In a battle for the Republican nomination to the 112th House District, candidates Joe Hackler of Granite City and Jennifer Korte of Edwardsville argue they are in sync with the party's base and have what it takes to defeat Democrat incumbent Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Collinsville) come November.
How to tell them apart? One clear contrast between Hackler and Korte is endorsements.
Hackler, communications director for the Illinois Republican Party, has the backing of several Republican House members.
He's also out-raised Korte nearly three to one, having received sizable contributions from House Leader Rep. Jim Durkin's campaign committee, as well as the committees of Republican Reps. Charlie Meier, Avery Bourne, Dave Severin, Patrick Windhorst, and State Sen. Terri Bryant and the House Republican Majority. To date, he's received nearly $90,000 in campaign contributions.
He has the backing of those elected representatives and that of local Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton).
“Joe has demonstrated conservative leadership on his local township board and has stood up to Chicago Democrats in races across Southern Illinois. Joe is the candidate who can win the 112th District for Republicans,” Elik stated.
Hackler was Rep. Dave Severin’s campaign manager in 2016 when Severin defeated then Speaker Michael Madigan’s assistant majority leader and budget chairman.
Hackler also claims he helped representatives Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) and David Friess (R-Red Bud) flip seats from Democrat to Republican in the 2018 and 2020 elections.
“Southern Illinois’ legislative map looks a lot more red than it did just a few years ago in part because of Joe’s tireless work. He knows what it takes to put a winning coalition and team together,” Severin stated.
Windhorst said that Hackler knows how to win and fight for a conservative agenda.
“He shares my priorities of lowering taxes, ending corruption, and defending our Second Amendment rights. He’s pro-life and lives a life guided by his deep Christian faith. We need Joe at the capitol fighting for our values,” Windhorst stated.
Hackler also posted recently that he has support of gun owners.
"I'm honored to be chosen as the preferred candidate by the Illinois State Rifle Association in the primary," he wrote in a Facebook post on June 6. "I also received an "Aq" rating from the NRA - a perfect score for a non-incumbent."
Hackler, 30, and his wife Amanda have a newborn daughter.
Korte, 47, is the epitome of an outsider, called to the political arena in the fight she and others took up against public school systems over student mask mandates.
On the stump she explains she's been a stay at home mom for 17 years, though had been a working professional at Barnes Jewish Hospital trained as a social worker with a master's degree from St. Louis University.
Korte's support appears largely grassroots-based, though she has some high profile endorsements, including State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville).
Plummer said he's backing Korte because of "her authenticity, her strong ties to the region, and her commitment to conservative values," and the need for more "citizen legislators" in Springfield.
“Jennifer Korte is a hard worker and I know she will be a strong and independent voice for the residents of the 112th District,” Plummer stated. “Jennifer is a wife, a mother, a life-long resident of Madison County, and a passionate advocate for many important issues that impact our neighbors and our communities. We need more citizen legislators in Springfield and I am excited about Jennifer’s campaign because she is not a politician and she is not beholden to anyone. We need more people like that in Springfield if we are going to fix our great state.”
Korte also is endorsed by State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Effingham), who famously was removed from the House floor in February for refusing to wear a mask, as were other members.
Wilhour, whose Restore Illinois PAC gave Korte's campaign $20,000, said of Korte:
"Working families need strong, independent leaders that are not beholden to the political system. When students needed advocates, Jennifer Korte stood up and rallied her community to support in-person learning and to oppose mandates. I know we can count on Jennifer to be a reformer, a fiscal conservative, and a relentless advocate for Metro East families in Springfield."
She also has the backing of State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Robinson), whose Illinois First PAC has contributed $10,000 to Korte's campaign.
To date, Korte has received $31,000 in campaign contributions to Hackler's $86,466, which are sizable figures for a Republican primary battle.
Hackler's campaign has used funds to ding Korte with hit piece mailers.
"While JB Pritzker and radical liberal Democrats destroyed Illinois, Jennifer Korte stood on the sidelines and did nothing," reads one, a reference to Korte not having voted in Republican primaries.
Another piece apparently equates that with being a "Never Trumper."
"Korte refused to vote for Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee when he first ran for president and then again when he sought re-election."
She's also called "another political opportunist who cannot be trusted."
Korte explained her absence from primary elections this way in a Facebook post last month:
"I never realized how important the primary elections were," Korte wrote in a Facebook post last month.
"I grew up as the youngest of 4 and my parents were very busy. They voted in every general election, but I have no idea if they voted in the primaries. We never talked about it. In fact, I do not ever remember talking about politics. Which is interesting because I do remember my mom talking about the day Elvis died.
"I voted in all of the general elections just like my parents did. Of course, the most memorable was the vote of the general election in 2020 when my voting card was messed up.
"I can't remember the primary election in 2020. Nathan and I (and our boys) were all sick in January/February with a lingering illness I assumed was a strain of an undetectable flu. We were in the process of moving, my son had a bad knee injury which eventually required major surgery and we were supposed to go on a Mizzou band trip with our daughter.
"Then COVID hit. I think many families are like ours. We get busy with our kids and life. When we vote, we go to the polls and then move on to the next band function or sports outing. It is not very memorable. This is definitely the case with the primary elections. But the primaries are important. I see that now. We can no longer sit on the sidelines and let people pick our representatives, governors, and any other elected position. And each position is important. From the library board up to the governor. Please get involved locally and go vote at the primary election."
Korte, and husband Nathan have three children.
She said the way to win in November is to "elect normal people... moms who have a passion for advocacy. That is me."
She also said a female candidate is best suited to go up against Stuart in November.
"There are too many extra things" Stuart could use against a male opponent, Korte said.
The primary election is June 28.