* For whatever reason, a former Trump advisor running for Congress in the Chicago suburbs reached out to the New York Post to announce her campaign…
A conservative young Latina from Illinois is running for Congress as the anti-AOC.
Republican Catalina Lauf, 26, who is hoping to snag a Democratic-held seat outside Chicago, supports President Trump’s border wall, cites Ronald Reagan as an idol and hopes to be a counterweight to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s congressional “Squad.”
If Lauf wins the seat, she would break the Bronx-Queens representative’s record as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
“I think it’s time that people step forward who want to unite the country and do it for the right reasons,” Lauf told The Post.
The self-described “lifelong conservative” on Tuesday announced she is running in the state’s 14th Congressional District west of the Windy City — and will be taking on incumbent Democrat Lauren Underwood.
Lauf is a former Trump administration adviser from Woodstock, Ill., who describes herself as “Latina by heart, American first” — born to an American father and Guatemalan mother. […]
Lauf accused the 32-year-old incumbent of not representing the mostly rural, traditionally Republican district that the Democrats narrowly won with 52.5% of the vote in the 2018 midterm election.
A bombshell new report today by NPR uncovered serious potential impropriety at the Republican Main Street Partnership (RMSP), a network of political organizations which was co-Chaired by Congressman Rodney Davis during the period in which significant concerns were raised about how millions of dollars of contributions were spent. According to one former GOP lawmaker quoted by NPR: “It just all smelled really bad.”
According to NPR’s report, lawmakers and GOP operatives have questioned the use of hundreds of thousands of dollars of campaign contributions by Sarah Chamberlain, the Executive Director of the groups co-led by Davis, and that there’s fear the organization may be “running afoul of campaign finance and tax laws.”
When contacted by NPR, Congressman Davis refused to answer questions, and quietly cut his ties to group, even though NPR reports that “before Election Day, sources said, there was a growing list of questions about Chamberlain’s leadership of RMSP,” meaning that these actions were happening under Davis’ watch.
Even worse? This network’s Super PAC spent $200,000 last year to prop up Rodney Davis’ re-election campaign, raising further questions about spending decisions at the organization, and Rodney’s role in them.
“Rodney Davis needs to come clean with the public about what he knew about potential violation of federal law at the shadowy political network that he helped oversee, and when he knew it” said DCCC spokesperson Mike Gwin. “We already knew that Rodney Davis is a career politician who feels more at home at high-dollar fundraisers in DC than listening to his constituents, but this report raises serious questions about what he’s been doing in the Washington swamp.”
===Lauf is a former Trump administration adviser from Woodstock, Ill., who describes herself as “Latina by heart, American first” — born to an American father and Guatemalan mother. ===
“You played yourself”
Lauf and Slip and Sue should talk about the ills of immigration while lauding their own story… with children and families held in camps.
I think her ad is well done (and I didn’t expect that I’d say before viewing it). Lauf sort of has an Obama message about all Americans coming together and, not like Obama, accuses Democrats of sowing racial discord. It will be interesting to see if that message works with the moderate voters of the 14th CD and if other Republicans will be able to co-opt it.
I’d root for her candidacy for Village Library Trustee. Start small, learn about the world, move up the ladder. I am not sure why she is setting her sites on Congress. My advice, try getting elected to something…State Rep….maybe?
Lauf was obviously cooked up in a GOP laboratory. What’s her position on healthcare, especially coverage of pre-existing conditions? I wouldn’t ask her anything else until she gives a straight answer there.
- Cable Line Beer Gardener - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 1:46 pm:
A “life-long conservative” reminds me when they interview kids after the World Series and some 6 year old says they have been waiting for this win their whole life.
Great to see a young energetic candidate on the GOP ticket. Her policy ideas will need to be explored but her life experience/family history will be appealing to voters in the 14th district.
- and yet she persisted - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:05 pm:
How dare a young woman jump into this race when she’s only 26 and hasn’t even joined the PTA yet…the arrogance to lean in like that is just so, so un-nerving; what craziness is next - is a twenty-something going to be elected from the Bronx, NY?
Lauf needs some experience in the real world. She hasn’t held down a job and seems to just bounce around. She was the opposite of impressive on the Rauner campaign and I get nobody works in the White House very long but she was only there for like 6 months.
