GOP Representative's Daughter Endorses Democrat Opponent
State Representative Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) speaks on the House floor.
There’s little to make you think State Representative Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) is at any risk of losing his seat in November in a district President Trump won by around 37 percentage points in 2016. But his opponent shook the earth a little rolling out an endorsement from Halbrook’s daughter, Ashli Crowe.
Crowe, 31, says her endorsement of Democrat Mitchell Esslinger is primarily about major policy differences with her father. She calls herself “significantly” more liberal than her conservative father.
“Since I was in a position to speak out and help someone who is running in accordance with my beliefs, then I felt like it was my moral obligation to use that voice,” she said. “I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try to speak out and do what I could to help [Esslinger].”
Halbrook is a member of the so-called “Eastern Bloc” in the House, that has advocated against the Governor’s mask mandate and pushed legislation to separate Chicago from the rest of the state.
(Disclosure: I worked for an opposing candidate in the 2016 primary Halbrook won.)
Crowe says Halbrook’s position on secession from Chicago was “divisive” and “not helpful.” She was specifically critical of a vote Halbrook missed that would lower insulin prices.
When asked for comment about his daughter’s endorsement, Halbrook only responded about the insulin vote, which he says he missed because he was in the restroom.
Crowe says she did not tell her father beforehand that she planned to endorse his opponent. She says she’s endorsing Esslinger even though there’s little shot he will win.
“This is a legitimate, honest stand for what I believe in,” she says. “I think this election will surprise a lot of people. If ever there were a time to capitalize on the [national] momentum shift in local politics, it’s right now.”
Esslinger had around $400 cash on hand at the end of June and has reported $4,000 in large donations since. Halbrook has raised around $11,000 in large contributions so far this quarter and ended June with around $10,000 cash on hand.
