Illinois Valley Times

John McGlasson, central committeeman for Illinois’ 16th Congressional District, believes the Republican Party is attempting to torpedo the re-election of Rep. Jerry Long (R-Streator) in a campaign to rid the party of anyone not in lockstep with Gov. Bruce Rauner.

“[The Illinois GOP] targeted me and three others in our run for Central Committee (last spring),” McGlasson told the Illinois Valley Times. “I saw what dirty tricks they can play. Bob Winchester knows this too.”

Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) ran against Winchester in the race for Republican State Central Committeeman in the15th Congressional District. The Republican Party declared Rose the winner after tallying votes by acclamation and not individually, a procedure that counters both Illinois Election Code and party rules, according to the Prairie State Wire.

Winchester challenged the results, but the case is still languishing in U.S. district court. Despite being targeted by the party, McGlasson, Mark Shaw in the 10th district, and Fred Floreth in the 13th district all won their races for Central Committee. Shaw went on to cut a deal with the party and is now state co-chair.

Long doesn’t talk the “same line” as Rauner, who trails Democrat J.B. Pritzker by double digits in the polls, McGlasson said.

“It’s my opinion that Rauner believes the only way he can win this thing is to have everyone talking the same line and get only those targeted votes to come out,” he said.

Rauner, McGlasson added, isn’t looking for a big turnout out but a select one.

“He has to be hoping for a big snowstorm on election day,” he said.

The Republican party recently dropped support for Long, including funding from the House Republican Organization (HRO), after it was “made aware of allegations into Rep. Long’s behavior,” according to a statement by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.

The accuser, an HRO employee, accused Long of harassment.

Long quickly released a statement saying he was only guilty of having a different perspective on HRO’s level of support for his race and that he will continue campaigning at a grassroots level.

“This is not sexual harassment of any kind but merely a difference of opinion on the lack of support by the Republican Party that goes back several months,” Long said. “At this time I have no intention on pulling out of the race because this just proves that I’m not a part of the ‘Good Ole Boys’ club.”

Long is expected to release another statement after consulting with his lawyers, a source said.

McGlasson and local Republican leaders in the 76th district recently met and reaffirmed their support for Long.

“It’s unimaginable to me that they (GOP) would cede such a hard-won seat,” McGlasson said.

In 2016, Long defeated Andy Skoog (D-Utica) by 607 votes. The Democrats had held the seat for decades. On Nov. 6, he faces off against Democrat Lance Yednock of Ottawa.