===How dare a young woman jump into this race when she’s only 26 and hasn’t even joined the PTA yet===
(Sigh)
Male or female, experience, life experience, understanding policies because you may have lived them longer than a college semester full is not much to ask of someone running.
Don’t think you were around when Aaron Schock ran as a “youngster”. Age factors into both genders, friend. Keep up.
Rich, the Marie Newman “staffer” is saying he doesn’t work for Marie Newman. He changed his name on twitter to “Hey Rich I’m Not A Staffer”: https://twitter.com/Samuel_Burnear
For whatever reason? Perhaps the reason was to get national media attention with inevitable AOC comparisons. Sending it to the NY Post even got her a mention in Capitol Fax.
===I wouldn’t call the NYP a national media outlet.===
She’s not directly playing to get national. NYP is part of the Murdoch Empire and at present pro-Trump. She’s playing to get noticed by the Fox News heads/Trump
The Wall, built ir not, paid for by Mexico or not, will be as effective in stopping immigrants seeking the American Dream, as it would be ar stopping climate change.
Must be a new rule as I used to see anonymous commenters on here pretty regularly. But I don’t comment much anyway. You’re nickname thing says “May soon be required” as well…might want to change that. I don’t see the issue if it’s a serious comment as you can delete trolls pretty easily but whatever it’s your blog. No harm, no foul.
What I said was Congressman Davis is a good man in my book since he went out of his way to help the family of a sailor who was killed at sea. Spent 2 years helping them travel and providing whatever support he could. That’s a lot more than a lot of politicians would (this is a nonpartisan jab, GOP and Dems). So he’s a good man as far as I’m concerned.
BM,I think someone (Rodney) can be a good man and still be a lousy Congressman. He denies any connection with his ridiculous campaign staffers, denies any knowledge of what his campaign ads say and refuses to call out the dangerous rantings of our unstable President and his political party’s leader.
- Iggy - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 1:06 pm:
I really want to root for Lauf, but I’m aware of her caliber of work on the Rauner campaign. Good luck to her, she’s gonna need it.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 1:10 pm:
===The self-described “lifelong conservative”===
She’s… twenty… six.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 1:14 pm:
===Lauf is a former Trump administration adviser from Woodstock, Ill., who describes herself as “Latina by heart, American first” — born to an American father and Guatemalan mother. ===
“You played yourself”
Lauf and Slip and Sue should talk about the ills of immigration while lauding their own story… with children and families held in camps.
Indeed, you’re playing yourself. It’s foolish.
- Keggerator Repairman - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 1:27 pm:
I think her ad is well done (and I didn’t expect that I’d say before viewing it). Lauf sort of has an Obama message about all Americans coming together and, not like Obama, accuses Democrats of sowing racial discord. It will be interesting to see if that message works with the moderate voters of the 14th CD and if other Republicans will be able to co-opt it.
- Colin O'Scopy - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 1:43 pm:
=I really want to root for Lauf=
I’d root for her candidacy for Village Library Trustee. Start small, learn about the world, move up the ladder. I am not sure why she is setting her sites on Congress. My advice, try getting elected to something…State Rep….maybe?
- Not a Superstar - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 1:45 pm:
Lauf was obviously cooked up in a GOP laboratory. What’s her position on healthcare, especially coverage of pre-existing conditions? I wouldn’t ask her anything else until she gives a straight answer there.
- Cable Line Beer Gardener - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 1:46 pm:
A “life-long conservative” reminds me when they interview kids after the World Series and some 6 year old says they have been waiting for this win their whole life.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 1:59 pm:
Great to see a young energetic candidate on the GOP ticket. Her policy ideas will need to be explored but her life experience/family history will be appealing to voters in the 14th district.
- and yet she persisted - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:05 pm:
How dare a young woman jump into this race when she’s only 26 and hasn’t even joined the PTA yet…the arrogance to lean in like that is just so, so un-nerving; what craziness is next - is a twenty-something going to be elected from the Bronx, NY?
- Anny Naan - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:08 pm:
Lauf needs some experience in the real world. She hasn’t held down a job and seems to just bounce around. She was the opposite of impressive on the Rauner campaign and I get nobody works in the White House very long but she was only there for like 6 months.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:10 pm:
===How dare a young woman jump into this race when she’s only 26 and hasn’t even joined the PTA yet===
(Sigh)
Male or female, experience, life experience, understanding policies because you may have lived them longer than a college semester full is not much to ask of someone running.
