DCCC Chairman, Ben Ray Lujan released the following statement:
“Lauren Underwood secured an impressive win in a Democratic primary and demonstrated her strong support heading into the general election. As a nurse and American with a pre-existing condition, Lauren has seen first-hand what is at stake if seniors, families and children don’t have access to quality, affordable health care. Lauren’s knowledge and experience put her in a great position to win this race in November.”
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To: Interested Parties
From: Amanda Sherman, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: March 20, 2018
RE: The Case Against Randy Hultgren
Congressman Hultgren has been more focused on enjoying the perks of being in Congress than standing up for the people of Illinois. He’s not seen in Illinois, not heard in DC, and unprepared to mount a serious campaign this year.
Hultgren’s record amounts to one party-line vote after another, including when that meant voting to take health care away from the people of Illinois and giving tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations while sticking our children and grandchildren with the bill.
While Congressman Hultgren has become just another yes-man in Speaker Ryan’s broken Washington, Lauren Underwood has been tirelessly working in the health care sector as a nurse and former senior official at the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure Americans have access to affordable and quality care. Raised in Naperville, Lauren knew from a young age that she wanted to “to help people at all times” and has dedicated her life to helping others.
The people of Illinois are sick of Hultgren siding with Speaker Ryan and Republican leadership over them. Lauren Underwood is ready to stand up for the people and give them back their voice in Congress by flipping this seat in November.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Protesters call for town hall meeting; Hultgren says they follow a ‘playbook’ to disrupt [Chicago Tribune, 2/24/17]
Hultgren, Roskam join majority in Obamacare repeal in U.S. House [Daily Herald, 5/4/2017]
“Our favorite is Lauren Underwood, of Naperville, a nurse and former Obama administration health policy adviser who works for a Medicaid managed care plan. Underwood says the Affordable Care Act was obstructed by Republicans but can be stabilized…Underwood has political experience and boundless enthusiasm. She is endorsed.” [Chicago Tribune, Editorial, 2/20/18]
Hultgren: Puts Political Party over People of Illinois
Swamp Creature
During the almost 8 years that Randy Hultgren has been in Washington, he has become a creature of the swamp enjoying all the perks of being a politician. Hultgren has used his position as a Congressman to travel around the world on privately funded luxury trips to Miami, Norway, and Guatemala. If the luxury trips weren’t enough of a perk after three years served in Congress, Hultgren’s net worth increased by $67,000. How long would it take hardworking people in Illinois to see that kind of increase in their finances?
Voted for Tax Scam at Expense of Illinois
You don’t have to look much further than Hultgren’s vote for the GOP Tax Scam to see how little he takes the people of Illinois into account. From local press to the Republican Governor of Illinois to his own voters many warned that the Tax Scam was bad for Illinois. Hultgren didn’t listen. Instead, he handed huge tax breaks to powerful special interests while failing to protect a key State and Local Tax Deduction that nearly half of his constituents claimed and saw over $5 billion in federal tax relief from.
Endangered Health Care for Families & Seniors
The pleas of Hultgren’s constituents for him to protect their access to affordable health care fell on deaf ears. Hultgren voted for Paul Ryan’s health care bill that would have taken health insurance away from 33,000 people in Illinois 14th Congressional District, raised their premiums, imposed an age tax on seniors, and done nothing to lower the price of prescription drugs. If that wasn’t enough, his support of the GOP Tax Scam could lead to a to a 19% premium increase in Illinois this year.
Rubber Stamp for Trump & Paul Ryan’s Agenda
Instead of listening to his constituents on issues like health care, taxes, and trade Hultgren defers to President Trump and Speaker Ryan when it comes time to vote. Hultgren has voted with President Trump 95.7% of the time and Paul Ryan 94% of the time. The people of Illinois are getting smart to the game Hultgren is trying to play, by paying lip service but never following through when it comes time to stand up and do what works best for them and their families.
THE PATH TO VICTORY
As a young nurse and health care professional, Lauren Underwood brings experience and energy to this race. She is the opposite of the “rubber stamp” politician that Hultgren is. With health care expected to be a key issue in this race, Underwood’s background presents a contrast to Hultgren’s terrible record of voting to take away health care from the people Illinois.
Lauren has been a strong campaigner; she outraised all six of her primary opponents. And Hultgren only has $425,000 in the bank, which is a weak showing for an incumbent. Also, Lauren has consolidated support from key stakeholders, including The Chicago Tribune, Off the Sidelines, Emily’s List, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Collective PAC.
IL-14 is a relatively affluent and largely suburban district. In recent years, this district started trending toward Democrats: Secretary Clinton performed 4% better than President Obama performed in 2012. In 2016, Trump won the district — but he got less than 50% of the vote. On the heels of the election in PA-18 where Trump lost ground in a district that he won by far more than he won IL-14, the demographics of this race favor Lauren Underwood.
Lauren has shown that she is ready for the challenge of a tough campaign while Hultgren is asleep at the wheel.