Endorsement: Mercado for GOP in Congress Dist. 11

Two of the three candidates running in the 11th District Republican primary should be familiar to voters: Both Susan Hathaway-Altman and Jerry Evans ran in the same primary two years ago. We had reservations about Evans and Hathaway-Altman then, and we have them still as they face a third candidate, Kent Mercado.

Hathaway-Altman’s isolationist views are concerning; she says she is “very confused” at times about why the U.S. continues to be part of NATO. Also disturbing is her defense of those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Evans is more of a realist, stressing the importance of NATO even as he says that other nations must pay their fair share. But his refusal to bend on any new gun restrictions, for example, shows he is out of step with a district that is currently represented by Bill Foster, who has easily defeated his last six Republican opponents.

That’s why we lean toward Mercado, a doctor, attorney and businessman from Bartlett. He is the most measured of the three candidates. He is also, we believe, the candidate most likely to seek compromise and consensus in the uncomfortably polarized House.

Mercado is endorsed.