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Schilling mulls a run while Rauner pushes Tracy toward Sullivan challenge

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Former Illinois Rep. Bobby Schilling hasn’t closed the door on running in the special election to replace embattled Republican Rep. Aaron Schock, according to a knowledgeable GOP source.

State Sen. Darin LaHood of Peoria is the early frontrunner in the forthcoming Republican primary, but Schilling represented [16 percent] of Illinois’ 18th District during his time in Congress and could bring some name identification to the race. […]

Former state Rep. Jil Tracy, who is from Quincy on the western edge of the 18th District, could have access to personal money, which could help her overcome an initial name identification deficit. Her husband’s family has a large trucking and food distribution company.

Tracy, who lost a race for lieutenant governor in 2014, made calls to potential donors in Chicago late last week, testing the waters for a potential congressional run, according to local sources.

But GOP sources also said Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner is working behind the scenes for LaHood and has offered to gather significant financial support for Tracy if she challenges Democratic state Sen. John Sullivan in 2016 instead of running for Congress.

I talked to Schilling just a few weeks ago and he said he had no desire to ever run for office again. Things change.

Also, Rauner’s people are indeed pushing LaHood, from what I’m told. And the SGOPs (and Rauner) would love to have Tracy challenge Sullivan in 2016. She could be the only person who has a shot at defeating him. But I don’t think she’s sold on that one yet. Stay tuned.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 3:24 pm

Comments

Plot thickens. Tracy vs. Sullivan could be just the under card needed in a presidential year.

Schilling would be well advised to go with his first thought.

Comment by A guy Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 3:30 pm
If Rauner is going to finance a challenge to John Sullivan, does this make it more likely Sullivan runs for IL-18 in the special election?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 3:34 pm
Some good GOP politics at play here.

Let’s be clear; LaHood is more desirable to Rauner because a backfill of the IL Senate seat, today, and maybe Tracy picks up another seat in the Fall of 2016.

The backfill is glaring, but that’s smart politics by the Governor’s Crew. It is.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 3:35 pm
If Rauner is going to finance a challenge to John Sullivan, does this make it more likely Sullivan runs for IL-18 in the special election?

In a word, no.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 3:38 pm
==If Rauner is going to finance a challenge to John Sullivan, does this make it more likely Sullivan runs for IL-18 in the special election?==

So instead of fighting a challenge in a district he’s proven he can win, he should run in a district he’s assured of losing?

Comment by Anonymoiis Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 3:41 pm
Been wondering what Schilling would do. My guess is he’ll eventually say no, but if he said yes he would certainly have a solid argument to make going in. He’d be a heavy contender.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 3:55 pm
Cuz runs in the GOP primaries and a write-in for the dems. The dems fold up the tent and endorse brown.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 3:57 pm
Sullivan could be a strong D 18 candidate if there is a bloody R primary.

Comment by D.P.Gumby Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 3:59 pm
Sullivan’s family business may not be DOT Foods but they aren’t paupers either. I know his district covers colleges and prisons and I know those employees were in no way enamoured of Jil Tracy and her votes on pension and other bills. Can Rauner buy another seat?

Comment by Former Merit Comp Slave Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 3:59 pm
Didn’t realize Rauner was already recruiting specific candidates for ‘16 State Senate challenges. Wonder if he’ll try to help unseat Scott Bennett, who seems like he’s doing a good job, but was appointed to his seat.

Comment by Summerwind Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 4:02 pm
The $20 million fund isn’t really $20 million, but it is still getting an awful lot of claimants awfully fast.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 4:04 pm
A quad cities congressman running in this district is ridiculous.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 4:04 pm
Word around Peoria is that if Lahood wins the special election, Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis is up for his State Seat. Ardis will really be after any twitter trolls then.

Comment by Anon2 Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 4:10 pm
==- Arsenal - Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 4:04 pm:==

What makes it not really $20 million?

http://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/A1List.aspx?ID=25185&FiledDocID=554256&ContributionType=AllTypes&Archived=True

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 4:12 pm
If It’s Ardis, I can not wait for that!

