McHENRY – A GOP primary in the McHenry County-based 63rd House District suddenly drew the Illinois Education Association's PAC – IPACE – this week, when the teachers' union wrote a check for $12,500 to a Republican candidate's campaign.
Government for the People, set up March 9th to support Republican Jeffrey Lichte and oppose Steve Reick, received the $12,500 transfer from IPACE the day after the group was set up.
Whoever wins the race will go against longtime incumbent Democrat Jack Franks:
Why would a teacher's union spend $12,500 on a Republican race? In order to help a no-name Republican win over a conservative like Steven Reick? Is this Madigan's tactic to protect Franks? Or is this a way to embarrass the Rauner Party by electing a pro-union Republican at the same time they're spending millions to knock off one pro-union downstate Republican?