Illinois 6th Congressional Republican Primary: 6 Candidates Compete

ORLAND PARK, IL — Six people are vying for the Republican nomination in the new Illinois sixth congressional district during Tuesday's primary.

Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, Niki Conforti, Catherine O'Shea, Scott Kaspar and Robert Cruz are on the ticket.

The nominee will run against the Democratic candidate — either Marie Newman, Sean Casten or Bill Lipinski — for a two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau formally launched his campaign in November for the GOP nomination in the new Illinois 6th Congressional District. The two-term Republican mayor said he would put fiscal responsibility first.

Pekau was joined by former state Rep. Jeanne Ives, who endorsed his run for the IL-06 GOP nomination. Ives cited Pekau's fight against mask and vaccine mandates in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The redrawn congressional district maps will now put Orland Park at the center of the 6th District, no longer splitting the village between two representatives.

The Democratic primary race will pit current 3rd District Rep. Marie Newman against Rep. Sean Casten, who will fight to keep his spot in the remapped 6th Congressional district, which split up much of Newman's current constituents.

Pekau and the Orland Park Village Board have made headlines for criticizing Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritkzer's pandemic restrictions.

Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso also made headlines for criticizing Pritzker's approach.

Grasso, a lawyer, has been elected four times as mayor, serving from 2005 to 2012 and since 2019. He also has served on the DuPage County Board for six years.

In 2018, Grasso ran for the Republican nomination against Erika Harold, but she took 60 percent of the vote. She later lost to Democrat Kwame Raoul.

Grasso said education is the key for society. Now, he noted, the state's schools are mainly funded by property taxes, which he said are too high and driving people out of Illinois.

The new 6th would also include all or parts of Alsip, Burr Ridge, Chicago Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Crestwood, Darien, Elmhurst, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Indian Head Park, Justice, LaGrange Highlands, Oakbrook Terrace, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Hills, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Tinley Park, Western Springs, Willowbrook, Worth and extends north to Villa Park and west to Downers Grove. Areas near Midway Airport and a portion of Chicago's Beverly community are also part of the new district.