"Racist" Radio Ad Lands in Southern Illinois Legislative Race
Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) is being attacked in a racially-charged ad for supporting a bill allowing so called “Dreamers” to become police officers.
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A southern Illinois legislative primary is getting ugly with a new radio ad some Republicans are referring to as “race baiting” and “desperate.”
Angela Evans, a realtor and Franklin County Board member, is challenging Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) in the far southeastern Illinois 116th District, which stretches from Mt. Vernon to the Indiana line.
Evans, who has aligned herself with right wing figures like former Sen. Darren Bailey, has trailed in fundraising to the incumbent Severin, who has served in the House since 2017.
The 116th House District.
Evans is making a last ditch attempt to change the narrative in the race with a radio ad drenched in racial stereotypes.
The 60-second ad attacks Severin for being one of 27 House Republicans who voted for legislation allowing DACA recipients, who came to the United States while they were children, to become police officers.
The radio ad, which begins with music to make it seem like an official news story, begins attacking Severin with a “message from the non-citizens of Illinois.”
A stereotypical mariachi-style music bed begins to play.
“More than $2.5 billion dollars of your tax money has been spent on programs and services for illegals,” a voiceover reads.
Asylum seekers who have been bused to Chicago in recent months are in the country legally.
“And, thanks to Dave Severin, Illinois is one of the only states to allow non-citizens to become police officers,” the voiceover says, referring to a bill passed last May. The legislation allows DACA recipients, who have been in the U.S. since childhood, to pursue a career in law enforcement, not asylum seekers or illegal immigrants.
Two GOP police officers, Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) and Rep. Dennis Tipsword (R-Metamora), voted in favor of the final bill.
The ad uses computer generated voices in different dialects to say “thank you” to Severin, even including one used to connote prostitutes during the Vietnam War.
Numerous southern Illinois political figures are criticizing the ad.
“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” said one southern Illinois GOP strategist. “This racist ad is a Hail Mary attempt by a campaign desperate for attention in the final 20 days.”
Another called the ad “race baiting.”
“There’s no place for this kind of race baiting in politics,” said one longtime GOP insider from southern Illinois. “Angela Evans should be ashamed of herself for stooping this low and making our party look this pathetic.”
The Illinoize reached out to Evans Tuesday evening and our call was returned by Jose Durbin, the longtime campaign manager for former Senator Darren Bailey. We asked if Evans wanted to speak about or defend the ad.
“The Evans campaign does not respond to fake news,” Durbin said, criticizing our publication.
Severin could not be reached Tuesday evening. The House Republican campaign arm, which is supporting Severin, did not return a message Tuesday.
The GOP strategist we spoke to said they believe Severin is well on his way to winning the race in three weeks.
“It's obvious that Angela Evans is not getting the traction that she expected from voters or donors,” the strategist said.
Records show the ad is running on radio stations in Mt. Vernon.
Here’s the full ad: