U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger won’t seek re-election, but says it’s not the end of his political career
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican whose district includes a portion of Rockford, announced Friday that he would not seek reelection.
Kinzinger, who became an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and was one 10 Republicans who voted to impeach him, lamented the hyper-partisan state of politics in a video announcing his decision.
“In this day to prevail or survive you must belong to a tribe,” he said. “Our political parties only survive by appealing to the most motivated and the most extreme elements within it, and the pricetag to power has skyrocketed, and fear and distrust has served as an effective strategy to meet that cost.”
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He said the decision not to seek a seventh term in Congress is not the end of his political career. Instead, he said he has to focus on a broader fight nationwide rather than a reelection campaign. He asked people to join his Country First movement, a belief in putting principles over party. It is also the name of a political action committee he created.
“I admire those everywhere that put their country above their party in service to their fellow man,” Kinzinger said.
If he sought reelection, Kinzinger would likely have faced another incumbent Republican in the June 22 primary. New congressional district maps released Friday put Kinzinger in the same district as U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood of Peoria.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign the maps into law.
Looking forward to the next chapter! pic.twitter.com/SvdFCVtrlE
— Adam Kinzinger (@AdamKinzinger) October 29, 2021
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.