Ardis, swearing to uphold the constitution, but hoes after free speech. He’s beyond a Dope, he’s a Twitter troll disguised as a Dope.

Won’t have the police force in Springfield, Mr. Ardis. You’d be #59, and in the Minority. A recipe for an implosion with his personality.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 4:18 pm
Schilling ran and won in the 17th District and he does not even live there. You can run for any Congressional District because he lives in the 14th.

Comment by lil' enchililada Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 4:44 pm
Plus there are currently 3 Illinois Congressmen who do not live in the District they represent. This is weird.

Comment by lil' enchililada Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 4:47 pm
What HGF said.

Schilling has Potomac Fever. Tough to shake, but what’s a poor ole Tea Partier to do? How you going to keep em down at the pizza parlor, after they’ve seen DC?

It was a sweet gig while it lasted. But no way he can bigfoot a GOP primary in that district.

He couldn’t raise a dime against Cheri last time out, as the former incumbent in an off year.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 4:48 pm
PizzaBobby in the race would be a great gift.
Cruz too. The cUz4congress exploratoripalooza is looking closely at that big hunk of Texan. Can an endorsement bring many of the 33% undecided over to our side. Stay tune

Comment by cUzCorps Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 5:08 pm
The dems could hijack the GOP like Rauner did.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 5:20 pm
With Rauner’s approval rating sinking fast , not sure his backing even with a slice of the 20 mil is a plus. Maybe why Tracy hasn’t sold out yet ?

Comment by x ace Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 5:24 pm
Tracy should contest for the U.S. seat. She’s just better qualified than LaHood, and that’s what matters.

Comment by walker Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 5:41 pm
@Summerwind

That’s a 56/42 Obama district.

Forget it.

Comment by HappyToaster Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 6:16 pm
Heck make chad Grimm a republican too.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 6:39 pm
===Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis is up for his State Seat.===

Ugh, he is literally the worst. I don’t know whether to hope that happens so he leaves the city alone or whether to hope it doesn’t because anything that increases that man’s clout is a bad idea.

He spends all kinds of time trying to sell Peoria as a modern, forward-thinking city, and then he tells people, “Have your girl call my girl,” like he’s on Mad Men.* It’s shudder-inducing, and it doesn’t matter what line he’s trying to sell when he undermines it all with his unprofessional behavior.

*He is not nearly old enough for this to have ever been okay during his time as a working adult.

Comment by Peoria Poll Watcher Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 8:11 pm
Peoria Poll Watcher–

Maybe Ardis hired a 12 year-old bubble gum popper to answer his phone, so he’s just being accurate.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 8:30 pm
Bobby Schilling could absolutely win that seat. He has a great reputation among the conservative base, with a common sense record of voting and supporting the priorities of central Illinois in Congress. He also has a huge donor list who is loyal to him. Run Bobby run!

Comment by Truthteller Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 8:33 pm
===Schilling has Potomac Fever. Tough to shake, but what’s a poor ole Tea Partier to do?===

have you seen their offices??? looks like something from downtown abbey!!!

Comment by bored now Tuesday, Mar 24, 15 @ 5:16 am
Come on people chant with me Allen Keys…… Allen Keys…… Allen Keys. Just the clown the Republican Party needs to join this circus. Unbelieveable, Rauner go back to the private sector or back to your nine homes. Your circus is starting to wear/bore the coters of Illinois. This is called Rauner Remorse, can we finally start the return process. I mean recall process. I mean people how much longer……..

Comment by Wait A Illinois Minute Tuesday, Mar 24, 15 @ 1:16 pm
Come on people chant with me Allen Keys…… Allen Keys…… Allen Keys. Just the clown the Republican Party needs to join this circus. Unbelieveable, Rauner go back to the private sector or back to your nine homes. Your circus is starting to wear/bore the coters of Illinois. This is called Rauner Remorse, can we finally start the return process. I mean recall process. I mean people how much longer……..

Comment by Holy Smokes Tuesday, Mar 24, 15 @ 1:17 pm
I really trust someone who manages to misspell both “Alan” and “Keyes.”

Comment by T.J. Wednesday, Mar 25, 15 @ 5:58 am