McConchie May Get Challenge from Pardoned Suburban Mayor Urlacher
House Minority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago) testifies in 2019. He’s the top House Democrat negotiating a new state budget.
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When Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) won his first primary for his Lake County-based seat in 2016, he defeated Mettawa Mayor (and brother of the Bears legend and Hall of Famer) Casey Urlacher.
Urlacher was indicted last year in federal court for participating in an illegal gambling ring, but was pardoned by President Donald Trump in the final hours of his presidency in January.
Urlacher mounted a write-in campaign for re-election this April, winning another term 157-105 in the community of around 550.
Urlacher reformed his political committee yesterday with the intention of challenging McConchie again in 2022.
According to insiders, there are some theories as to why Urlacher may want to challenge the conservative GOP Leader. McConchie was seen to have criticized Trump, who pardoned Urlacher, following the January 6 attack on the Capitol. One source told us Urlacher is “keeping his options open.”
It also isn’t clear what McConchie’s district will look like next year. We haven’t seen a version of the Senate map yet, but Urlacher only lives 1/4 mile or so inside the eastern edge of McConchie’s district. It’s possible they’re in different districts. Or, Democrats drawing the map could give the leader of the opposition a primary headache to worry about (and spend against.)
McConchie’s spokesperson declined comment to me last night. Urlacher didn’t return multiple e-mails from The Illinoize last night.