Dupage Policy Journal

Former Republican state representative Jeanne Ives has bagged the endorsement of the conservative advocacy organization FreedomWorks of America in her run against U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove) in the 6th Congressional District.

“Jeanne Ives has already proven herself a patriotic defender of freedom as a platoon leader in the United States Army and a three-term member of the Illinois state legislature,” FreedomWorks Executive Director Noah Wall said in a press release. “With her battle-tested resolve and her tireless commitment to smaller government, lower taxes, and free markets, Illinois’ 6th District could scarcely ask for a better person to send to Congress than Jeanne Ives.”

Ives, who served six years in Springfield and narrowly lost to then-Gov. Bruce Rauner in the Republican primary in 2018, recently launched her campaign against Casten, who she has blasted as a “big government socialist.”

She recently told the DuPage Policy Journal that she estimated that the first-term lawmaker has voted with Democrats in Congress 98 percent of the time since taking office in 2018.

As for securing FreedomWork’s support, Ives added in the release, “I’m honored to be endorsed by an esteemed organization that represents the interests of grassroots conservatives across the nation. Growth through free enterprise and small government have always been some of my main focuses as a legislator and candidate.”

Ives is set to face off against Evelyn Sanguinetti, who served as Rauner’s lieutenant governor running mate, in the GOP primary.

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