Former state Rep. Litesa Wallace announces run for Congress

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Former Illinois state Rep. Litesa Wallace on Wednesday said she would run for Congress in the 17th District.

Wallace served in the state legislature representing Rockford’s 67th District from 2014 to 2019. She didn’t seek reelection to that role, instead deciding to join state Sen. Daniel Biss’s ticket as a candidate for lieutenant governor. Biss and Wallace were defeated in the Democratic primary by Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.

Wallace, who announced her candidacy in a video, said working families would be her priority in Congress.

“Too many legislators around the country are trying to roll back our most essential human rights,” she said in the video. “When I’m in Congress I will fight to protect reproductive freedom, our voting rights and our right to affordable health care.”

While in Springfield, she had worked to restore child care assistance programs that had been cut under former Gov. Bruce Rauner, supported initiatives to combat domestic violence and pushed for a $15 minimum wage.

“I will do all I can to support President Biden’s agenda, to make child care affordable, continue child tax credits, and to build back good, high-paying jobs right here in Illinois,” she says in the campaign video.

Wallace, 43, was one of two Democratic candidates to announce a run for the 17th District on Wednesday. Eric Sorenson, a former 13 WREX meteorologist, also announced his candidacy.

Rockford Alderman Jonathan Logemann and Rock Island County Board member Angie Normoyle, both Democrats, have also entered the race. State Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Loves Park, has said he is considering a run, but has not announced any decision.

On the Republican side of the ticket, Esther Joy King, who lost a race to Bustos in 2020, plans to run again, and Charlie Helmick, a U.S. Marine veteran and former police officer, announced his candidacy.

The primary election is scheduled for June 28.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.