A July 7 special election GOP primary that will decide who will fill former Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock’s seat is already heating up.
The solidly Republican district is featuring a race between conservative activist Mike Flynn and Republican state Sen. Darrin LaHood. LaHood is the son of former Obama Transportation Secretary and GOP Rep. Ray LaHood.
LaHood did not appear at a recent early voting event in Bloomington that his campaign sent a press advisory out for. The event was intended to “kick off his newest social media campaign” in the state’s 18th Congressional District, but the senator was a no-show. Early voting began on May 28 and will continue through July 6.
The Daily Caller sent an inquiry to LaHood’s campaign manager but did not receive a response.
Flynn campaign manager Tom Stoner, however, responded to LaHood’s absence saying:
“We have witnessed a consistent pattern of avoidance on the part of Senator LaHood as our continued calls for numerous debates with Mike Flynn to discuss the critical issues of the day have gone unanswered,” Stoner said. “Senator LaHood rarely steps out publicly beyond the controlled environments of fundraisers and party functions with a recent example being his failure to appear at his own campaign sponsored Early Vote event here in McLean County on Monday.”
“State Senator Dan Brady was one of the elected officials who spoke in place of the candidate and when I asked where Darin was his reply was simply ‘Peoria’ as he walked away. In stark contrast Mike Flynn has offered to debate Senator LaHood anytime, any place and in any forum.”