Trump And 2020? Burr Ridge, Orland Park Mayors Are Asked

BURR RIDGE, IL — The mayors of Burr Ridge and Orland Park, who are Republican congressional candidates, were asked recently about whether they believed Joe Biden was the rightful winner of the 2020 election.

The candidates, Burr Ridge's Gary Grasso and Orland Park's Keith Pekau, had different approaches to answering the question. They are vying in June's GOP primary in the 6th Congressional District.

Before Michael Madigan left as Illinois' House speaker last year, Democratic state lawmaker candidates struggled with questions about whether they supported him. While Madigan was unpopular in much of the state, he controlled the party's campaign money.

Perhaps equally troublesome is the question for GOP candidates about whether they subscribe to Donald Trump's claim that the 2020 election was stolen. Polls show much of the GOP base believes it. But the broader electorate does not.

When Patch asked whether Biden was the rightful president, Pekau did not answer yes or no. He apparently took offense at the inquiry, suggesting it was a trick question. He also called it silly.

"Was he sworn into office?" Pekau said in an interview.

Answering the same question from Patch, Grasso said, "Biden was awarded the majority of the electoral votes. He then became the president, even though there were a slew of challenges. All of those were unsuccessful. Biden got the electoral votes. Congress certified him. It's the end of the debate."

Grasso said the Republican Party should move forward and focus on the 2022 midterm and 2024 presidential elections.

"Republicans have to win the White House in 2024," Grasso said in an interview.

Grasso said he once wrote a paper on the disputed 1876 election, which pitted Republican Rutherford Hayes against Democrat Samuel Tilden. In a compromise, Hayes was awarded the presidency, but his opponents never forgot, often calling Hayes "His Fraudulency."

Skepticism in elections, as 1876 demonstrates, is nothing new, Grasso said. He said election integrity has been called into question and should be addressed.