One big opportunity for a Republican pickup in November is
Illinois District 14. The western suburban Chicago and rural
northern Illinois District, which includes the birthplace of
Ronald Reagan, has been controlled by Democrat Bill Foster since
a special election in the spring, 2008. Prior to that election,
Republicans have generally represented the district.
Republican challenger and Illinois State Senator Randy Hultgren
has already survived a competitive primary against Ethan Hastert
— son of former Speaker and District Representative Denny
Hastert. Running on his experience in the Illinois legislature,
Hultgren was able to win 55 percent of the vote in the February
2nd Republican Primary. Now Hultgren is competing solely against
Foster. “My Congressman was not doing anything to stand up for
the district, but was instead being a voice and a vote for Nancy
Pelosi,” Hultgren told TAS when asked why he decided to
run.
Hultgren is running as a conservative, and has already gained
support from numerous conservative organizations. He boasts
endorsements from the American Conservative Union, Concerned
Women for American, Illinois Citizens for Life, and the National
Rifle Association. Hultgren identifies as pro-life, pro-small
business, and said he supports the added troop levels in
Afghanistan.
Hultgren has also pledged not to raise taxes while in Congress,
although his record in the Illinois Senate is not completely free
of voting for tax increases. Last May, Hultgren
voted in favor of funding an infrastructure project through
taxation of alcohol, candy, and soft drinks. Hultgren justified
the vote saying that Illinois roads and bridges badly needed
repair, and said that it was the Democrats who proposed funding
the projects through taxation. The Illinois Senate is
Democrat-controlled. Out of the Republican Senators, twelve voted
for the bill with the tax, while ten opposed. Hultgren told
TAS that he would vote against all so-called “sin taxes”
while in Congress. The Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee has said that it plans to make Hultgren’s vote an issue
in the coming months.
Hultgren’s opponent, Bill Foster, voted for the Stimulus bill and
the House Health Care bill, yet voted “no” on Cap and Trade.
Hultgren emphasized that he would have voted no on all three
bills.
If the GOP is to take back the House this election cycle, this
race is one it probably needs to win. The District is rated
R+1 by Cook PVI, yet Foster won 58 percent of the vote in 2008.
He’ll enjoy the advantages of incumbency, and the former
physicist can probably still deflect the “Washington Insider”
label. A potential factor that could favor Hultgren’s chances is
that Dan Kairis of the Green party has also expressed intentions
of running in the race. With Fermilab inside the district, and
some liberal voters in the suburban areas, a significant group of
left wingers could vote Green in anger towards Foster’s “No” vote
on Cap and Trade.
