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BumRushDaShow

(129,440 posts) Fri Aug 30, 2019, 04:45 PM Aug 2019

Illinois Rep. Shimkus won't run for reelection

Source: The Hill

GOP Rep. John Shimkus announced Friday he will not seek reelection for Illinois's 15th Congressional District next year. Shimkus, who has served in the House since 1997, said while his tenure in Congress has been "an honor of a lifetime" he is looking to spend more time with his family.

"As Illinois candidates begin to circulate petitions next week, now is the time for me to announce that I will not be seeking re-election. ... Serving in Congress has been a blessing, but it has also been a sacrifice for my wife Karen, and our boys," he said in a statement. "Now young men, David, Joshua and Daniel continue to make me proud. I regret the times I have been away from the four of them and thank them for their constant love and support. My Family and I thank you for allowing us the honor to serve. Our dedication to our country, our state, our church, and our community will not waiver as we embark on the next chapter of life."

The 61-year-old Illinois Republican sits on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. He would have been the most senior member of the panel eligible to be chairman if Republicans retake the House in 2020.

Shimkus's district is traditionally a GOP stronghold, with a Cook Political Report partisan voting index of R+21.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/459478-illinois-rep-shimkus-wont-run-for-reelection

Not sure why there was a thought that the GOP would "retake the House in 2020".

WaPo breaking -

Longtime Republican Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois says he will not seek reelection

By Washington Post Staff
August 30 at 4:41 PM

Shimkus, who was elected in 1996, made the announcement in an interview Friday with KMOX radio.
He is the 14th Republican incumbent in the House to announce plans to retire, resign or seek another office.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2019/08/30/longtime-republican-rep-john-shimkus-of-illinois-says-he-will-not-seek-reelection/?wpisrcal_politics__alert-politics&wpmk1

16 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Illinois Rep. Shimkus won't run for reelection (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Aug 2019 OP

Another one down... The Velveteen Ocelot Aug 2019 #1

OK NOw Me. Aug 2019 #13

They see the writing on the wall calguy Aug 2019 #2

Another one bites the dust sheshe2 Aug 2019 #3

11 House Members True Blue American Aug 2019 #7

More than anything else... sheshe2 Aug 2019 #8

Old Do-Nothing Shimkus is hanging it up? bucolic_frolic Aug 2019 #4

His ability to bring Bacon or Pork back to Wellstone ruled Aug 2019 #5

Ah! Rats, sinking ships. You're gonna see a bunch more before the blue tsunami in November of 2020. patphil Aug 2019 #6

Do we have any realistic chance of picking up that district (R + 21) ? groundloop Aug 2019 #9

Looks like it's large rural district with a whole pile of counties in it BumRushDaShow Aug 2019 #10

for you younguns- shimkus was in charge of congressional pages mopinko Aug 2019 #11

As a resident of his district may I offer a hearty justhanginon Aug 2019 #12

:) True Blue American Aug 2019 #14

glad he will be gone also............." he's leaving a solidly Republican district."......... riversedge Aug 2019 #15

if we can successfully douse him (and ALL the repubs) with the "stink of trump" not_the_one Aug 2019 #16

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,836 posts)

1. Another one down...

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 04:53 PM

Aug 2019

Me.

(35,454 posts)

13. OK NOw

Reply to The Velveteen Ocelot (Reply #1)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 06:58 PM

Aug 2019

THat was my exact reaction, so I'm wondering if legal action is called for...

calguy

(5,325 posts)

2. They see the writing on the wall

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 04:53 PM

Aug 2019

The blue wave is going tidal in 2020.

sheshe2

(83,889 posts)

3. Another one bites the dust

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 04:55 PM

Aug 2019

True Blue American

(17,988 posts)

7. 11 House Members

Reply to sheshe2 (Reply #3)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 05:48 PM

Aug 2019

And 1 Senator have retired since Memorial Day. They just showed them.

sheshe2

(83,889 posts)

8. More than anything else...

Reply to True Blue American (Reply #7)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 06:10 PM

Aug 2019

This tells me they know the GOP are going down and it is every man for himself as they all abandon ship.

bucolic_frolic

(43,281 posts)

4. Old Do-Nothing Shimkus is hanging it up?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 04:56 PM

Aug 2019

Glory be!! They're all a bunch of cowards, handing off to GOP newbies to take the lumps. Chicken-shit COWARDS!

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)

5. His ability to bring Bacon or Pork back to

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 05:02 PM

Aug 2019

his District in exchange for votes has gone bye bye. So it is time to Cash out and move over to a Lobbying Job that will fatten his Pension Accounts at a larger rate.

And Illinois has a firebrand Gov who is going to drive the GOP nuts.

patphil

(6,206 posts)

6. Ah! Rats, sinking ships. You're gonna see a bunch more before the blue tsunami in November of 2020.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 05:35 PM

Aug 2019

groundloop

(11,522 posts)

9. Do we have any realistic chance of picking up that district (R + 21) ?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 06:18 PM

Aug 2019

BumRushDaShow

(129,440 posts)

10. Looks like it's large rural district with a whole pile of counties in it

Reply to groundloop (Reply #9)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 06:23 PM

Aug 2019

mopinko

(70,206 posts)

11. for you younguns- shimkus was in charge of congressional pages

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 06:33 PM

Aug 2019

when mark foley was stalking them from his apt a couple blocks away from the dorm.

good bye to bad rubbish.

justhanginon

(3,290 posts)

12. As a resident of his district may I offer a hearty

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 06:35 PM

Aug 2019

hallelujah and good riddance! He is a died in the wool religious freako and trump toady. Glad to see him go. I hope they can get a good dem to run for his seat.
May I add, adios m........ you know the rest.

True Blue American

(17,988 posts)

14. :)

Reply to justhanginon (Reply #12)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 06:58 PM

Aug 2019

riversedge

(70,299 posts)

15. glad he will be gone also............." he's leaving a solidly Republican district.".........

Reply to justhanginon (Reply #12)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 07:05 PM

Aug 2019

guess Dems will not have much of a chance with him gone of replacing him with a Dem.

Link to tweet

?s=20

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/john-shimkus-retiring

........................Shimkus became the ninth House Republican to announce his retirement this year, and several more will likely follow after Labor Day. Though House leadership is worried that a slew of Republicans will call it quits after losing the House in 2018, Shimkus’ announcement may not cause much stress since he’s leaving a solidly Republican district.

not_the_one

(2,227 posts)

16. if we can successfully douse him (and ALL the repubs) with the "stink of trump"

Reply to riversedge (Reply #15)

Fri Aug 30, 2019, 07:41 PM

Aug 2019

it may be possible.

Someone should trademark "Eau de Donnie two scoops" (I'm sure you couldn't use Trump), make it stink horrifically, and we could send it as a gift to ALL the republican enablers and traitors...

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