PEORIA, Ill. – U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson believes Illinois’ 17th Congressional District is in play in 2024.
Retired judge Joe McGraw of Rockford is looking to unseat incumbent Democrat Eric Sorensen of Moline, who is currently serving his first term in Congress.
Johnson, who spoke at the Peoria and Tazewell Counties Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday with McGraw, says he likes the matchup against “radical leftist” Sorensen.
“Look at his comments, some of the things he’s said has made headlines. But I think a lot of people in the 17th District of Illinois don’t quite yet know who is representing them in Congress,” Johnson said. “I think that’ll come out here in the weeks ahead. And I think they’re going to look for somebody who is a grown-up to represent them.”
Johnson says McGraw is one of the best candidates for Congress he has ever seen, adding that McGraw has a record of standing for law and order and professionalism.
Currently, McGraw is losing the fundraising battle in the race. Open Secrets reports that, as of March 31st, McGraw has raised $524,735 and spent $199,544. Sorensen has raised $2,819,519, and spent $702,829.
Johnson says he’s not too concerned about the spending differences, saying that Democrats typically raise more money, but Republicans are more efficient with their funds. But he says more money will come in as the race picks up in the upcoming months.
“I think a lot of our donors, the more they learn about the judge, I think he’ll raise more and more money. That’s what’s necessary right now. We’re raising record amounts, and we’ll be spending it wisely in seats like this that we know we can flip,” Johnson said.
Johnson says House Republicans were able to raise record amounts of money in the wake of the Trump guilty verdict.
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