GOP candidates in 9th Congressional District react to Russian election meddling

Reactions to Russia's meddling in the 2016 election varied widely among Republican candidates in the 9th Congressional District primary - from calling it partially manufactured by Democrats to condemning President Donald Trump's response.

John Elleson of Arlington Heights, Max Rice of Glencoe, Sargis Sangari of Skokie and D. Vincent Thomas Jr. of Evanston are vying for a chance to defeat Democratic incumbent Jan Schakowsky.

Elleson, a pastor at Lakewood Chapel, said Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia is necessary. But he also reasoned that other countries try to influence elections and said the U.S. has "gone hysterical" about Russia.

"It's real, but I think the Democrats probably did manufacture this a little bit to create a narrative of why Hillary (Clinton) lost," Elleson said.

Rice said the news media and politicians are inflaming Russia by speaking recklessly, though he did agree the country did seek to sway the election. He said companies such as Facebook and YouTube should be held more responsible.

"The threat of nuclear war is probably the scariest thing to me because just one nuclear bomb could cause a nuclear winter for 100 years," Rice said. "And so you guys might be upset that Trump is palling around with Russia, but I didn't like the spineless information from Republicans and Democrats just kind of trying to fuel the flames of a nuclear war. You have to be really careful with Russia."

Thomas, a DePaul University professor and retired member of the Coast Guard, said the U.S. should strongly confront Russia or else the threat will continue. He said the Trump administration is not responding properly.

"For the administration to consistently obfuscate, sidestep, beg the question, refuse to openly admit, come out and say on record, 'This happened,' is a problem," Thomas said. "Along with that, the undermining of our intelligence agencies is also a problem."

Sangari, the director of the Near East Center for Strategic Engagement and a retired Army lieutenant colonel, said the U.S. needs to balance contesting and working with Russia. He said that Trump can do little to stop Russia while Democrats and Republicans so openly "bash" each other.

"Russia will eventually find a candidate, whether it be Democrat, Republican or independent, to use for their advantage," Sangari said. "Russia will get into these highly debatable social issues and will use them to divide Americans in order to get to the next level, which is support its wants and desires."

The 9th Congressional District includes much of the North Shore and stretches to the Northwest suburbs through parts of Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights and Rolling Meadows.

The primary election is Tuesday.