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* The Hill…
Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), who announced this summer he won’t run for reelection in 2020, said Monday night he has been asked to reconsider his decision.
In a brief interview with The Hill outside the Capitol, the 23-year veteran lawmaker declined to say whether House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) or Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), the House GOP campaign arm’s chief, had asked him to run again.
Shimkus, 61, also declined to say whether he was seriously entertaining the idea.
But his remarks come at an interesting time. Earlier Monday, longtime Oregon Rep. Greg Walden, the top Republican on the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced that he would retire at the end of this term, even though he could have served in the top job through January 2023.
Walden had defeated both Shimkus and then-Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) for the Energy and Commerce gavel in a hotly contested 2016 race. Barton had previously served as chairman, and Shimkus had more seniority than Walden on the committee.
*** UPDATE *** Politico reporter…
NEWS: @RepShimkus tells reporters he is reconsidering his retirement decision now that the top GOP spot on the Energy and Commerce Committee is opening up.
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) October 29, 2019
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:13 am
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(Sigh)
Exactly. Ugh.
That district is the “lame duck” district once Illinois is one light of congressional seats.
Two things made THE most sense;
* Caretaker Congressman, maybe have picked by Shimkus to walk after the new map, then all the GOPers are then safe in the eventual map.
* Run for re-elect, finish that term. Walk
All this money and effort for a seat that won’t exist in 2022?
It’s as though no one thought out the politics.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:16 am
We all want to feel wanted so the plea to reconsider has to be flattering. However, I recall that Shimkus signed the term limits agreement when he ran in 1996. Then in 2005 he said that was a mistake and has been in Congress since then. Time for him to keep his word and retire.
Comment by Nearly Normal Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:33 am
Lol, of course he’s reconsidering. He also promised he’d only serve 5 terms. He abandoned that pledge 7 terms ago. What’s one more?
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:33 am
House GOP is in panic mode.
“In all, 17 GOP House members and four senators are forgoing reelection next year without declaring their candidacy for another office,…”
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/10/retirement-congress-2020-hurd-alexander/596965/
Panic Mode.
Comment by L.A. Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:41 am
He has been in Congress plenty long.
Long past time to step aside for others.
And many “Others’ in Congress need to do the same.
There should be a life before and after Congress. It should not be a career. Twelve years is long enough for anyone.
As I already said, do something with your life before Congress and after it as well.
Comment by OpentoDiscussion Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:44 am
=== In all, 17 GOP House members and four senators are forgoing reelection next year without declaring their candidacy for another office,…”
Panic Mode.===
Oh boy. You may wanna stop with the National taking points.
Arguably the “most republican” seat in Illinois, this move is a local thingy to save the cash in a primary and burning a fresh face for a seat that won’t exist in 2022.
That’s the ball game.
The money saved here, the energy saved here, *then* leaks to a national GOP need.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:45 am
So, he announces his retirement, then he throws a temper tantrum when Trump decided to pull 50 troops out of Syria and said “take me off the I support Donald Trump list.” Yesterday morning he was trying to walk back the comments. Then last night says he’s “being asked to reconsider his retirement.” No one is asking this guy to reconsider. He’s been in Congress for 23 years and has been repeatedly passed over for leadership positions. But this time it’s going to be different? How about a little self-awareness?
Comment by Dave W Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:47 am
It’s not so clear which downstate seat disappears in the 2021 remap. IL 15 (Shimkus) is a Republican vote sink, and any new map drawn by the Democrats will maintain a vote sink in that area. The challenge is that IL 17 (Bustos) will need an extra 60,000 or more added to her district, assuming only one seat is lost by Illinois. IL 13 (Davis) is in a much better position to be carved up to add population to IL 17 and the other downstate CDs.
Comment by muon Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:47 am
I have no problem with any politician that wants to run again and again. If the people want you, they’ll keep you.
But his whole “term limit” bit is just another example why politicians have a well-earned reputation.
Comment by efudd Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:48 am
=== Then last night says he’s “being asked to reconsider his retirement.” No one is asking this guy to reconsider.===
Maybe not in the district littered with “51st state” folks, but the politics all but demand the GOP Caucus both nationally, in Illinois, and the whole Illinois delegations, frankly.
