Walsh to Run in Re-Drawn 8th Congressionals District Next Year

Image Credit: Jeff Cagle

Joe Walsh formally confirmed his future political intentions at a packed Chicago tea Party meeting at the Cubby Bear last night and announced he would be running for Congress in the re-mapped 8th Congressional District next year.

It was a no-brainer of a decision, even for Walsh. He would face no primary challenge and was promised $3.5 million in general election fundraising help from House Speaker John Boehner. If the re-drawn Congressional districts hold, Walsh's current home would put him in the 14th District and a primary battle with Randy Hultgren. Walsh now has an easier path to a general election showdown with the winner of the Democratic primary between Tammy Duckworth and Raja Krishnamoorthi. Krishnamoorthi's campaign wasted no time in sending out a fundraising email after Walsh announced his intentions.

" I welcome the chance to contrast the Democratic agenda for job creation with Joe Walsh's ideology-driven opposition to helping working families and the middle class.
"Earlier today--before his Tea Party meeting--Joe Walsh voted against extending payroll tax breaks for the middle class. As the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee pointed out, 'Representative Joe Walsh (IL-08) voted for a third time to let House Republicans leave Washington for their holiday vacation without voting to extend the $1,000 payroll tax [cut] for 6.5 million Illinois families.'"

Walsh will still face a primary challenge in the 8th from DuPage Regional Superintendent of Education Darlene Ruscitti and Barrington businessman Andrew Palomo. Ruscitti is expected to receive endorsements from established Illinois GOP pols such as 6th District Congressman Peter Roskam. Walsh told the crowd at the Cubby Bear, “I've made an equal number of enemies in the Republican establishment and the Democratic establishment."

“I refuse to believe that most Americans want to depend upon government,” Walsh said. “And this run in the 8th will prove we're right.”

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By Chuck Sudo in News on December 9, 2011 10:40 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Paul Haider

Joe Walsh will never be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he will always be a tool. Tammy Duckworth survived the war in Iraq and lost her legs in the process; Walsh couldn't survive the payment of child support and lost his dignity in the process. This shouldn't be much of a match, but the wealthy and conservative voters of the 8th district will make it closer than it should be. I am proud to live in the 7th district when I think of all the nitwits who are registered to vote in the 8th district; they appeared to do all of the voting in early November of 2010 to disgrace our Congress.
Paul Haider, Chicago

BlueFairlane

Poli Sci question I should probably know but don't: How can Walsh run to represent a district in which he does not live? Is he grandfathered in because it was the district that moved away rather than him? Or is the assumption that he'll move?

ScooterLibbby

There's no requirement to live in the district you represent.
You just need to be a registered voter in the state.

IronLemur

My understanding is that he will move. Which will hurt him in the campaign, as he'll be pegged as a carpetbagger (which, y'know, he is).

ChicagoD

Isn't he homeless? He'll just move his box over there.

What a tool.

Nicholas

Republicans would do well to have Walsh face a primary challenger. I doubt even the minority of Republicans in this district want anything to do with this douchebag.

Tafter

You'd like to think so. But after seeing the clown parade of Republican candidates put forth in the Chicagoland area and Illinois in general in the last couple decades, I'm inclined to believe that this won't happen. I'm inclined to think that either the Republican party in IL is hopelessly stupid or the Democrats are so good in their corruption that they can convince decent Republican candidates not to run.

I mean, Walsh? Brady? Give me a break.