PLANO – Not in the #NEVERTRUMP movement, and not in the #TRUMP2016 gang, U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) told local Daily Herald reporters that he's "not ready yet" to commit to backing Trump in the fall.
"I am not sold on Mr. Trump — not yet," Hultgren said in a statement released a day after Gov. Bruce Rauner said he won't endorse Trump.
"I don't know if I'll ever be," Hultgren said. "I haven't yet been able to reconcile his differences with my strongly-held beliefs on family and religious freedom which I believe are the foundation for our country's well being and identity."
UPDATE: Hultgren's people want us to be sure and run the whole statement – so we will. See below the fold:
People in Illinois and across the country are frustrated. I am frustrated, too. Families and small business owners are worried about the economy and fear for their ability to continue to thrive under the weight of the heavy hand of government. We are facing a point in our history where we look at our children and grandchildren and fear that their future will not be bright and hold the promise of opportunity for all. Under strong pressure, I have taken tough votes to get our country back on track.
Donald Trump has done a good job of voicing those frustrations, and many find his backbone to stand up to big government and special interest groups something they can trust. We need solutions, and I expect our next President to work to heal our divisions and pass real solutions to these problems.
I am not sold on Mr. Trump—not yet. I don't know if I'll ever be. I haven't yet been able to reconcile his differences with my strongly-held beliefs on family and religious freedom which I believe are the foundation for our country's well being and identity.
We are entering a new phase of the campaign where historically voters gain a clearer picture of what the candidate actually stands for.
Hultgren's answer was more information than Congressman Peter Roskam's (IL-06) office was willing to share. Congressman Bob Dold (IL-10) has been critical of the presumed GOP nominee.
UPDATE: Bob Dold told John Howell Friday that Trump’s comments about women, Latinos, Muslims, and prisoners of war were what made him decide against supporting Trump. He plans to write-in a candidate.
“For me these comments all together are not about uniting a country, it’s quite the opposite,” Dold said, “and so for me I will not support Donald Trump and certainly I think that there are others that have some pretty significant reservations.”
And while Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) has yet to go on record, he's indicated privately that he's no fan of the businessman. He at first backed Jeb Bush and then switched to Marco Rubio. Since then he's been quiet on the topic.
Everyone of those seeking re-election in November will deal with Donald Trump being at the top of the November ballot. No word yet on the matter from downstate Republican Congress members John Shimkus, Rodney Davis or Mike Bost.
