Working for Illinois Caucus

Today, we weigh in on two Illinois legislative races featuring incumbents from each party. Rep. Tony McCombie, a Savanna Republican, represents District 71, while Rep. Mike Halpin is a Rock Island Democrat representing the 72nd House district.

The two lawmakers could hardly be more different in political philosophy, but we hope voters return both of them in November. Here’s why:

McCombie is a former mayor who knows her district, who knows that Illinois’ population loss is an especially big issue for border communities like ours. She is a fiscal conservative in a state that needs more of them, and since she was elected in 2016, she has grown in the job.

McCombie isn’t just a knee-jerk, pro-business Republican. She has demonstrated her support for labor, and she is a strong voice for changing Springfield’s corrupt practices. There’s much to like about her.

We would say the same about her opponent, Joan Padilla, the executive director of a non-profit cancer wellness center in Dixon. She speaks with clarity about the state’s fiscal challenges, but she balances those concerns with a mission to improve needed services. Her non-profit experience is appealing, and she has clearly thought about the issues.

Still, we believe McCombie is the best choice in this race. We like her local government experience and her common-sense approach. McCombie offers straight talk and will push for controls on spending and continue demanding ethics reform. We endorse Tony McCombie.