Republican family split on Presidential choice

Posted on August 25, 2020
Central Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood said he’s supporting President Trump in the November election. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – A former Central Illinois Republican Congressman says he’s supporting former Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 Presidential Election.

Former Peoria Republican congressman, Ray LaHood’s decision, comes as his son, Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap), serves as the co-chair of President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign in Illinois.

“Like many families in this country, we are a divided family,” Darin LaHood told WJBC’s, Scott Miller. “I proudly am supporting Donald Trump…I think he’s the best one to lead our country over the next four years. And so I’m going to be doing all I can to get him elected in November.”

Ray LaHood served as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation from 2009-2013 under the Obama Administration, where he worked with Joe Biden.

“I love my parents; we just disagree on this issue. I find it ironic a little bit that there’s a number of Republicans that have come out for (President) Trump that did last week and this week, but they’re all out of office. They’re all no longer going before the voters, so there’s nobody that’s in office that is supporting Joe Biden. I think it’s kind of an easy way out when you can be out of office and support the Democrat, but I don’t think Joe Biden is the right choice for the future of the country.

LISTEN: Central Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller about a variety of topics: 

“I thought you were supposed to get wiser with age,” Darin LaHood joked about his father.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…