Dupage Policy Journal

The choice for 6th Congressional District voters in 2020, Republican candidate Jeanne Ives contends, is as simple as it is important.

“It’s a referendum on what Democrats are proposing to do at the federal level and, really, what they’ve done at the state level,” Ives told the DuPage Policy Journal of her run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove). “For me, it’s an easy question for voters: Do you want more freedom or do you want more government, because you can’t have both.”

Ives (R-Wheaton), who formally served as an Illinois state representative in the 42nd District for six years before narrowly losing out to then-Gov. Bruce Rauner in the 2018 Republican primary, recently blasted Casten for being a “hypocrite” in the way he has pushed for bigger government and greater control during his first term.

U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove)

“He wants a government takeover of the health care system,” she said. “Anybody who uses the phrase 'universal health care,' that all means government-controlled health care. He believes that climate change is one of the biggest threats to mankind. All of the solutions to that mean more government. He thinks the legislature should be more involved in every policy decision and he thinks that they should be paid more to do that.”

Ives said her philosophy, and the approach of diehard Republicans, couldn’t be more different from Casten's idealogies.

“He likes big government solutions and we believe in people,” she said. “We believe people are innately capable of solving their own problems with the help of government at times. We believe in people and he believes in government.”

Ives argues that all that government control leaves voters paying a heavy price.

“Nothing zaps your freedom more than big government and taxes,” she said. “It’s a seesaw effect – the more government you have, the less freedom you get. Under Pritzker, you have far more government and you have the graduated income tax on the ballot in 2020.”

The 6th Congressional District includes parts or all of Wheaton, Naperville, Westmont, Bartlett, Elgin, Barrington Hills and Palatine.