Illinois Valley Times

Liz Bishop, the Republican candidate for Illinois House District 76, has recently addressed the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge via a Facebook post.

"In light of the tragedy with the Baltimore Bridge collapse, my heart goes out to all those affected. This moment reminds us of the importance of community and resilience in the face of adversity. Let us come together to support the victims and their families during this difficult time."  said Bishop, according to Facebook. 

In her social media statement, Bishop shared a link to a post from local radio station 103.9 WLPO. The linked post included a video of the bridge and provided an update on the incident.

Screenshot of Liz Bishop's March 26 Facebook post | Liz Bishop for State Representative Facebook page

CBS reported that the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being struck by a large cargo ship. "Six members of a construction crew filling potholes on the bridge are unaccounted for as of 12:36 p.m., EDT," according to the news station. They also reported that two individuals were rescued from the water; one is unhurt, while the other was in serious condition and undergoing treatment at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

The news station further stated that the Singapore-flagged Dali, chartered by Maersk and carrying cargo from its customers, had notified officials about a power issue before colliding with the bridge.

According to CNN, as of 1:36 p.m., EDT, the patient at the University of Maryland Medical Center had been released. The network also provided some context about the structure, stating that it is "the outermost crossing of Baltimore Harbor" and "a four-lane, 1.6-mile long bridge that crosses the Patapsco River."

Bishop resides in Peru, Illinois and serves as a Deputy State Central Committeewoman for the Illinois GOP. According to her campaign website’s "about" page, her political focus is rooted in responsive leadership, fiscal responsibility, and advocacy for lower taxes. She vows to "be a representative who understands and resonates with the aspirations and needs of her constituents," promising to advocate for policies that emphasize financial prudence to guide Illinois towards stability and growth. Her pledge includes working towards reducing property taxes and controlling living costs.

In November's general election, Bishop will compete against Amy Murri Briel. She previously defeated challenger Crystal Loughran in the March primary election, securing 67.1% of the votes (2,937 votes) while Loughran received 32.9% of the votes (1,439 votes), according to Ballotpedia.