That district will NOT exist in 2022. It allows everyone to be safe in the delegation, saves the state GOP a headache, saves burning a fresh face for a single term, and saves the RNCC cash in a safe seat, with an incumbent to focus on other races.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:51 am
just go away
Comment by flea Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:57 am
I wholeheartedly support him reversing his decision, if only for the chance to watch him have to debase himself by kissing the feet of Dear Leader at every opportunity between now and the primary to make up for his previous declaration. “I didn’t mean it baby, I swear I didn’t mean it. That was the hooch talkin, not me”
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:59 am
== It allows everyone to be safe in the delegation, saves the state GOP a headache, saves burning a fresh face for a single term, and saves the RNCC cash in a safe seat, with an incumbent to focus on other races.==
1. What is this “state GOP” that you speak of, and why do you think they would play any role in this?
2. The NRCC won’t be spending any $ in a primary.
Comment by Dave W Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:59 am
OW, why would the Democrats carve up their best Republican vote sink in the state? It is much easier to add some neighboring areas from IL 12 and IL 13 and keep it packed with Republicans. Carving up IL 15 and adding it to the other downstate districts virtually gives up any chance at a competitive seat in the Metro East. Merging parts of IL 12 and 13 into one seat provides the Democrats a much better opportunity than dissolving IL 15.
Comment by muon Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:07 am
The point is that if the GOP weren’t so worried about the current trend, then they wouldn’t have to worry about Shimkus retiring. Otherwise, why be so worried about a “lame duck” district.
Comment by L.A. Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:07 am
I hope he reconsiders. It will be good for the district and good for Illinois if he becomes Ranking Member of E & C. We don’t have any Republicans in power positions.
Comment by Raising Kane Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:08 am
=== What is this “state GOP” that you speak of===
The Raunerites running the state party, the “51st state” folks thinking “we are the party” and the numerous candidates floating names and then dividing bodies and such to waste energy for a vanishing seat.
===and why do you think they would play any role in this?===
Rodney Davis and his own need to import folks to save his seat, and the resources they will need to do so.
Anything else?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:11 am
I wonder what Trump thinks of this given Shimkus recently saying he can’t support the President’s re-election.
Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:15 am
=== why would the Democrats carve up their best Republican vote sink in the state?===
Gobble up Shimkus, divide between Davis and Bost, keep those Red in exchange for Underwood and Casten being safer too.
That sink allows two safe seats.
=== adding it to the other downstate districts virtually gives up any chance at a competitive seat in the Metro East.===
… to save TWO suburban Dem districts up north.
It’s a two for one deal, and the delegation is “safe”.
The Dems would have 13 safe seats to the GOP “4”.
(Hashtag) Math.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:16 am
Would he still speak out against Trump if he ran again? He got awful brave when he announced he wasn’t running again.
When talking about Syria, he said “I’m heartbroken. In fact, I called my chief of staff in DC and said, ‘Pull my name off the I support Donald Trump list.’ We have just stabbed our allies in the back,” Shimkus added. “This has just shocked, embarrassed, and angered me.”
Comment by OurMagician Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:18 am
- muon - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:47 am:
It’s not so clear which downstate seat disappears in the 2021 remap. IL 15 (Shimkus) is a Republican vote sink, and any new map drawn by the Democrats will maintain a vote sink in that area. The challenge is that IL 17 (Bustos) will need an extra 60,000 or more added to her district, assuming only one seat is lost by Illinois. IL 13 (Davis) is in a much better position to be carved up to add population to IL 17 and the other downstate CDs.
————
Could a case be made to return the 17th CD to most of Springfield (Bustos’ hometown)? Even if, say, Rockford gets moved to the 14th to strengthen Underwood’s seat.
12th and 13th could combine as expected.
15th could instead become a GOP Western Illinois vote sink that also includes suburban areas of Springfield and maybe even knocking on the doors of the likes of Galesburg, Peoria, Canton, etc. With Collinsville the southernmost point of the district.
16th could become an eastern/southern Illinois vote sink with Channahon (Kinzinger’s residence) as its northernmost point; rest of Kinzinger’s seat can be mapped into LaHood’s new district (either renumbered 12 or 13).
Comment by Leatherneck Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:21 am
=== It’s not so clear which downstate seat disappears in the 2021 remap. IL 15 (Shimkus) is a Republican vote sink, and any new map drawn by the Democrats will maintain a vote sink in that area.===
If Shimkus is already halfway out the door, you draw him out in thoughts he’s going to leave.
Also, they all talk and the map will be seen by members and worked on for incumbent protection.
It’s the logical move to save the Underwood and Casten districts, and solidify a foothold in the collars.
=== The challenge is that IL 17 (Bustos) will need an extra 60,000 or more added to her district===
They can peel from LaHood. More than one way…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:26 am
If we had seen a viable option or two to replace him, I don’t think this would be a reconsideration. He should run again, one last time expecting the district to be changed in 2022 and likely more conservative fending off any potential threats. In the meantime, it prepares the way for someone like Dale Fowler who will represent a large swath of the new CD.
Comment by JSI Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:15 am