Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth may be prepping another House run

Democrat Tammy Duckworth, who Thursday left a high-level job at the Veterans Affairs Department, has begun making calls to sound people out about a potential run for Congress in Illinois, political consultant Pete Giangreco said Friday.

Duckworth, who was an assistant VA secretary, lost both her legs in Iraq after the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting was hit by enemy fire. After she recuperated from her injuries, she ran for Congress in 2006 and lost to Peter Roskam, a Republican now in his third term.

The Hatch Act had barred Duckworth from political activity while working for the federal government.

If Duckworth throws her hat into the ring in the 8th Congressional District, she would face a party primary against Raja Krishnamoorthi.

She’s interested in running in the district, but is just beginning to make calls and has not made a decision, according to Giangreco, who worked on her ’06 race. Giangreco is with The Strategy Group in Evanston, Ill.

Duckworth lives in Hoffman Estates, a suburb of Chicago. The 8th District was held for three terms by Democratic moderate Melissa Bean before she was upended by “tea party”-backed Joe Walsh in November.