PEORIA, Ill. – With under a week to go until Election Day, the Republican challenger in Illinois’ 17th Congressional District is making a final push in Peoria.
Joe McGraw (R-Rockford) visited the Peoria County GOP headquarters and spoke to about 50 people Wednesday night in a Get Out the Vote rally. McGraw is challenging first-term incumbent Eric Sorensen (D-Moline) in a district that stretches from Peoria to the Quad Cities to Rockford.
McGraw was introduced by State Rep. Travis Weaver, then gave a short speech, and took questions on topics ranging from gun control to voter ID laws to the economy.
McGraw says he’s taking his message to voters on both sides of the aisle. He says rallies are scheduled across the district in the final days before the election.
McGraw says he’s spoken to voting blocs that traditionally vote Democrat; African-American churches and unions. He adds that the people he’s talked to on the campaign trail are ready for change.
“All the old stereotypes about demographics of the Democratic party have all gone out the window,” McGraw said. “People are looking at things differently. They understand that I represent the working man and woman in the district. And party labels don’t mean anything, it’s the character of the individual who represents them.”
Forecasters are predicting an uphill battle for McGraw, with Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball predicting the district as “Likely Democrat” or “Leans Democrat.” McGraw disagrees with that sentiment, saying people are looking for someone with “good character” they can trust.
McGraw says his final message is that he’s an “open book” who has upheld the law and served the public for 40 years.
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