Kankakee Times

District 79 House of Representatives candidate Bobb Switzer is seeing the election of Speaker Johnson as a testament to the potential for all Republicans to unite for the greater good of the nation.

“Mike Johnson (R) was elected Speaker of the House, 220-209 after many nominations looking for the leader that was to represent every Republican in the House of Representatives,” Switzer said on Facebook.

“For far too long Republicans have stood apart in their Conservative beliefs, but this week it was decided it was best to join together to promote a stronger Republican Party to win elections. Most important to lead the House in 2024, the Senate and the White House.”

“This is the Republican family coming together.”

“The first thing Mike Johnson did was ask the Republican caucus to pray with him.”

“’Mike Johnson doesn’t answer to the lobbyists and special interests - he answers to God and the Constitution.’”

“Though the Republican Party is not perfect like any organization, we do stand in unity together because of our love of God, Country and the Constitution. We hold true our Conservative values and Republican ideologies.”

“What happened with Speaker Johnson is a testimony of how all Republicans can come together as one to get the wheels moving in this Country to provide a better and bright future for all our children.”

“Please pray for the Speaker Johnson is who he says he is & will faithfully and courageously honor God and country and truth and keep his promises to the American people.”

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the move towards another speaker came only after the “sad hopes of a desperate man hoping to cling to power were vanquished.” McCarthy had sought to place an ally in the seat and there were hints that he may return himself. The in-fighting both when McCarthy sat for 15 votes earlier this year and as the GOP cycled through five candidates for his replacement before finally settling on Johnson is revelatory of a schism between disparate parts of the party.

Similarly in Illinois, the Illinois Freedom Caucus stands apart from the mainstream Republican establishment as represented by former House Minority Leader Jim Durkin and Illinois GOP chairman Don Tracy. The state GOP has been criticized for not adequately representing conservative voters. The Illinois Review released a bombshell report on Tracy right before the April 4 elections. The state GOP was largely inactive during the April elections. 

“Tracy and the Republican Party of Illinois are an embarrassment to every Republican in Illinois and they are guilty of political malpractice for abandoning candidates in the upcoming school board elections,” Illinois Review wrote. “It’s no wonder why Republicans always lose in Illinois – and like Tracy, some are actually Democrats pretending to be Republicans.” 

In the report, Illinois Review revealed Tracy’s Democrat background. In 2002, Tracy ran as a Democrat for the 50th State Senate District. 

“I thought I could be more independent as a Democrat in a county where the Democrat Party was weak,” Tracy told The State Journal-Register’s Bernard Schoenburg. 

Tracy has also provided campaign donations to Democrats in recent cycles. Dot Foods, owned by the Tracy family, donated to President Joe Biden. In 2020, Tracy donated personally to Democrat Judge Emily Sutton in her run for Circuit Court Judge in the 9th Judicial Circuit of Illinois.

The 79th district, where Switzer is running for the House of Representatives, is currently represented by State Rep. Jackie Haas. The district is located mostly in the Chicago area and includes various cities and towns such as Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Bradley, and Peotone.

Switzer's belief in the potential for Republicans to unite for the greater good of the nation is reflected in the election of Speaker Johnson. This unity is seen as crucial for the Republican Party to win elections and lead the House, Senate, and White House in the future.