Don’t think you were around when Aaron Schock ran as a “youngster”. Age factors into both genders, friend. Keep up.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:15 pm:
===How dare a young woman jump into this race when she’s only 26 and hasn’t even joined the PTA yet===
Former state Representative Olsen also comes to mind and his age and experience was in question.
- OutOfState - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:15 pm:
Rich, the Marie Newman “staffer” is saying he doesn’t work for Marie Newman. He changed his name on twitter to “Hey Rich I’m Not A Staffer”:
https://twitter.com/Samuel_Burnear
- Jocko - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:26 pm:
==Republican Catalina Lauf…supports President Trump’s border wall==
You mean the one that will never be built and, if it were, would be ineffective? Next (exclamation point)
- Lefty Lefty - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:35 pm:
7 candidates in the 14th Republican primary and it’s only August. The winner is going to have about 800 votes.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:43 pm:
You mean the one that will never be built and, if it were, would be ineffective? Next (exclamation point)
336 miles in the works including - 86 miles of new primary wall, 24 miles of new levee wall and 226 miles of replacement wall.
https://cdn.factcheck.org/UploadedFiles/CBP-Border-Wall-Status-Paper-May-23-2019.pdf
- Nuke the Whales - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:51 pm:
For whatever reason? Perhaps the reason was to get national media attention with inevitable AOC comparisons. Sending it to the NY Post even got her a mention in Capitol Fax.
- Soo... - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:53 pm:
So Sam’s not a staffer but he works on the campaign….. https://twitter.com/Samuel_Burnear/status/1148279743789318145
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 2:53 pm:
===Perhaps the reason was to get national media attention===
I wouldn’t call the NYP a national media outlet.
- Soo... - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 3:03 pm:
===I wouldn’t call the NYP a national media outlet.===
She’s not directly playing to get national. NYP is part of the Murdoch Empire and at present pro-Trump. She’s playing to get noticed by the Fox News heads/Trump
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 3:47 pm:
To the anonymous commenter complaining about being deleted: Read the rules. “anonymous commenters will not be tolerated”
- VerySmallRocks - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 3:49 pm:
The Wall, built ir not, paid for by Mexico or not, will be as effective in stopping immigrants seeking the American Dream, as it would be ar stopping climate change.
- BM - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 3:52 pm:
Must be a new rule as I used to see anonymous commenters on here pretty regularly. But I don’t comment much anyway. You’re nickname thing says “May soon be required” as well…might want to change that. I don’t see the issue if it’s a serious comment as you can delete trolls pretty easily but whatever it’s your blog. No harm, no foul.
What I said was Congressman Davis is a good man in my book since he went out of his way to help the family of a sailor who was killed at sea. Spent 2 years helping them travel and providing whatever support he could. That’s a lot more than a lot of politicians would (this is a nonpartisan jab, GOP and Dems). So he’s a good man as far as I’m concerned.
- JS Mill - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 4:09 pm:
=336 miles in the works including - 86 miles of new primary wall, 24 miles of new levee wall and 226 miles of replacement wall.=
Versus the actual length of the boarder? Billions of dollars for something that a ladder will defeat?
Brilliant.
=So he’s a good man as far as I’m concerned.=
Goody for you. Most see him for what he is and now can possibly add malfeasance.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 4:10 pm:
===Must be a new rule===
Yep.
- BM - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 4:11 pm:
===Yep.===
Fair enough. Just teaches me to look more closely at the rules. Good day to you sir!
- don the legend - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 4:14 pm:
BM,I think someone (Rodney) can be a good man and still be a lousy Congressman. He denies any connection with his ridiculous campaign staffers, denies any knowledge of what his campaign ads say and refuses to call out the dangerous rantings of our unstable President and his political party’s leader.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 4:18 pm:
===You mean the one that will never be built and, if it were, would be ineffective? Next (exclamation point)
336 miles in the works including - 86 miles of new primary wall, 24 miles of new levee wall and 226 miles of replacement wall.===
Is Mexico paying for it, LOL