Walsh: No Illinois delegation discussion about what’s best for “team”
Faced with a Democratic-drawn Congressional map and what he says is a lack of conversation among Republicans about “team” strategy, 8th District Rep. Joe Walsh says the only practical choice for him is to run for re-election in the new 14th District, where his McHenry home is located, rather than in the Democratic-leaning 8th District.
Walsh’s choice will put him in a primary election battle against current 14th District Rep. Randy Hultgren, of Winfield. Walsh spoke with the Daily Herald about his decision, frustrations with the map and with his own party, and his strategy moving forward.
Q. Have you talked to Rep. Hultgren about this?
A. We spoke last week, and I will go in and speak with him today.
It’s always unfortunate when a Republican has to run against a Republican. I’m sure it’s Randy’s hope and my hope that we can overturn this map.
Q. Any last-minute debate on switching out of the 8th District?A. I suppose at the end of the day I always knew if we had to live with the Democratic map this made the most sense because this is where my home is. Q. The map places a number of Illinois Republicans in the same district. But one member #8212; Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam of Wheaton #8212; is seemingly protected. Are you satisfied with what he#146;s doing to help more vulnerable GOP members?A. I think it would have been hugely helpful if our delegation had sat down sometime a while back and looked at this map and figured out what#146;s best for the team. That meeting didn#146;t occur. It wasn#146;t Randy (Hultgren#146;s) place or my place to call that meeting. Q. By running against another Republican freshman, you likely will have to spend more money on a tough primary that could otherwise have been diverted toward the general election. Is the money that both you and Hultgren will spend in the primary a waste of party money and resources?A. Those sorts of considerations are always secondary. I went to Washington eight months ago to shake up the world. Part of this decision was, where can I best continue to do this if we have to live with the Democratic map? Q. With you publicly criticizing your party as well as battling allegations by your former wife that you owe back child support, do you expect GOP money will go to Hultgren instead of you in the primary?A. The party traditionally stays out of fights like this. I would expect that to occur (in this primary). It will be a situation where we will take ourselves and our messages directly to the Republican voters. This notion that (the 14th District) is anyone#146;s district I find offensive. This is a district that has been drawn. It has two sitting congressmen in there.