UPDATED: Kinzinger Won't Seek Re-Election
Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon), a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump announced Friday he would not seek re-election in 2022.
The morning after the General Assembly approved a redistricting plan for members of Congress, Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) announced he won’t seek re-election in 2022.
In a video released Friday, Kinzinger said tribalism has taken over both parties.
“I’ve witnessed how division is so heavily rooted in this country. There’s little to no desire to bridge our differences, and unity is no longer a word we use,” he said in the video. “It has also become increasingly obvious that in order to break the narrative, I cannot focus on both a re-election to Congress and a broader fight nationwide.”
Kinzinger has fallen out of favor with Republicans for his criticism of former President Donald Trump and vote to impeach Trump following the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
While Kinzinger’s anti-Trump statements earned him the title of “RINO,” Republican in Name Only from Republicans, his conservative credentials have never been questioned until he challenged Trump’s stranglehold on the GOP.
Kinzinger has had a reliably conservative voting record during his time in Congress. Before he opposed Trump in 2020, Kinzinger had a 92% rating from the National Rifle Association in 2018. He received 100% ratings from the National and state Right to Life committees, American Farm Bureau Federation, and National Federation for Independent Business. He was rated 94% by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 77% by Americans for Prosperity.
Former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady, a longtime Kinzinger supporter, says Republicans need more people like Kinzinger running and serving in office.
“Adam Kinzinger is a conservative, Donald Trump is not. He stayed true to his principles. We need more of his type of conservative Republican in Illinois,” Brady said. “Donald Trump lost Illinois by a million votes twice, it’s just not a winning strategy. Adam held true and told the truth. We’ll miss his service.”
Kinzinger was drawn into a potential primary with Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Peoria), but could have run in the new 14th District against Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) in the new 14th District. He had also been considering a run for U.S. Senate.
UPDATE (1:27 P.M.):
Former Congressman John Shimkus, who served with Kinzinger from 2011-2021 says Kinzinger was an effective mainstream conservative.
“There are many people who talk about sacrifice and serving their country, but Adam did both at home and abroad,” Shimkus said. Let’s hope he looks at continued service in elective office.”
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Kinzinger confirmed via text Friday he plans to serve the remainder of his term and won’t leave office early.
Here’s the video: