The Illinois 16th District US House Seat is currently held by Republican Adam Kinzinger. The district was redrawn by state democrats after the 2020 census such that Kinzinger and Illinois 17th District US House member Republican Darin LaHood would both be in the new 16th district. After voting to impeach Trump and agreeing to serve on Nancy Pelosi’s January 6 committee, Kinzinger announced he would not run for reelection. LaHood is running for the seat along with three other challengers in the Republican Primary on June 28. Joining LaHood in that race are JoAnn Guillemette, Walt Peters and Michael Rebesh.
The district was redrawn as a Republican district. It avoids urban areas such as Peoria, Bloomington-Normal and Rockford and favors the surrounding rural areas.
A June 14 article in the Daily Illini reported, “LaHood has out-fundraised his Republican challengers by a wide margin, raising over $2.6 million. The nearest challenger, Michael Rebresh, a truck driver, has raised just over $14,000.
According to LaHood’s campaign website, “Born and raised in Peoria, Illinois, Darin attended Spalding Institute/Academy of Our Lady High School before graduating from Loras College with a B.A. and earning his J.D. from John Marshall Law School. LaHood is a committed conservative and a leading advocate for effective trade policies and regulations that strengthen America’s economy. Currently, LaHood resides in Dunlap with his wife, Kristen, and their three sons, McKay, Luke, and Teddy. LaHood and his family are parishioners at St. Vincent de Paul in Peoria.”
LaHood’s number one issue is Government Spending according to his website which states, “For far too long the Federal Government has not been living within its means. Our national debt is $30 trillion and growing and we continue to have a government that spends, taxes and borrows too much. In Congress, I will continue to push to rein in spending in order to tackle the national debt, ensuring that our children and grandchildren are not forced to pay for the mistakes of our generation.” LaHood is also concerned about agriculture and standing up for life.
Just received a call from President Donald Trump and he has officially endorsed our campaign for #IL16! I was proud to work with President Trump to fight for our Midwest conservative values and I am grateful to once again have his endorsement. pic.twitter.com/6MRXyLXQek
— Darin LaHood (@DarinLaHoodIL) June 27, 2022
Guillemette’s website introduces her as follows, “Guillemette is a devoted Christian, parent, child and community advocate. Licensed as an attorney since 1986, she has handled civil, criminal trials and appeals in State and Federal Courts of Illinois, Texas, New York, Arkansas and the District of Columbia. Guillemette has worked as an Assistant City Attorney, Assistant State’s Attorney, Assistant Attorney General, Arbitrator, Legal Advisor and Judicial Officer for governmental agencies and Litigator in private practice.
Guillemette’s website stresses that she supports first amendment rights. “Guillemette supports the right to worship and assemble in accordance with one’s religious practices and right to express one’s beliefs without governmental infringements. We must protect religious liberty not just in the right to worship, but also in the right to perform or abstain from performing certain physical acts in accordance with one’s beliefs. Religious freedom protections should extend to not just churches, but religious organizations and other nonprofits for exemptions from mandates that compel them to violate their deeply-held religious beliefs.” Guillemette is also pro life and pro school choice.
Peters, “grew up in a home with strong Midwestern values—faith, education, and hard work.” according to his website. “As the grandson of a Lutheran pastor and the son of teachers, learning and studies played a large role in his early life. His father served as a Superintendent of Schools and his mother was a beloved teacher in the community.”
Peters focuses on education. “We need to educate our children, not indoctrinate them,” his website says, “We need to teach our children how to think, not what to think. Parents have a right to decide what their children are taught and should not be pursued by the Department of Justice for speaking up at school board meetings. Children need to learn to read, to write, and to master arithmetic, and not be taught baseless leftist theories. They need to learn American history as it actually happened. The real story of America is the cultural melting pot that is our common bond and unites us as uniquely American.” Peters also values life and the idea of personal responsibility.
“Rebresh is a resident of the 16th Congressional District and a successful businessman of more than 23 years,” states his website. “Unlike President Biden, he actually drives an 18-wheeler truck as owner and operator of Amazon Logistics. He was the personal chauffeur to legendary Cubs’ third base man and broadcaster, Ron Santo for ten years and authored a book about his unique experience called, “Left and Rights with Ron Santo.” In 2020, he founded Million Unmasked March and led protests against unsafe child mask restrictions implemented by the State of Illinois.”
Rebresh wants to reign in government spending. “According to the Congressional Budget Office, the federal government spends more than $11,530 per person, over $3,700 more per individual than what we were spending in 2005” his website says. “The Democrat Party under Joe Biden is determined to pass a $3.5 trillion dollar infrastructure/social spending bill that will leave our children with the bill for decades to come. If elected, I will work to rein in federal government spending and help put America back on the road to fiscal sanity.” Rebresh also believes energy independence and protecting civil liberties are main issues.
