WASHINGTON – Republican Congress members Adam Kinzinger and Rodney Davis voted with U.S. House Democrats this week and against President Trump's efforts to fund the southern border wall.
Illinois is now represented with two Democrat U.S. senators and 13 Democrat U.S. House members. While the U.S. Senate is still controlled by Republicans this session, the U.S. House is controlled by Democrats – including three new members from Illinois.
Illinois lost two Republican U.S. House members and nearly lost two more in November. Evidence that the Democrats have targets on the 16th and 13th CDs for 2020 is pounding inboxes already – Congress members Rodney Davis and Adam Kinzinger will have well-financed Democrat challenges in 2020.
And within days of new Democrat control, both Kinzinger and Davis showed evidence of succumbing to Democrats by "getting along" and not seeming so "uncooperative" – hoping the Democrats will aim elsewhere in 2020.
Kinzinger – who has been a part of the "No Labels" bi-partisan caucus for a while, has frustrated 16th CD Tea Party conservatives. He's avoided the very IL GOP base that helped him oust former 16th CD Congressman Don Manzullo – a solid, but aging, conservative. There are lots of regrets being mulled around as 16th CD conservatives learned how Kinzinger voted this week. Conservatives in the 13th CD are likely to be just as disappointed with Rodney Davis' folding.
Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times writes:
On Wednesday, Kinzinger was one of eight Republicans voting with Democrats on a bill to reopen key Treasury agencies, including the IRS.
On Thursday, Kinzinger and Davis were two of 10 Republicans voting to reopen Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and related agencies.
Also on Thursday, Kinzinger and Davis were two of 12 Republicans voting to reopen the Department of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies.
Davis, who appeared briefly with President Trump when he came into Mike Bost's 12th CD to prop up Bost during the tough 2018 campaign, now is voting against Trump's "build the wall" agenda, undermining GOP unity among the U.S. House ranks on shutdown votes.
The only Illinois U.S. House members that vote with the conservative-leaning Republican U.S. House leadership now appears to be Republicans Darin LaHood (18th), Mike Bost (12th) and John Shimkus (15th).
