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Upcoming test for Eastern Bloc

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Illinois

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

A group of ultra-conservative Illinois House members known as the Eastern Bloc has been stirring up trouble with the establishment in both parties for years.

The Republican districts they represent stretch from north of Decatur, over to Tuscola and down to Mattoon, Shelbyville, Effingham and Vandalia.

They are the fellas (they’re all men) who demanded Chicago be kicked out of Illinois.

The most famous member you’d likely know of is Darren Bailey, who served in both the Illinois House and the Senate then ran for governor last year and is now running for Congress against fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost.

Those folks were so steadfast against pandemic mitigations they sometimes came off as almost pro-COVID. They love guns, they think abortion is an abomination, they’re up in arms about a Chinese company opening a huge electric vehicle battery factory in Kankakee County, and they rarely if ever pass any substantive legislation.

There are now a handful of primary races in that region that could tell us a lot about the future of the Republican Party in this state. Bailey vs. Bost is one of them. The race to replace retiring Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, is another. The father of the kick-Chicago-out-of-Illinois “movement” is Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, and he’s being challenged by an equally right-wing opponent because Halbrook broke his term-limit pledge.

The Eastern Bloc rebranded themselves as the Illinois Freedom Caucus and is gearing up to challenge Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton, with one of their own. Severin is conservative but not sufficiently pure for them. He’s accepted a few union contributions, for instance.

The race we’re going to talk about today is related to the Severin battle. It’s in the 110th House District, which is currently held by Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City. He’s every bit of the fire breather that Bailey is but without the burning desire (so far) to seek higher office.

Wilhour has been fighting a behind-the-scenes war with House Republican Leader Tony McCombie all year. He’s also taken on the teachers’ unions, which are trying to reestablish ties to Republican legislators now that their wealthy anti-union benefactors like Bruce Rauner and Ken Griffin have fled to Florida.

Back in September, Reps. Wilhour and Chris Miller (who is married to U.S. Rep. Mary Miller) demanded the Illinois Republican Party change its rules to declare that Republican candidates who solicit money from teachers’ unions or refuse to return their contributions “shall be condemned and automatically disassociated from the Republican Party.”

Several weeks ago, Illinois Department of Corrections employee Matt Hall started quietly circulating petitions to run against Wilhour in the Republican primary.

The Illinois Education Association confirmed it had been looking for a candidate to challenge Wilhour. A union spokesperson said the IEA did not recruit Hall but said, “We are excited about his candidacy and believe our members who live in the district will be as well.”

Asked if he would accept union contributions, Hall said, “I will accept everyone’s support, and I expect to get everyone’s support.” He said he decided to run because Wilhour “quit doing what I think a state representative needs to do,” including being responsive to constituents.

“He just doesn’t do anything,” Hall said. “In my opinion, all he does is kick and scream and doesn’t get anything passed.”

Wilhour also hasn’t stopped any Democratic bills, Hall claimed. “We need to learn how to work together and get things done and care about this district.”

In response, Rep. Wilhour said: “A primary fight with the teachers’ union has been a foregone conclusion. It’s always been about them finding their tool willing to carry their woke agenda.”

People on Wilhour’s side are convinced House GOP Leader McCombie is somehow behind Hall’s race.

“I prefer not to speak of who I’ve had contact with,” Hall said when asked if he’d spoken with McCombie about his candidacy. A McCombie aide said the leader was focused on holding and picking up seats.

Hall ended up filing his petitions. They were solid, and he had help from the IEA.

Interestingly enough, a formal objection was filed against Rep. Wilhour’s petitions. “It looks like a concerned citizen filed the complaint, and we’re interested to see what comes of it,” said an IEA spokesperson.

Sure.

Anyway, if Hall manages to beat Wilhour, a shockwave will reverberate through the far right of the party. But, if nothing else, a barrage of union money aimed at Wilhour could divert Eastern Bloc resources away from their hoped-for battle against Rep. Severin.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 9:39 am

Comments

=“A primary fight with the teachers’ union has been a foregone conclusion. It’s always been about them finding their tool willing to carry their woke agenda.”=

Yawn, same old same old playbook. Name call them but no policy discussion. Pathetic.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 10:12 am
“He’s accepted a few union contributions”

Oh the horrors.

