King, Anderson, McCombie All Pass on 2024 Run for 17th Congressional
Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia) was reportedly recruited directly by Speaker Kevin McCarthy to seek the 17th Congressional seat in 2024, but Anderson declined.
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D.C. Republicans are seemingly frustrated as they aim to find a candidate to challenge freshman Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-Moline) in 2024.
Sorensen won a district in November that was anticipated by many to switch to the GOP. But Sorenesen, a former TV weather forecaster, defeated Repubican candidate Esther Joy King by around 3 percentage points (a difference of around 9,000 votes of about 233,000 cast).
King confirmed to The Illinoize last night she will not seek the office in 2024. It appears Washington Republicans focused their initial recruitment efforts on Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia). Multiple sources say now-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy called Anderson after the election in November encouraging him to seek the seat, but Anderson declined. Anderson did not return a message from The Illinoize last night.
Other legislators are also taking a pass. House GOP Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savana) lives in the district and she confirmed last night she won’t be seeking the seat. Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) says he hasn’t considered the gig.
Former Rep. Dan Brady of Bloomington, who lost the race for Secretary of State last year said he’s focused on his business, but didn’t rule out the opportunity. Former State Senate candidate Desi Anderson, who lost a race against Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) last year, is said to be considering a run.
The potential political outsider seemingly considering a run is Galesburg businessman Rafael “Ray” Estrada.
Rafael “Ray” Estrada
Estrada fled Nicaragua at age 12.
A businessman who runs the Estrada Global Foundation, Estrada has been noted for providing humanitarian aid to his home country during a 2018 civil war and has been praised for providing over 500,000 free meals in western Illinois.
Estrada couldn’t be reached Tuesday.
“He would be a recruit [DC Republicans] would love to tout,” one Illinois political insider said about Estrada.
Whoever the eventual candidate is faces an uphill climb against an incumbent in a presidential election year. President Biden won the district by around 8 points in 2020 and Hillary Clinton won the district by around 6 points in 2016.