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Sole openly gay Republican drops out of House race, cites “family concerns”

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Illinois

* Jeff McKinley, the only openly gay legislative Republican candidate in Illinois, withdrew from the race last night. From a press release…

“One of the ideas I’ve talked about on the campaign trail has been duty to family. This is a value that guides my life and shapes my decisions as a husband, as a father, and as a citizen.

“I know that, no matter what, I have the unwavering love and support of my family, and I know that they will stand by me through thick and thin. However, today, I have to consider my reciprocal duty to them.

“Certain concerns have arisen within my family that make it impossible for me to proceed with the campaign at this time. I assembled a great team, and we had the pieces in place to achieve victory, not only in the primary, but also in the general election in November. I thank them and all my supporters for their efforts and dedication. Words are inadequate to explain just how grateful I am.

“Effective immediately, I am officially withdrawing from the campaign to be the next state representative from the 71st district. I also wholeheartedly endorse my former opponent, my coworker, and my friend, Jim Wozniak, as our next representative. Jim and I decided to run without knowing each other’s intentions. Our competition was never personal and we both ran positive campaigns focused on issues and the future. I am also grateful for that.”

Wozniak now has a clear shot at freshman Democratic Rep. Mike Smiddy, who won two years ago without help from the House Democrats.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 9:41 am

Comments

Very disappointing. We need more legislators who will fight for equality on every level.

Comment by Littletotheright Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 9:44 am
Very classy announcement. May his family issues be be resolved.

Comment by Steve Reick Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 9:48 am
Thanks, Steve. Classy doesnt often appear in this blog by many of the commentators as of late. After a week of visiting this blog, I watched as people’s comments were referred to as ‘daft’, ‘idiotic’ and picked apart for presentation and not content. I am not sure who people, cloaked in a fake Nickname, on an Internet blog think they are but I know they dont talk to people in person that way. I think this blog had rules.

Comment by Littletotheright Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 9:50 am
“Classy doesn’t often appear in this blog”

Class does not require you to support a particular viewpoint.

Comment by Lobo Y Olla Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 9:57 am
Picking apart idiocy is fun.

Comment by Lobo Y Olla Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 9:57 am
“Class does not require you to support a particular viewpoint.”

That’s true. But the way in which one responds to opposing viewpoints says a lot about how classy one is (or is not).

Comment by Joan P. Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 10:01 am
Pretty brave guy to be an openly gay GOPer running for office these days. He has quite a resume. Hope he tries again.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 10:03 am
This isn’t a newspost about class or the commenters on this blog. It’s about Jeff McKinley.

It takes some guts to be an openly gay Republican. Sorry he had to leave.

Comment by Timmeh Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 10:04 am
Ignore the goofy troll and move along, folks. Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 10:15 am
Well, that’s two GOP candidates in Rock Island county who have “dropped out”. There is a lot of strong arming going on from what I have heard from my republican friends.

Comment by lil enchilada Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 10:25 am
Classy indeed but wish we had Rich Morthland back.

Comment by corpman Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 10:48 am
Best wishes to him.

@IFI: That’s “family values” for real.

Comment by walker Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 11:39 am
I hope those “certain concerns of family members” did not include insults or threats to them and the candidate by local idiots.

We need a term for gays and lesbians to use, comparable to Jim Crow to label actions and harassments imposed upon them in this supposed modern age.

Comment by Capitol View Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 1:26 pm
Go ahead and use Jim Crow. Everyone else does.

Comment by state worker Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 1:52 pm
Jonathan Wallace, a young guy who formerly ran for office up here in RI County, was formally run out of the Republican party a couple months ago. They ran a very dirty whisper campaign about Reyes just before he quit his race against Schilling. Now we have Mr. McKinley dropping out. I am sensing a pattern here in the GOP party up here.

Comment by lil enchilada Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 2:29 pm
Rock Island Republicans. It’s like two bald men fighting over a comb. They’d rather run people out and maintain control rather than expand the party and win. Classic.

Comment by LincolnLounger Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 2:55 pm
Wallace was run out because he was doing shady things behind peoples back. You think he was voted out unanimously for no reason?

Why did Reyes address the whisper campaign issues if they weren’t true?

I know McKinley and he choose to drop out because he didn’t want to go through the grind. Maybe Morthland should have dropped out last cycle, because he obviously didn’t want to do any work.

Comment by The Truth Friday, Jan 17, 14 @ 4:08 pm