"Growing Dissatisfaction" with House GOP Leader Durkin May Lead to Leadership Fight
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) speaks on the House floor. Some members cite “growing dissatisfaction” with his leadership as a factor that could lead to a potentially bitter leadership fight this fall.
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A group of House Republicans are feeling a “growing dissatisfaction” with House GOP Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and speculation is building that Durkin will face a challenge if he seeks another term as Leader after the November election.
Durkin found himself on the losing end of multiple primaries in June, backing candidates who were defeated by challengers from the right, many of whom were backed by new GOP nominee for Governor, Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia).
Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur), who is aligned with Bailey as part of the so called “Eastern Bloc” of conservative, mostly southeastern Illinois lawmakers, says Durkin is being scrutinized for the candidates he chose to support in the primary.
“The issue is that [Durkin] took it upon himself to decide who and how much to fund in primary races [in June], without the advice and consent of the House Republican Majority board, of which I’m the Secretary,” Caulkins said. “These decisions, what was spent and on whom, are his. So, now we have to decide how are we going to support all of our candidates in the November election against the Democrats and what resources do we have?”
Caulkins says Bailey and his team are not behind any potential challenges to Durkin’s leadership spot.
Caulkins didn’t completely rule out a challenge to Durkin, but said he is not “seeking, soliciting, asking anyone for any of that.”
“I’m not really interested in being the Leader or the Speaker,” Caulkins said.
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savana) challenged Durkin for the leadership spot following the 2020 election and says she will support him this go around. She praised Durkin’s willingness to “be a collaborative leader” with lawmakers outside of leadership.
“Over the last two years, Leader Durkin has worked hard to be a collaborative leader who works with the members of the caucus and actively hears out our viewpoints,” McCombie said. “Opening lines of communication has been extremely instrumental and it is a big part of the reason I support him.”
Numerous sources point to a long-standing feud between Durkin and right-wing radio talk show host Dan Proft. Proft also operates a Political Action Committee that supported Bailey in the primary and is funded by billionaire Richard Uihlein. Proft used a similar PAC in 2018 to fund a primary challenge to Durkin.
Proft did not respond to a message from The Illinoize last night.
We’re told Proft may be trying to encourage Rep. Tim Ozinga (R-Mokena) to challenge Durkin. Ozinga, 35, has been widely credited as a rising young star in the caucus who has raised over a million dollars in his first full term in the House.
Ozinga declined to discuss any potential challenge to Durkin, but told The Illinoize he is focused on increasing the GOP ranks in the House and Senate during the upcoming election cycle.
We sent a list of multiple questions to a spokesperson for Durkin, who responded with a statement.
“As he does after every election, Leader Durkin talked to a vast majority of the caucus after June 28th and continues to have their support as he remains to growing the caucus and defeating JB Pritzker this cycle,” said Durkin spokesperson Rachel Bold.
Lawmakers passed a 10-year term limit on legislative leaders last year, and Durkin will hit his 10-year mark as leader in October 2023. Durkin won’t be forced to leave the spot as incumbent leaders were grandfathered in to the new term limits. Some House Republicans privately tell The Illinoize Durkin should step aside on or before his 10-year mark leading the caucus.
Durkin’s path to defeating a challenge could be complicated. Already, at least 11 House Republicans in the current caucus won’t return next year. Some didn’t seek re-election while others sought higher office or lost their primary races for re-election. That doesn’t count any potential November losses, guaranteeing House Republicans will have a dramatically changed caucus next year. Further, five of the 11 are current members of Durkin’s leadership team, meaning he’ll lose some of his most loyal supporters.