John Kasich lands another Illinois endorsement: State Rep. Chad Hays

Despite his trailing in the national polls, Ohio Governor John Kasich – who came in second at the New Hampshire primary this week – is gathering more endorsements among Illinois elected officials. Pundits speculate that Kasich is focusing on midwestern states rather than the southern states for support in upcoming primaries.

Friday Illinois State Representative and Assistant Republican Leader Chad Hays announced that he has joined Governor John Kasich's presidential campaign as a Illinois Co-Chair.

"As someone who has balanced budgets before, I know that balancing the federal budget is not for the faint of heart. Yet John Kasich did it once before, and he has a plan to do it again," Hays said in a statement. "Over the years, he has consistently impressed me with his willingness to make hard choices while bringing people together. I enthusiastically support his presidential campaign and look forward to joining the rest of the team to communicate his message to voters."

Hays, a native of Vermillion County, has served in the Illinois legislature since 2010. He previously served two terms as Mayor of Catlin, where he balanced eight consecutive budgets.

"It's an honor to win the support of State Representative Chad Hays, a strong leader who understands the unique pressure of being an executive," Kasich said in a statement. "With a little over a month to go before the Illinois primary election, our ground operation is growing stronger and reaching more voters every day."

Kasich for America Illinois Team 

Chairman:

Christine Radogno, Republican Leader, Illinois Senate

Co-Chairs:

Dan Cronin, DuPage County Board Chairman

Dave Syverson, Illinois State Senator, 35th District

Ed Sullivan, Illinois House of Representatives, 51st Distrct

David Harris, Illinois House of Representatives, 53rd District

Ron Sandack, Illinois House of Representatives, 81st District

Tom Demmer, Illinois House of Representatives, 90th District

Jil Tracy, Illinois House of Representatives, 94th District (former)

Randy Frese, Illinois House of Representatives, 94th District

Chad Hays, Illinois House of Representatives, 104th District 

The Honorable Joseph Mohorovic, Commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Jim Schultz, Director, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Chairman, Citizens for Rauner

Pat Brady, former Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party

Sean Morrison, Cook County Commissioner, 17th District

Leadership Team:

Aaron Del Mar, Chairman of the Cook County Republican Party

Seth McMillan, Chairman of the Christian County Republican Party

Jerome Groniger, Chairman of the Coles County Republican Party

Liz Gorman, former Cook County Commissioner, 17th District

Cory Jobe, Director, Illinois Office of Tourism, Ward 6 Alderman

John Farney, Champaign County Auditor

Kristy Stephenson, City Treasurer, City of Metropolis