MOKENA – Social issues such as abortion, marriage, religious freedoms, gambling and medical marijuana are most important to Illinois Family Action's board of directors, and candidates' positions on those issues are reflected in IFA's picks for the March 15th primary.
IFA's recommendations line up with Paul Caprio's Family PAC favorites on a majority of candidates – specifically backing Sharee Langenstein in the 58th Senate race over Paul Schimpf.
But Family PAC joined with Dan Proft's Illinois Opportunity Project over Illinois Family Action in the State Senate District 50, House District 66th and 72nd races.
Illinois Family Action prefers incumbent State Senator Sam McCann over challenger Bryce Benton in the 50th Senate race.
IFA also rejected Allen Skillicorn and went with Paul Serwatka in the House 66th GOP primary because of Skillicorn's openness to medical marijuana.
Family PAC made no pick in the 72nd District, while IFA picked Republican Jordan Thoms – Thoms said in his questionnaire he upheld traditional marriage and opposed medical marijuana, while his opponent Brandi McGuire said on IFA's questionnaire that she was okay with same sex civil unions and medical marijuana.
IFA also made picks in federal primary races. They endorsed Ted Cruz for the presidential race, James Marter over Mark Kirk in the GOP U.S. Senate primary and made recommendations in four congressional races:
Illinois Family Action's choices were agreed upon by a board consisting of Dr. Barbara Bellar, Richard Hartian, Pastor John Kirkwood, Winnebago County GOP leader Jan Klaas, Christian Liberty Academy's Pastor Calvin Lindstrom, Pastor James Pittman, and Executive Director of IFA and IFA-pac David E. Smith.
