Editorial: Anderson for 14th District Congress, Democrat

In stark contrast to the 8th Congressional District race, the two Democrats trying to unseat Randy Hultgren in the 14th Congressional District have some widely divergent views.

Dennis Anderson of Gurnee ran for the 14th once before and lost. He is erudite, has a political science degree and spent his professional life in the grant side of the medical industry in Wisconsin. Retired now, he feels he can rise above partisanship to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle. If his demeanor during an editorial board interview with his opponent is any indication, he likely can. He has a rare depth of knowledge on a wealth of issues, and his views are generally moderate: abortion should be legal but rare; cut defense spending rather than Medicare; make limited restrictions to gun ownership.

His opponent, John Hosta of Spring Grove, is a small-business owner who feels that foreign trade agreements have made it nearly impossible for manufacturers to exist in the U.S. and that tariffs on foreign goods would both even the playing field and largely solve the nation's deficit. Fixing the economy is his primary goal in running for Congress.

Hosta breaks from Democratic platforms in his strong advocacy of the Second Amendment and his opposition to abortion.

Still, we think Anderson represents the best mix of independence, familiarity with the issues and ability to work effectively in Congress. He is endorsed.