Grundy Reporter

GOP candidate for state representative Jed Davis is not holding out on his opponent, State Rep. David Welter (R-Morris), pulling his endorsement from Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin for governor. 

"In my opinion, I don't think David is ever going to pull his endorsement from Irvin because those two are very much one and the same," Davis told the Grundy Reporter. "You’ve got David, who is voting with Democrats, and Irvin who is voting as a Democrat in all the latest primaries. I mean, those two are, you know, are two peas in a pod. So, I don't... [the] whole relationship is going to be swayed by any political, I think." 

Davis’s quote comes as his campaign is underway to unseat Welter on June 28. Early voting in that race begins May 19. 

"It just really aggravates me because I think there's an opportunity in Illinois to push through change through an actual Republican instead of a Republican by name only," Davis added. "So, you've got the whole scenario that has put us where we are in the state for decades. The Republicans just want to roll around in the mud with the Democrats and play along instead of standing up on their own two feet and pushing true change in Illinois. So, it just aggravates me that the rank-and-file Republicans are falling behind Irvin workers. More of the same state of mind.”

Davis’s comments came after texts from Irvin were provided to WTTW in which the Aurora Mayor called Trump "a bigoted racist." "And I hate Trump too!" Irvin wrote, according to WTTW. "He’s an idiot!!!"  "And although I don’t hate Trump the man, I do hate what he stands for," Irvin wrote. The comments came as part of a conversation between Irvin and a former Aurora employee who noted the city employees were uncomfortable with holding an LGBT parade on Father’s Day. Irvin said he did not remember sending the texts. 

Welter is a vocal supporter of Irvin. He appeared at a press conference and spoke alongside the gubernatorial candidate in his first public appearance in two months. His appearance alongside lieutenant governor candidate Avery Bourne (R-Pawnee) was widely panned. At the event, Irvin declined to comment on whether or not he voted for Trump. 

Another local supporter of Irvin is Grundy County Board Member Jerald White, who also serves as a firefighter. 

Welter infamously crossed aisles to vote for an increase in the state’s gas tax. That tax is the second highest of any state in the nation and continues to rise automatically on a set schedule. 

Davis, a Kendall County resident, is the board president of Parkview Christian Academy in Yorkville. The Academy in Yorkville won a temporary restraining order against the state of Illinois over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive orders regarding compulsory masking. The 75th District includes all or portions of the counties of Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle, and Will, including the communities of Sandwich, Somonauk, Plano, Yorkville, Newark and portions of Oswego.