FFRW chair doesn’t’ want GOP to rest on laurels: On to Illinois

Republicans are celebrating the historic win in Massachusetts—who would have thought Massachusetts would decide against a Democrat for the U.S. Senate?

After Republican Scott Brown won the Senate seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said, "Massachusetts has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1972, and President Obama won 62 percent of the vote in the Bay State just 13 months ago. This Senate seat was held by Ted Kennedy for nearly 50 years and was considered one of the safest Democratic seats in the entire country.”

Cindy Graves, president of the Florida Federation of Republican Women, is reminding voters there’s another race on the horizon.

“We applaud the efforts of grassroots activists who worked endlessly to accomplish this unprecedented victory. We are especially grateful for the members of the Massachusetts Federation of Republican Women for their grassroots leadership, as well as the thousands of Floridians who made calls into Massachusetts throughout the weekend and Monday to get out the vote. Working together, everyday patriots will save this country,” said Graves.
 
The next national step, Graves went on to say, is the February 2nd Illinois Primary for the US Senate seat.

The Illinois Republican Primary has Rep. Mark Kirk (R) tangling with Patrick Hughes. Kirk is perceived by many as a little too much to the left of moderate. The best example was his vote for HR 2454, Cap and Trade. His own constituents, in a state with record unemployment—more than 10 percent—would especially be hard hit by that bill. But because the bill would, as President Barack Obama promised, cause electricity costs “to skyrocket,” the whole nation will suffer if Cap and Trade is enacted.

Hughes doesn’t have the name recognition or the Party clout Kirk has. But many see Hughes as a grassroots candidate—Graves called Hughes a “bright new conservative”—who has appeal similar to that of Brown. Based on position statements on his website, Hughes appears to be a fiscal conservative who believes in smaller government, and those two beliefs are the two that every conservative, regardless of differences on social issues, must endorse in order to call himself a conservative.

Less spending/taxes and smaller government are central themes for Republicans, Tea Partiers, Libertarians and conservatives of all persuasion.

The Massachusetts race should give Republicans cause to celebrate, but it’s a reminder to refrain from resting on laurels. And it's a reminder to the Democrat Party the people can speak for themselves.

Grassroots rising 2010: Patrick Hughes fights for position ahead of Illinois Primary

Update
Dec. 9, 2009

Candidate Patrick Hughes has received an endorsement from the Vernon Township GOP. The Illinois Review said, "[Rep. Mark]Kirk lost the US Senate endorsement outright to Hinsdale Businessman Patrick Hughes who grabbed the Vernon endorsement with 64.3% of the committeeman vote."

by Kay B. Day

Republican strategists have their hands full these days, in the aftermath of NY-23 and the postlude to party leaders’ endorsements of candidates like Gov. Charlie Crist. Still striking a nerve is the fiasco with DeeDee Scozzafava, a Republican who ended up endorsing a Democrat despite the fact the GOP spent nearly $1 million on her candidacy. Then there was fallout over Crist’s so-called anointment in a primary field that included popular former speaker of the House Marco Rubio, a fallout that transcended Florida and had a national impact. Current conditions are enough to give any GOPer worth his salt a headache or two.  And now Republicans in Illinois are seeing another bold candidate jump into a primary battle: Patrick Hughes.

Patrick Hughes and his family live in Hinsdale, Ill. Hughes is opposing Rep. Mark Kirk in the GOP primary to run in the 2010 Senate race for the seat Sen. Roland Burris is vacating.

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