-By Warner Todd Huston
Looks like Jim Purcell, a solid conservative, has decided not to run for the 14th District seat after all. That still leaves four Republicans in the race.
Still in:
- Jeff Danklefsen Campaign website, FaceBook page.
- Ethan Hastert, son of former Speaker Dennis Hastert – Campaign website, FaceBook page.
- Randy Hultgren, current 48th District State rep- Campaign website, FaceBook page.
- Iraq Reconstruction Worker Mark Vargas of Elgin – Campaign website, FaceBook page.
Here is the Purcell press release:
Purcell Keeps Options Open
BATAVIA. Joined by his wife, Jill, Batavia businessman Jim Purcell announced today the end of his campaign for the Republican nomination to the 14th Congressional District, citing his desire not to divide the conservative vote.
“My decision today is to ‘take one for the team.’ It is extremely important that Republicans take back the 14th Congressional District from Bill Foster and Nancy Pelosi. But the only way this will happen is if Republicans nominate a conservative candidate not plugged into the establishment that is responsible for losing our majority in Congress.
Purcell said he is concerned that an Ethan Hastert victory in the primary would only lead to a Republican loss in the fall.
“Ethan is a very nice young man, but the reality is that his family is a liability in the General Election. Dennis Hastert is the very kind of Republican that voters resoundingly rejected in 2006. I don’t believe Ethan will be able to get past that, regardless of how far ‘right’ he runs in the primary. Voters are tired of actors. They want real leadership.”
Purcell thanked all his supporters for their hard work and dedication during his campaign.
“The most satisfying part of my campaign was meeting some fantastic people from all over the 14th District. I was greatly humbled by the support I received and know that all the work put into my campaign was done not for me, but for our country and our children. I am proud to be a part of a community of so many patriots and I encourage them to continue the fight.”
Purcell said that his withdrawal from the Republican Primary does not mean the end of his involvement in politics.
“I continue to have a deep desire to help our community, our state, and our country. But as my wife has reminded me many times, there are many ways to do that. As usual, she is right. So all I can say is ‘stay tuned’ because I’m here to stay.”
____________
“The only end of writing is to enable the reader better to enjoy life, or better to endure it.”
–Samuel Johnson
Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as Andrew Breitbart’s BigGovernment.com, RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, RedState.com, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.
He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the new book “Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture” which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of PubliusForum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston
Fair Use: This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of political, human rights, economic, democracy, and social justice issues, etc. I believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research, educational, or satirical purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site/blog for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.