Kinzinger Rules out Statewide Run
Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) says he won’t run statewide in Illinois in 2022. Many had speculated the six-term Congressman was weighing a U.S. Senate bid in 2022, but he has drawn wide criticism within the GOP for his verbal jousting with former President Donald Trump.
Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon), who has drawn criticism from Republicans across the state for his criticisms of former President Donald Trump says he won’t run statewide in 2022.
Speaking with media Tuesday on a teleconference, Kinzinger admitted he had been looking at opportunities for advancement, but the GOP role in the Capitol insurrection on January 6 “changed a lot.”
“My focus went from wanting to fight hard and figure out the best platform and [office] to do it to literally seeing in front of me and what’s the, to use a military term, what’s the nearest target objective, and I think it’s saving the country and saving the dialogue of our politics, and, importantly, saving what I think is a great party that’s very much lost it’s way,” Kinzinger said. “I don’t have any plans for anything higher in Illinois. As always, I’ll put the caveat that I’m not going to rule anything out, because January 5th and January 7th were two very different days in this world. You never know what could happen. But it’s not my intention to run for anything statewide.”
Kinzinger also wouldn’t say if he’s committed to running for re-election in a new legislative map in 2022.
Kinzinger denied speculation by some he had begun his anti-Trump rhetoric in an effort to improve his political standing.
“People that speculate that don’t know me, and I would even argue they probably don’t know something about politics if you think you can get though a primary pretty easily,” he said. “None of my decision was based on anything to have to do with my political future, it was just based 100 percent on conscience.”
Much of the Republican criticism of Kinzinger in recent days has been on his vote for impeachment of Trump last month.
“It was a tough decision and I understand that there’s gonna be backlash when you make a decision like that. I’ve felt backlash from family, I’ve felt backlash from friends, I’ve felt backlash from constituents,” Kinzinger said. “But I always try to remind people that out of the 750,000 people I represent, only one person of that bunch has to take an oath on the constitution of the United States for the job of U.S. Congressman, and that’s me. There’s a reason not every citizen has to take that oath and there’s a reason that a congressman does. It’s because that despite whatever pressures are out there and understanding that you represent the interests of your districts, there are moments when you have to understand that you’re defending the constitution.”
Kinzinger recently announced the creation of a new political effort he says is aimed at “saving the soul” of the Republican Party. He says the first thing Republican leaders need to do is excise people who “peddle conspiracy theories and lies” from the party.
Some party leaders, including some in his district, are planning votes to censure or condemn Kinzinger for his ant-Trump statements. Kinzinger says the actions don’t bother him.
“Quite honestly I don’t care,” he said. “I prefer not to be censured, but I really, really will not lose an ounce of sleep if I am. Not even an ounce.”
Kinzinger knows his political future is at stake, but he thinks he made the right decisions.
“I’m at total peace,” he said. “I have zero regrets whatsoever.”
