Kinzinger Won't Challenge Pritzker For IL Governor: Report

CHANNAHON, IL — After contemplating a run for Illinois governor or U.S. Senate, Congressman Adam Kinzinger announced Wednesday that he is not going to run for another office in Illinois, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.

The Chicago newspaper reported that the Channahon Republican released a video announcing: "I’m transitioning from serving just one corner of Illinois into fighting this new nationwide mission full time.”

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Kinzinger made the following remarks in Wednesday's video: “Some say it’s time to move on from January 6th. But we can’t move on without addressing what happened or by pretending it never happened. We can’t move on without taking action to make sure it never happens again. That starts by admitting the facts. The 2020 election was not stolen. Joe Biden won. Donald Trump lost."

Other Republicans who have said they will challenge Pritzker next year include state Sen. Darren Bailey, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf, former firefighter-paramedic Cheryl Erickson, businessman Gary Rabine, former police officer Christopher Roper and venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan.

During a November interview with Crain's Chicago Business, Kinzinger was asked about the GOP candidates seeking to defeat incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker in the 2022 election.

Kinzinger referred to them as "a little less than stellar. I like Jesse Sullivan a lot, you know, I think he's dynamic. Darren Bailey's trying to exist on masks, you know. That's great, whatever. That will get you a win downstate. You're not going to win the state of Illinois."