Kankakee Times

Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) has decided not to seek a seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives, an announcement he made in a YouTube video at the end of October.

Kinzinger said he felt it was time for him to move on from Congress. 

"Let me be clear: My passion for this country has only grown," Kinzinger said in the video. "My desire to make a difference is bigger than it's ever been. My disappointment in the leaders that don't lead is huge. The battlefield must be broader, and the truth needs to reach the American people across the whole country."

Kinzinger, an Air Force Veteran, cited the tumultuous political environment as one of the reasons he decided against running for his seat.

"Few have risen to do anything about it, because in this day, to prevail or survive you must belong to a tribe," he said in the video. "Our political parties only survive by appealing to the most motivated and the most extreme elements within it and the price tag to power has skyrocketed and fear and distrust has served as an effective strategy to meet that cost."

Kinzinger added he's seen firsthand how divided the nation's government is with no one willing to work toward a common goal, but he still stands by his belief to put the country first. 

"I cannot focus on both a re-election to Congress and a broader fight nationwide," he said in the video. "I want to be clear, this isn't the end of my political future, but the beginning."

Kinzinger was first elected in 2010. He originally represented the 11th district of Illinois which became the 16th district through redistricting a decade ago. 

Under the latest redistricting map Kinzinger would have had to run against fellow Republican Darin LaHood (R-Peoria) in the primary if he wanted to stay in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Kinzinger, who was one of 10 Republicans in Congress to vote to impeach President Donald J. Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, received criticism from the Republican Party for his position.