CHICAGO – News about Illinois candidate campaigns for US Congress began pouring in this week – from Republican Esther Joy King in the 17th CD to Michael Pierce in the 11th CD, as well as from Congress members Rodney Davis and Mary Miller, vying to represent the 15th CD.
From Esther Joy King in Illinois' "toss-up" 17th CD who is raising lots of money -
EAST MOLINE, IL – Esther Joy King, Republican candidate for Illinois’ 17th Congressional District, raised over $625,000 in the fourth quarter ending December 31 and will report more than $1,000,000 cash on hand.
“Our campaign is driven by grassroots supporters who are tired of the way things are going and want leaders who will fight for them,” said King. “I am honored by the outpouring of support we have received. Every day, people in this district are seeing the price of gas, groceries, and other essentials go up and up while Democrats in Congress and President Biden keep talking about more spending and higher taxes. Enough is enough. The people of the 17th Congressional District are worth the fight. I can't wait to win this and get to work for my fellow Illinoisans."
Esther Joy King is the top fundraising challenger in the state of Illinois. National political forecasters believe the 17th Congressional District will be one of the most competitive races in 2022, and key to Republicans winning back the House. The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball have both rated IL-17 as a “Toss Up” seat, despite being 53% Democrat.
From Michael Pierce, who is dropping out of the 11th CD race –
“I have spent many years in the Army, missing substantial amounts of time in the lives of my children while serving overseas, and this year we will have not one, but two grandbabies joining us!
As a family we have decided that this is not the best time to run a campaign.
A campaign such as this is a full time commitment and I am not in a position to devote the kind of time and energy needed to run a successful campaign. I am grateful to all of the people I have met who have expressed support for me and my campaign. This is certainly not an easy decision, but it is the right one for me and my family.”
Pierce had previously announced he was running as a Republican in the 11th District.
To Congresswoman Mary Miller of IL's 15th CD, who was endorsed this week by the Club for Growth and previously, former President Trump and FreedomWorks -
Washington, D.C. – Club for Growth PAC announced the endorsement of Rep. Mary Miller in Illinois’ 15th Congressional District. Because of redistricting, Miller will face Rep. Rodney Davis who has a 46% lifetime rating on the Club for Growth Foundation Congressional Scorecard – only 6 House Republicans scored worse than Davis in 2020.“In her first term in Congress, Mary Miller has consistently supported fiscal restraint and pro-growth policies while her opponent has one of the worst voting records in the Republican Party and regularly supports Biden and Pelosi’s budget-busting spending deals, bailouts, subsidies, and more,” said Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh. “Miller is a principled conservative, clearly the only one in the race, and we are proud to endorse her.”Club for Growth PAC supports conservatives in key elections across the country. In 2020, Club for Growth PAC won more than 80% of its races.
U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) earned an A+ for 2021 on the Susan B. Anthony List National Pro-Life Scorecard. This new score takes into account votes and actions for every member of Congress for the first session of the 117th Congress.“I am proudly pro-life,” said Rep. Davis. “That’s why I’m honored to receive this ‘A+’ rating from the Susan B. Anthony List. The Democrats are seeking to eliminate the Hyde Amendment and expand taxpayer-funded abortions, overturn pro-life laws at the state level, legalize late-term abortions nationwide, and roll back conscience protections for those who object to abortions. I will continue to oppose the Democrats’ radical pro-abortion agenda and advocate for the unborn and those who have conscience objections to abortion.”From the Susan B. Anthony List website: “Congressman Davis has stood up against the pro-abortion agenda of the Biden-Harris administration and Pelosi Democrats who are actively working to expand abortion access and abortion funding. Rep. Davis has voted consistently to defend the lives of the unborn and infants. This includes stopping hard-earned tax dollars from paying for abortion, whether domestically or internationally, and protecting health care provider rights for those who refuse to engage in brutal abortions.”Rep. Davis signed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) to uphold Mississippi’s pro-life law in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case. He has also urged SCOTUS to overturn the Roe decision and allow states to enact pro-life laws and limit abortion.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-18) released the following statement on the eve of the one year anniversary of Joe Biden's presidency:
"One year of the Joe Biden presidency and one-party Democrat rule in Washington has been a failure for the American people. Under the Biden Administration, out of control spending has pushed inflation to record highs and diminished wage growth, workforce shortages continue to plague small businesses, crime rose in cities across the country, and the southern border is less secure.
"On the global stage, President Biden's display of weakness in the Afghanistan withdrawal has emboldened our adversaries. Russia is mobilizing against Ukraine. China is cracking down in Hong Kong and keeping a close watch on Taiwan. Iran is pushing demands in a flawed decision to re-enter JCPOA talks, and bad actors in the Middle East are seeking to return the region to a pre-9/11 safe haven for radical terrorism to grow once again.
"Amid all of these challenges, Democrats continue to push their progressive and reckless "Build Back Better" agenda, which will raise taxes on Illinois families, farmers, workers, and small businesses and weaken our economic competitiveness.
"Last year, I sat on the west front of the United States Capitol and listened to President Biden deliver his Inaugural address – a speech President Biden used to declare himself a unifying force and a president for all. President Biden and his Administration have missed the mark on those promises, and Americans are waking up to it.
"As I travel throughout Illinois, I hear from residents who want a government that protects their communities, leaders who defend their economic values, and politicians who will put the needs of our kids over union bosses. President Biden has failed in the first year of his presidency and Americans are facing the consequences."
