Former Illinois Congressman Files Papers To Run As A Republican In IA-02

Former Illinois Congressman Bobby Schilling is running for office again, this time in Iowa’s 2nd District.

Schilling, a Republican who served one term in west-central Illinois’ 17th District, was defeated in 2012 and again in 2014 by Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos, who now is chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Lee Enterprises’ Erin Murphy first spotted the new filing, posted Monday on the Federal Election Commission’s website.

Schilling now lives in Le Claire, along the Mississippi River, and is running to replace outgoing Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack.

The 2nd District spans 24 counties in southeast and eastern Iowa. It largely shares the same Quad Cities media market that covered much of his former Illinois district.

So far, he is the lone Republican in the race. Republican Thomas Kedley of Osceola dropped out last month.

In a statement, the Iowa Democratic Party accused Schilling of being “beholden” to special interest groups in D.C.

“His signature achievement includes backing a radical plan that would have gutted Social Security and Medicare to pay for billions in special tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations,” said Troy Price, chair of the IDP, in a statement. “Iowans deserve a representative who will work to grow our economy and create opportunities for all of us.”

Two Democrats, Rita Hart of Wheatland and Newman Abuissa of Iowa City, are vying to replace Loebsack, who represented the 2nd District for more than a decade.

Hart’s campaign announced this morning she raised more than $278,000 in the first six weeks of her bid for Congress.

Though Schilling has changed his Facebook page to BobbySchillingIA and has a new website, bobbyforiowa.com, he has yet to make a formal announcement about his candidacy.

By Elizabeth Meyer
Posted 7/8/19