By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – On his way out of leadership, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) had some things to say that his fellow Republicans are unlikely to appreciate.
“The party needs to embrace people whom they have excluded over the past 10-15 years. Those are people who take issue on same-sex marriage or reproductive rights and also gun control,” said Durkin, who – a day after the caucus he leads lost four seats – announced he would not seek a new term as leader. “Because in a lot of areas here in the Chicago area, Republicans do have strong feelings on each one of those, which we have taken a contrary position on.”
The high point for Durkin, he said, was welcoming then-President Barack Obama to the House in 2016, Obama’s last year in office. Durkin notes he is friends with Obama but also campaigned against Obama on behalf of another friend, the late John McCain; so Durkin in 2008 was in the unusual position of knowing he would have a friend in the White House regardless of who won.
Durkin, who said his ultimate goal was to take the House Republicans out of the superminority, would not say when – or whether – he will resign his seat in the House.
Dave Dahl can be reached at news@wjbc.com.
