{"id":2470790,"date":"2025-08-04T20:30:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T00:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/darin-lahood-passes-on-illinois-senate-run-in-blow-to-gop-hopes\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T20:30:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T00:30:20","slug":"darin-lahood-passes-on-illinois-senate-run-in-blow-to-gop-hopes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/darin-lahood-passes-on-illinois-senate-run-in-blow-to-gop-hopes\/","title":{"rendered":"Darin LaHood passes on Illinois Senate run in blow to GOP hopes"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdarin-lahood-passes-on-illinois-senate-run-in-blow-to-gop-hopes%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2470790&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) has indicated that he will not run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL).Instead, LaHood plans to seek reelection to his current seat in illinois&#8217; 16th Congressional District. His decision marks a setback for the Illinois Republican party,which has struggled to find a strong candidate to compete for the Senate seat. LaHood, seen as an <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >ideal contender due<\/a> to his youth, downstate roots, and appeal to both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/beverly-hills-goes-maga-as-thousands-of-trump-supporters-rally\/\" title=\"Beverly Hills Goes MAGA as Thousands of Trump Sup...s Rally\">trump supporters<\/a> and centrist conservatives, also declined a gubernatorial run. This follows former Republican National Committee member Richard Porter&#8217;s decision not to run for the senate either. With both potential candidates out, Illinois Republicans face challenges in mounting a competitive campaign for durbin&#8217;s seat, which is currently considered safely Democratic by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-agrees-to-extend-un-nuclear-checks-for-3-months\/\" title=\"Iran agrees to extend UN nuclear checks for 3 months\">political analysts<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Darin LaHood appears to pass on Illinois Senate run in blow to state GOP hopes<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2196850\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3427031\/darin-lahood-republicans-illinois-senate-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Darin LaHood\">Darin LaHood<\/a> (R-IL) seemed to sidestep a run for retiring Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dick-durbin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Dick Durbin\">Dick Durbin<\/a>&rsquo;s (D-IL) seat on Monday, telling a panel he will soon be circulating petitions to run for reelection to his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"House\">House<\/a> district.<\/p>\n<p>At a panel moderated by NBC, LaHood said he will &ldquo;look forward to passing petitions tomorrow on my reelection to the 16th Congressional District.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3490810\/newsom-stands-firm-california-redistricting-trump-texas\/\">Newsom stands firm on California redistricting, won&#8217;t back down until Texas does<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3490688\/texas-arrest-warrants-house-democrats-fled-state-redistricting\/\">Texas House passes motion for arrest warrants for Democrats who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/governor-abbott-democrats-who-fled-texas-to-stop-democracy-will-be-arrested-immediately-upon-return\/\" title=\"Governor Abbott: Democrats Who Fled Texas To Stop Democracy Will \u2018Be Arrested\u2019 Immediately Upon Return\">fled state<\/a><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3490570\/alex-pelbath-race-replace-nancy-mace-south-carolina-house\/\">Retired combat pilot Alex Pelbath poised to join race to replace Nancy Mace in Congress<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>His decision not to run is a severe blow to the Illinois GOP, which has been scrounging for a candidate to succeed Durbin, a longtime Illinois Democrat who&rsquo;s held the seat since 1997.<\/p>\n<p>The Illinois Republican also declined a run for governor. LaHood&rsquo;s decision not to run in either race comes a day after former Republican National Committee National Committeeman Richard Porter told followers on Facebook he would not seek a Senate bid, either.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>LaHood had seemed like the ideal candidate for the state Republicans: young, from downstate Illinois, who supports President Donald Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;America First&rdquo; agenda while also appealing to centrist conservatives.<\/p>\n<p>LaHood had told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> in early June he was receiving support from the state to consider a Senate campaign and was taking a &ldquo;hard look&rdquo; at the race.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3490688\/texas-arrest-warrants-house-democrats-fled-state-redistricting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>TEXAS HOUSE PASSES MOTION FOR ARREST WARRANTS FOR DEMOCRATS WHO FLED STATE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The last time a Republican won an Illinois Senate seat was Sen. Mark Kirk in 2010. He lost to Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in 2017.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Republicans have insisted that the state is still in play with Durbin&rsquo;s retirement, though the seat is rated solid Democrat by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. However, the party is back to square one without Porter or LaHood as it looks for a candidate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2196850\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2196850\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Darin LaHood likely skips Illinois Senate bid, hurting GOP hopes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2470791,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/052125_REP_LAHOOD-2-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[56298,6203,54201],"class_list":["post-2470790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-darin-lahood","tag-gop","tag-illinois-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/052125_REP_LAHOOD-2-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2470790"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2470794,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470790\/revisions\/2470794"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2470791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2470790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2470790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2470790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}