By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – Whether he meant to or not, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) said he is running for another term in Congress – as opposed to running for governor or Illinois Supreme Court justice or simply retiring.
LaHood started to answer a question about whether an ethical / financial / legal problem involving his father would hamper LaHood’s fund-raising. He said, “We will seek re-election and be ready to go for our next election, whatever our district turns out to be” after this year’s redistricting.
Not for another office? “Uh, no,” LaHood chuckled before regaining footing. “I am committed to running for re-election in the district that I currently hold.”
A foreign national, who was a campaign contributor to LaHood, had also given Ray LaHood – the former congressman and former U.S. transportation secretary – a loan that Ray LaHood hid from regulators. A non-prosecution agreement with the feds came to light only last year.
Darin LaHood, a former federal prosecutor, deferred questions about his father’s situation to his father.
The congressman, in Springfield to tout medical legislation, attempted to strike a balance on other issues: enthusiastically wearing a mask but opposing governmental mandates; and praising the newly-passed Senate infrastructure bill for its bipartisanship but expressing caution over its cost before making a decision whether to support it in the House.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].
