Kirk to skip Republican convention
As speculation about a contested Republican convention this summer continues, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk says he won't be attending.
"Senator Kirk has his own re-election to win, so he will be working hard toward that goal, not going to the Republican convention in Ohio," campaign manager Kevin Artl said Thursday.
The Highland Park Republican is seeking a second term in a race against Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates.
Republicans are looking at a Cleveland convention in July that could see a floor fight for the presidential nomination as it remains unclear whether businessman Donald Trump will be able to win on the first ballot.
Kirk has said he will support Trump in November if he becomes the nominee.
Trump won Illinois' primary last month, but Duckworth's campaign has sought to tie Kirk to Trump in repeated criticisms in the past few weeks.
"No amount of physical distance will separate Sen. Kirk from his Republican roots, nor from Donald Trump's circus," Duckworth Deputy Campaign Manager Matt McGrath said in a statement.