Our endorsement for 5th congressional district: Quigley

This endorsement is a consensus opinion of the Daily Herald Editorial Board.

Mike Quigley, the U.S. representative of the 5th congressional district since 2009, remains the same pragmatic Democrat he's been throughout 13 years in Congress. What has changed is his district: While the 5th for decades covered most of Chicago's North side - generating congressmen like Rostenkowski, Blagojevich and Emanuel - it now includes many Northwest suburbs: Arlington Heights, parts of Des Plaines, Palatine and Mount Prospect; Lake Zurich, Long Grove and the Barrington area.

Quigley and these new voters don't know each other. But we urge suburban voters to take a good look at him.

Quigley has faced only minor challenges since 2009, and flirted twice with running for mayor of Chicago, including 2023. He dropped out after Russia invaded Ukraine, despite internal polling that showed him beating Mayor Lori Lightfoot head to head, in favor of remaining co-chair of the House Ukrainian Caucus and being on the House Select Committee on Intelligence.

Quigley takes mostly mainstream Democratic positions on major issues and is a strong advocate for human and civil rights, which he argues "should not be subject to the whims of state legislatures." He has been a watchdog on national security. He is an effective voice for Illinois in Congress and is no stranger to compromise. "You can be aspirational and pragmatic at the same time," he once told us.

Quigley's positions reflect those of his constituents, and his experience is a plus for Illinois and the U.S. in troubled times. The Republican candidate is Tommy Hanson, an election denier who believes the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup, and who ran unsuccessfully for the 5th in 2008, 2018 and 2020. His MAGA views are out of touch with the district. Quigley is endorsed.