Danville along the Indiana border and into Champaign County.

Rep. Robin Kelly, an African American Democrat from Matteson and former state lawmaker first elected to Congress in 2013, is facing a challenge from Latina Republican Ashley Ramos.

A former chair of the Democratic Party in Illinois, Kelly has called for Congress to protect abortion rights, and she’s prioritized gun safety, health care, maternal health and jobs.

Kelly has raised $1.7 million this election cycle and has $2 million in her campaign coffers, including contributions from labor unions and the medical and insurance industries, according to federal campaign finance filings.

Ramos, of rural Clifton, worked for an insurance company and describes herself as an e-commerce specialist. She started a nonprofit called Back the Blue Events to support police, and she volunteers helping those with addictions and other problems. She said her top issues include opposing abortion, protecting gun rights, supporting free markets and school choice and making the border more secure.

Ramos has not reported raising any campaign funds.

6th District, Lombard to Tinley Park

In the 6th Congressional District, which stretches from west suburban Lombard southeast to south suburban Tinley Park and parts of Chicago’s Southwest Side, fear about the future of democracy is a consistent theme, Rep. Sean Casten said.

A three-term Democratic congressman from Downers Grove, Casten said keeping America’s democracy secure underlies concerns constituents have about the economy, access to abortion, ethics on the U.S. Supreme Court and a host of other issues.

“I’m just trying to make sure that people still have that sense of agency and hope for the future,” he said.

When it comes to an issue like high prices at stores, Casten said, part of that is making sure voters are armed with accurate information about the state of the economy, such as data showing wages rising faster than inflation.

His Republican opponent, Glen Ellyn businesswoman Niki Conforti, has criticized Casten over economic issues such as the federal deficit and high prices, as well as social concerns, including the congressman’s opposition to proposed legislation placing restrictions on transgender girls and women participating in sports.

Casten has far outraised Conforti. He’s brought in more than $2.9 million in contributions through September and had nearly $1.3 million on hand, while Conforti raised about $130,000 and had about $38,000 on hand, according to federal campaign finance records.