GOP Candidate McCullagh Drops Out After "Grooming" Allegation
Former candidate for State Representative Tom McCullagh.
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Republican Tom McCullagh ran a quixotic campaign for State Senate two years ago. He surged to the right in a district where Trump and Trumpism was soundly rejected and brought in Rod Blagojevich to help him raise money.
He was one of two Republicans hoping to replace Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) in the Will County-based 97th District. The House Republican campaign organization is backing Plainfield Township Clerk Michelle Smith.
McCullagh had support from right-leaning politicos like Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) until the House Republicans began distributing a police report by Shorewood Police that McCullagh was interviewed and was (or is) being investigated for “grooming” an underage person.
The report redacts almost all information about the incident, and there are no details about what McCullagh was potentially investigated for. When The Illinoize reached McCullagh yesterday, he referred us to his attorney.
Before the end of the day, McCullagh had withdrawn from the race.
The incident ushers in a new era for House Republicans. This is a rare break from how the caucus has often operated over the years to not necessarily stay neutral, but not to attack another Republican.
This wasn’t a vote for a tax increase or a speeding ticket. They had to believe this was a damning personal and political allegation when it eventually came to light.
