North Cook News

House candidate Katie Miller sees a lot of promise in the 2018 primaries.

“I am very excited that Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) has decided to run for governor,” Miller, who is running to replace retiring Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights) in the 53rd District, told the North Cook News. “She has been an advocate for taxpayers as a representative and will continue to be so as governor."

Although Ives is currently only circulating nominating petitions and has yet to formally declare entering the race to knock Gov. Bruce Rauner off the ballot, Miller said she's the kind of conservative Illinois needs. 

Katie Miller

She also says a matchup between Rauner and Ives would really shake up the dynamics of the Republican Party.

“We should have a vigorous debate over issues,” Miller said. “It would only improve candidates. Primaries make stronger candidates. The Republican voters should pick who will be our candidate for governor. After the primary, everyone should support the candidate that wins.”

Miller identified several reasons she would welcome an Ives run.

“I always look at the candidates and look at the issues,” Miller said. “I more closely align with Jeanne Ives. I was not happy with Gov. Rauner and his choice to sign the HB40 bill and the ‘sanctuary state' bill. Jeanne Ives has been an advocate for tax reform and believes in term limits.”

Miller said like Ives, she also running as a way to protest Rauner’s signing of HB40, which mandated publicly subsidized abortions, and the Illinois Trust Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from stopping, searching or detaining citizens based on their suspected immigration status.

“Those are two issues that are part of my campaign,” Miller said. “I also believe that Jeanne can excite the Republican voters.”