“Republican candidates who solicit money from teachers’ unions or refuse to return their contributions “shall be condemned and automatically disassociated from the Republican Party.”

The republican’ts eat their own.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 10:15 am
Darren Bailey continues to draw attention to himself by issuing grievances to promote his next run for office. Currently, Bailey targets his opponent with “establishment elites.”

Yet, Bailey swans around southern Florida and particularly Mar-a-Lago snapping photos to share with the folks back home. Might be time for Bailey to look in the mirror as he would see an “establishment elite” staring back at him.

Bailey accomplished very little as a legislator in Illinois, ran an ego-driven campaign for governor, and now challenges his opponent with more noise coming from another run for office.

Bailey’s place is on his porch and not in Congress.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 10:28 am
Wilhour needs to get Giuliani on this obvious petition signing fraud scam /S

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 10:46 am
Matt Hall is a Conservative Republican that is at least willing to talk to Democrats and try to help the district. That alone should be enough to earn him the nomination. But, in this area, badmouthing the Democrat, criticizing teacher unions, and calling Chicago names is the red meat the voters like.

Comment by Fayette County Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 10:49 am
You see, right wingers, herein lies the problem with zealotry.

There’ll always be a bigger zealot than you.

Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 10:55 am
So does this mean none of them have parents or spouses that are school teachers? If the kid wants to be a teacher are they written out of the will? Please move to Kentucky.

Comment by levivotedforjudy Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 10:57 am
The largest employer in most of the towns the Bloc represents is the local school district.

Comment by Lagartha's Shield Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 11:32 am
one of your best columns, Rich, as it is a clearn and concise primer for those who don’t know much if anything about the Eastern Bloc, etc., folks. And gives the latest news which is quite interesting. oh for the days when the edges of the parties were not quite as strident.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 11:42 am
The ILGOP has ceded control of the party to the Eastern Bloc. And the rigid ideology of that group will keep the party from winning anything of consequence. It is an angry, shrinking tent of irrelevance.

Comment by Pundent Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 11:54 am
=Might be time for Bailey to look in the mirror as he would see an “establishment elite” staring back at him.=

Good post, the only thing I would say is that if Bailey did that he would have to come to terms with his gross hypocrisy. He is a classic socialist on top of being an economic and social elitist.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 11:54 am
So a warped ideological purity test instead of serving the district is the qualification now?

Got it.

Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 12:10 pm
== Back in September, Reps. Wilhour and Chris Miller (who is married to U.S. Rep. Mary Miller) demanded the Illinois Republican Party change its rules to declare that Republican candidates who solicit money from teachers’ unions or refuse to return their contributions “shall be condemned and automatically disassociated from the Republican Party ===

I condemn the!

The folks you need to worry about are your local elementary school teachers. They are sneaking their woke agenda into small-town Illinois; I mean, why else would they take a job here with that kind of pay and the lack of respect we now show them unless they were the tools of a secret woke union cabal?

I’m looking forward to them complaining about Big Fluoride as well.

If the local grade school teacher is your big villain, you have lost the plot.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 12:21 pm
What is this exciting “woke” agenda that Establishment Republicans, like Baylee, speak of?

Comment by Jerry Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 12:38 pm
Maybe Jason can endorse someone in this race. It is half of his district.

Comment by Highland, IL Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 12:48 pm
=The largest employer in most of the towns the Bloc represents is the local school district.=

Charleston is in the Bloc and by far their largest employer is EIU.

Likewise with Macomb and WIU in the Western Bloc.

Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 12:50 pm
===Illinois Department of Corrections employee Matt Hall===

I would be very surprised if this candidate had a woke agenda.

I am not at all surprised that Wilhour is trying to create a false narrative about the idea that the IEA is involved in a DOC employee’s decision to run.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 12:50 pm
The other big employer in the Eastern Bloc?

Prisons.

Many towns in the Eastern Bloc fought HARD to get them.

Comment by Jerry Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 1:44 pm
I used to live in Wilhour’s district. I’m an independent voter, and thankful I don’t live there anymore. I’d vote for my dog before I’d vote for Wilhour.

Comment by Fivegreenleaves Monday, Dec 18, 23 @ 5:01 pm