SPRINGFIELD – Earlier this week, the Log Cabin Republicans, a group of Republicans committed to LGBT rights, announced their pick in the March 17th GOP primary for US Senate.
Their pick, Springfield area cancer surgeon Tom Tarter, had answered the group's questionnaire satisfactorily, earning him their support.
"Dr. Tarter wil be a strong voice to fix our broken healthcare system. He supports the President, he's a conservative, and he supports inclusion in the Republican Party," said Alex Walker, the Log Cabin Republicans' communications manager.
Tarter responded to the group's endorsement and confirmed that he was also standing by the positions he took on the Illinois Family Action's questionnaire as well. IFA is a firm supporter of the traditional family and opponent of groups and movements that work to limit religious rights when they collide with LGBT rights.
"As a candidate for U.S. Senate, I meet with everyone who supports Republican candidates. I appreciate the support of the Log Cabin Republicans, but I stand strongly by the conservative answers provided in my survey taken for David Smith and Illinois Family Action," Tarter said in response.
He then went on to say another of the five Republicans running for the US Senate nomination in 2020 may have also pursued the group's backing.
"When I spoke to the Log Cabin Republicans, there was another conservative candidate/officeholder who also spoke to them and answered their questions," Dr. Tarter said in a statement.
Illinois Review reached out to former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran and asked if he – who is a conservative candidate and past office holder – had sought the Log Cabin Republicans' endorsement, and he said "No, absolutely not."
No other of the GOP candidates have held public elected office, other than Curran.
FOLLOW UP – When Illinois Review asked the Log Cabin Republicans whether they hold a position on transgenders in the military or the Equality Act – questions Illinois Family Action asked on their survey for which Tarter said he opposed both, the group responded Friday afternoon, "We have no comment on that at this time."
