ILLINOIS, USA — Former judge Joe McGraw has secured the Republican nomination to represent Illinois' 17th Congressional District, according to unofficial results. The northwestern Illinois district stretches from Rockford in the north to Peoria and Bloomington in central Illinois.
McGraw, a Rockford resident who retired in July, was declared the winner by the Associated Press Tuesday evening, with 84% of precincts reporting. He took a sizable lead over his opponent, Milan farmer Scott Crowl.
RELATED: Meet the candidates: Milan farmer, Scott Crowl running to represent Illinois' 17th District
McGraw released the following statement after tonight's win:
“Tonight was an important milestone in our campaign and I want to extend my sincerest appreciation to the voters for placing their faith in me. That said, the job is not finished yet.
"Tomorrow morning we will be hard at work talking to voters across IL-17 about our vision to return this district to a safe, free, and economically prosperous community – a place where people want to live, work, and raise a family.
“Eric Sorensen has failed. He’s voted in lockstep with Joe Biden the entire time he has been in office. Instead of fighting for the values of the 17th District, Sorensen has teamed up with the D.C. special interests and abandoned Illinoisans back home.”
In an interview with News 8's Jenna Webster, McGraw said securing the border is his top priority, followed by immigration reform. McGraw said he plans to finish building the border wall and expand border patrol. He also wants to crack down on drug cartels and ensure those who do bring lethal drugs into the country are put behind bars. He believes his experience on the bench has well-prepared him to meet the needs of the constituents of the 17th district.
"As a judge, you don't get to vote present. You've got to make a decision," McGraw said. "My experience in adjudicating tough decisions, hearing opposing points of view and finding the most just outcome will prepare me for doing the work that needs to be done in Congress and working in a bipartisan way."
Now that he's secured the Republican nomination, McGraw will go on to face incumbent Rep. Eric Sorensen in the general election, which takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Sorensen, a Democrat, won election to the seat in 2022 by a margin of 4% against Republican Esther Joy King.
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