Most GOP candidates for 9th Congressional seat oppose Trump’s suggestion to nationalize elections

The Republicans running to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District are split on President Donald Trump’s recent proposal to nationalize elections.

Of the four GOP candidates, only Rocio Cleveland — an ardent Trump supporter who called the president “a real solid man, a real alpha male” — backed the idea.

Candidates John Elleson, Paul Friedman and Mark Su opposed Trump’s proposal.

The candidates discussed Trump’s proposal, immigration and other issues in a group video interview with the Daily Herald this week. The Democratic candidates in the 9th District participated in separate group interviews. The videos will be available at dailyherald.com.

The 9th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston isn’t seeking reelection after nearly 27 years in Congress.

Under the Constitution, states determine the times, places and manner of elections for seats in the U.S. House and Senate. Additionally, U.S. elections are overseen at the local level by counties or municipalities, depending on the region.

Trump, who continues pushing unproven claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, discussed changing who manages elections during an interview Monday on former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s podcast. Trump suggested Republicans take over elections in at least 15 places but didn’t specify where.

He also said the GOP should nationalize voting.

Cleveland, an Island Lake resident and volunteer interpreter, said she’d support whatever policy Trump wants to enact. She alleged, without offering evidence, that former President Joe Biden allowed people to enter the U.S. illegally so they could vote.

“They need illegals to vote for the Democratic Party. Otherwise they won’t win,” said Cleveland, who last year unsuccessfully sought a seat on the Wauconda Unit School District 118 board.

During this section of the interview and others, Cleveland held up pro-Trump signs, handwritten notes containing disparaging messages and other props.

Friedman, a software writer living in Chicago, said election management should remain a state responsibility. The modern Republican Party already has put “too much power in the federal government,” he said.

“I believe in states’ rights,” Friedman said. “I’m a small government Republican.”

Su, an information technology consultant from Chicago, also said states should continue running elections.

Elleson, a minister from Arlington Heights, said he didn’t think Trump was sincere when he suggested nationalizing elections. Regardless, Elleson opposes the idea of having the federal government run elections in some areas while leaving the task to states elsewhere.

When asked if the federal government should nationalize elections across the U.S., Elleson said it’s “worth talking about.”

“I don’t think it’ll get through Congress,” said Elleson, who unsuccessfully challenged Schakowsky for her seat in 2018.

Fourteen Democrats are campaigning for the 9th District seat in their own primary. The district hasn’t elected a Republican since the 1940s.

The primary election is March 17. Early voting is underway.