The Kinzinger Problem
Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) speaks to reporters at the White House after a 2019 meeting with President Trump.
Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) has become a darling of the national media in recent months for his biting criticisms of former President Donald Trump. But some Republican officials in his district and around the state are angry with the cable news staple for sowing divisions within the GOP.
Kinzinger turned many heads in his district, which spans in an “L” shape from Rockford south then east to the Indiana line, when he called for Trump’s removal from office following the insurrection attempt on the Capitol building January 6.
Kinzinger’s hard charging statements have complicated his potential political aspirations, as well. Kinzinger has been mentioned as a potential candidate for Governor or U.S. Senate next year, but now many Republican operatives wonder aloud if Kinzinger has poisoned his chances with a Trump-loyal GOP base.
Kinzinger isn’t the “RINO” (Republican in Name Only) some tag him to be, either. He voted to repeal Obamacare and for the Republican tax cuts. But when Kinzinger crossed the now-former President, who remains wildly popular among Republicans in his district, the criticisms started piling on.
Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), a likely Republican candidate for Governor in 2022, has made Kinzinger a frequent target of his criticism in recent weeks.
“I am tired of seeing elected officials acting more like political opportunists rather than statesmen,” Bailey wrote January 12. “The Republican Party should stand up for our Republican President, and stand against the years-long, non-stop personal and political assault against him led by an out-of-touch Democrat party and a few nominal Republicans, like Kinzinger, who seek the unearned center of attention.”
Some Republicans in Kinzinger’s district, in Winnebago County, which includes Rockford, want to take action. The conservative Illinois Review took a swing at Kinzinger Wednesday, claiming the entire 16th District was mad at him, even though he received approximately 65% of the vote in November.
The Illinois Review said the Winnebago County Republican Party would vote on a “censure” of Kinzinger, but State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) told The Illinoize that is not the case. Though, Syverson said he does have his frustrations with Kinzinger’s comments.
“People are very angry with him,” Syverson said. “They believe he overreacted before doing his homework. Instead of calling out those who broke the law, he joined Pelosi in a political impeachment, not a legal one.”
(Disclosure: I worked with Sen. Syverson when I was on Senate GOP staff in 2013-2014).
But, former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady, a Kinzinger ally, says the GOP should give Kinzinger credit for his honesty.
“He’s putting his country first, that’s what we as a party want our leaders to do,” Brady said. “A lot of people agree with him.”
Brady said Kinzinger’s comments were never intended to have a motive or agenda, but that he believes Kinzinger felt an obligation to speak his mind.
Kinzinger’s office did not respond to an interview request from The Illinoize.
His standing with Republican voters will surely be known wherever Kinzinger appears on a ballot in 2022.