By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – A professor at Eureka College is trying to flip what has long been a Republican congressional district.

Democrat Junius Rodriguez is taking on incumbent Republican Darin LaHood for 18th district congressman in the November election.

During a campaign stop in Bloomington Wednesday, Rodriguez said LaHood owes the district an apology for continuing to support Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. He said this calls into question LaHood’s judgment.

“I don’t believe that Trump has the temperament to be President of the United States,” said Rodriguez. “I think that we have witnessed the hostile takeover of the Republican Party. And I think that those Republicans of good faith, those of good conscience, they’re abandoning that ship.”

Rodriguez added he’s against supporting a candidate simply because they’re your party’s nominee.

“If I am elected, I’m not only am going to be representing the people that voted for me, I’m going to be representing the people who voted against me as well. You need to be able to speak for all the people in the district,” said Rodriguez. “And in order to do that effectively, you cannot be bound to strong partisan ideology.”

The most important issue facing the 18th district? According to Rodriguez, it’s jobs.

“We need to find a way to bring jobs into our communities,” he said.

Rodriguez has no interest in being a career politician. He said he would serve no more than six years in Congress.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].