From J. W . McKay, who describes himself as a Lifelong Republican and Traditional Conservative:
Valentines Day massacre of grassroot Republicans Candidate
The week that Mike Madigan gets convicted Republicans once again fumble the ball .
As a lifelong Kane County resident and a person who has known McLaughlin for many years I feel compelled to comment regarding the replacement for State Senator in the 26th district.
The Valentine’s Day decision has massacred the hopes of grassroots Republicans, and outside business people who want to get involved in the politics to make our state better at every level.
Nomination decision by Andro Lenario, our Kane county GOP chair, is beyond disappointing.
His letter of explanation declaring the fix was in before the interviews started says it all plus lying about being contacted by only Hills is also a fabrication and highlights a familiar struggle within Illinois Republican politics:
- the battle between grassroots, independent-minded conservatives and
- the entrenched party establishment.
The appointment process for Dan McConchie’s Senate seat seems to have been dominated by backroom deals, consultants, political families favoring a candidate with no contested elected experience and then after that candidate didn’t submit a application than selecting one with no primary track record who may not qualify as a Republican over someone like Martin McLaughlin, who has consistently won in tough races.
The fact that McLaughlin was effectively shut out of consideration (twice in 14 days ) despite his success in a purple district, suggests that the party’s leadership is more concerned with control than winning.
This is a pattern seen before, where party elites handpick candidates who fit their mold but lack the grassroots support needed to win general elections.
See Richard Irvin.
I wonder if Cor Strategies, a local consulting company, will be running Hills campaign?
If Keith Brin is the attorney for COR and financially benefiting from the appointment process, that raises serious ethical concerns.
He should have recused himself.
When political consultants and conflicted chairs have more influence over candidate selection than voters do, it erodes trust in the party.
How soon do we forget the Helene Wash debacle?
McLaughlin’s continued electoral success despite establishment resistance suggests he’s tapped into what voters actually want:
- Authenticity and genuineness delivering lower taxes,
- effective governance, and
- independence from political gamesmanship.
If the Illinois GOP is serious about becoming competitive again, it should be studying and replicating his approach instead of sidelining him.
The party’s inability to win elections should force some self-reflection.
If a candidate like McLaughlin and those he has supported to local office can succeed with a fraction of the spending, while the establishment continues to fail, maybe the problem isn’t the outsiders—it’s the insiders clinging to a losing strategy.
