Burr Ridge Mayor Denounces 'Far Right'

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge Gary Grasso says the "far right" is hurting the chances of Republicans to win elections.

Last month, the mayor made his case in a column in the Chicago Tribune and an interview on public television station WTTW.

Over the summer, conservative Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau defeated Grasso in the GOP primary in the 6th Congressional District. In the November election, Pekau lost to Democratic Rep. Sean Casten, who received 54 percent.

In his column, Grass said hardworking Americans know the American Dream is being stolen from them by "liberal economic giveaway politics and border policies."

"That's where we need to fight for policy changes and win the voters to seat us at important tables of government," Grasso wrote. "This should be self-evident by now, yet social extremists insist on perpetuating the pyrrhic fight over abortion rights and guns with the same result each election – Republicans being labeled as too extreme."

Abortion, he said, is a political reality in Illinois. Republicans should fight to keep it limited to 15 weeks, he said.

On guns, Republicans should be willing to consider age limits, background and mental health checks, and waiting periods for purchases, Grasso said.

In the WTTW interview, the mayor noted the trend of Republicans appealing to the most conservative voters to win primaries, but then losing in general elections.

"That's the playbook for most Republicans. I think they want to go as far right as possible," he said. "Moderate Republican voices have to stand up. They have to push back."

The interview was a week before the election. Grasso declined to say how he would vote in the governor's race, but he said he was no fan of Democratic J.B. Pritzker, who defeated Republican Darren Bailey.

He also wouldn't say whether he would vote for Donald Trump in 2024.

He said the way Trump handled international relations and the southern border was "very good." But he said Trump should get off "his personal attacks."

As for Trump's election fraud claims, Grasso said, "We have to move past that argument. I'm a lawyer. There hasn't been any evidence of that. Staying on that topic only undermines the credibility of our candidates."