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By Emily Cahn Posted at 5 a.m. on Jan. 23

Kirk is a Republican from Illinois. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Democrats are driving toward a primary collision course in Illinois, where the party could endure a multimillion-dollar slugfest in a race essential to capturing Senate control in 2016.

A fourth House Democrat, Rep. Robin Kelly, told CQ Roll Call she is weighing a bid against GOP Sen. Mark S. Kirk. She joins the growing list of members considering bids, including Democratic Reps. Cheri Bustos,Tammy Duckworth and Bill Foster.

Im just doing my due diligence to look at if there is a pathway in the Senate race, Kelly said in a phone interview after votes on Wednesday afternoon. If I feel like I find a pathway for me then I will do it, irregardless of who else runs.

Democrats do not expect all four House Democrats to enter the race. But even if just two House members run for Senate, Democrats could endure the most contentious primary for a competitive Senate seat in six years.Kirk, who faces re-election in a state President Barack Obama carried by 17 points in 2012, nears thetop of the Democratic target listas the party aims to pick up the five seats necessary to ensure Senate control.

Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin, who has personal and political ties to a number of Democrats mulling bids, said he does not fear a bloody primary.

I think theres going to be a process and a hierarchy of decisions. Were going through that right now, Durbin told CQ Roll Call. I think at the end of the day its likely the potential field will diminish, down to one or two very serious candidates.

But a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee declined to commenton whether it would intervene in the primary. And operatives in the Land of Lincoln said convincing Democrats to sit the race out could be tough.

We kind of just duke it out in our federal primaries, said Tom Bowen, a former political director for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

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Democrats Could Face Primary Mess in Illinois Senate Race