Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., will run in the new 14th District next year, setting up what could be a bitter GOP primary with fellow freshman Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Ill.
Walsh announced his decision in an email Wednesday to supporters, writing that, regardless of legal challenges Republicans have filed, he has chosen to run in the new seat because it now includes his home of McHenry.
Walsh announced his decision in an email Wednesday to supporters, writing that, regardless of legal challenges Republicans have filed, he has chosen to run in the new seat because it now includes his home of McHenry.
"No matter which map prevails, I've decided to run for re-election from the district in which I live and where I represent most of my current constituents," said Walsh. "If the Democrat map stands, I will be running in what is the new 14th district which entails a good portion of Lake County, almost all of McHenry County, Kane County, Kendall County, and some of Will and DeKalb Counties. I live in McHenry and my current District office is in Northern Lake County. This area is home."
Walsh says it was "unfortunate" that he and Hultgren will be pitted against each other, but that the district "doesn't belong to any Incumbent or any politician. The district belongs to the people of this district and they will have to decide who their next representative is. And if they have to decide between two Republican Incumbents, so be it - in many ways Randy and I are both good conservatives who share many of the same values but there are also healthy differences between the two of us, we've both had a very different initial tenure in Washington, and the voters in the new district will decide which one of us will best be their voice in DC."
The primary will set up a stark contrast between the two freshmen Republicans. Walsh has been an unabashed tea party supporter and has never shied away from the spotlight - he's the 2nd most interviewed new member. But all that attention hasn't been good - he's most recently been embroiled in a child support with his ex-wife, and a judge ruled last week that Walsh now has to prove he did make the $100,000 in payments to her.
In a statement responding to Walsh's decision, Hultgren said he was "disappointed that Walsh had "abandon[ed] his own district to run against me in a primary. By doing so, he's playing into the hands of the Springfield Democrats and Nancy Pelosi, who have drawn the Congressional map for Illinois specifically to encourage just such a contest."
In a not-so-veiled jab at the TV-friendly Walsh, Hultgren said "the residents of the 14th District are looking for responsible leadership for the long haul, and know that if we are to turn this country around, fix our economy, and put Americans back to work we won't be able to do it through political grandstanding, sound bites, and name calling. Winning the challenge before us takes commitment, experience, and a long term view." While Hultgren hasn't sought the spotlight as much, he's still seen as a respected legislator who had a long career in Springfield before he was elected last year. In November he defeated Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill. - who's running again in the new 11th District -- but it may have been his primary win that was more impressive, knocking off Ethan Hastert, the son of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Walsh will have one ally on his side in the GOP race - the anti-tax Club for Growth. Nearly two months ago, the conservative group signaled they would back Walsh if he ran in the 14th District. "If the district lines in Illinois as passed by the Democrats end up being upheld, then Club for Growth PAC will enthusiastically support Congressman Walsh for re-election in the 14th Congressional District," Club President Chris Chocola said in a late July statement. The 14th District is far more friendlier toward Republicans than Walsh's current 8th District, which has already drawn two strong Democratic challengers in former Veterans' Affairs Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth and former deputy state Treasurer Raja Krishnamoorthi. Under the new map, the 14th District leans six points toward the GOP while the 8th District leans five points Democratic.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/09/walsh-will-run-against-hultgren-in-new-14th-district-21
Walsh says it was "unfortunate" that he and Hultgren will be pitted against each other, but that the district "doesn't belong to any Incumbent or any politician. The district belongs to the people of this district and they will have to decide who their next representative is. And if they have to decide between two Republican Incumbents, so be it - in many ways Randy and I are both good conservatives who share many of the same values but there are also healthy differences between the two of us, we've both had a very different initial tenure in Washington, and the voters in the new district will decide which one of us will best be their voice in DC."
The primary will set up a stark contrast between the two freshmen Republicans. Walsh has been an unabashed tea party supporter and has never shied away from the spotlight - he's the 2nd most interviewed new member. But all that attention hasn't been good - he's most recently been embroiled in a child support with his ex-wife, and a judge ruled last week that Walsh now has to prove he did make the $100,000 in payments to her.
In a statement responding to Walsh's decision, Hultgren said he was "disappointed that Walsh had "abandon[ed] his own district to run against me in a primary. By doing so, he's playing into the hands of the Springfield Democrats and Nancy Pelosi, who have drawn the Congressional map for Illinois specifically to encourage just such a contest."
In a not-so-veiled jab at the TV-friendly Walsh, Hultgren said "the residents of the 14th District are looking for responsible leadership for the long haul, and know that if we are to turn this country around, fix our economy, and put Americans back to work we won't be able to do it through political grandstanding, sound bites, and name calling. Winning the challenge before us takes commitment, experience, and a long term view." While Hultgren hasn't sought the spotlight as much, he's still seen as a respected legislator who had a long career in Springfield before he was elected last year. In November he defeated Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill. - who's running again in the new 11th District -- but it may have been his primary win that was more impressive, knocking off Ethan Hastert, the son of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Walsh will have one ally on his side in the GOP race - the anti-tax Club for Growth. Nearly two months ago, the conservative group signaled they would back Walsh if he ran in the 14th District. "If the district lines in Illinois as passed by the Democrats end up being upheld, then Club for Growth PAC will enthusiastically support Congressman Walsh for re-election in the 14th Congressional District," Club President Chris Chocola said in a late July statement. The 14th District is far more friendlier toward Republicans than Walsh's current 8th District, which has already drawn two strong Democratic challengers in former Veterans' Affairs Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth and former deputy state Treasurer Raja Krishnamoorthi. Under the new map, the 14th District leans six points toward the GOP while the 8th District leans five points Democratic.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/09/walsh-will-run-against-hultgren-in-new-14th-district-21