Holocaust denier likely to represent GOP on Illinois congressional ballot
By Maegan Vazquez, CNN Updated 3:30 PM ET, Mon February 5, 2018
Washington (CNN)A long-shot candidate with a history of anti-Semitic statements and Holocaust denial is primed to represent the Republican Party in a congressional race in Illinois.
The candidate, Arthur Jones, is running unopposed in the GOP primary for Illinois' 3rd Congressional District, which occupies a portion of Chicago, as well as Western Springs and La Grange. The primary election will take place on March 20.
His website contains sections such as "Holocaust?" which features a statement that says "there is no proof such a so-called 'Holocaust' ever took place anywhere in Europe, against the Jews." In another section called "Hate Speech?" the Jones campaign cites a document that includes quotes from American presidents, Charles Lindbergh, and the Bible meant to suggest racial and religious supremacy.
Jones has been involved with anti-Semitic and racist groups since the 1970s, the Anti-Defamation League says.
The Jones campaign did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. The state party has refused to back his candidacy.
"The Illinois Republican Party and our country have no place for Nazis like Arthur Jones. We strongly oppose his racist views and his candidacy for any public office, including the 3rd Congressional District," Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider said in a statement.
The deadlines for candidates to file to enter the primary race on the ballot or as a write-in have both passed. The Illinois Board of Elections requires independent candidates to file for candidacy by June, and requires write-in candidates to register with the state 61 days before the election. In order to qualify as a Republican candidate in the race, Jones had to submit a petition with 603 signatures from voters in his district supporting his candidacy to the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Aaron DeGroot, a spokesman for the state Republican Party, told CNN Monday that the party "is exploring all options" to push forward a different candidate once the primary is over, including declaring a write-in candidate or registering an independent candidate on the general election ballot.
Jones has run in previous elections in the 3rd Congressional District, where Democrats have won in 24 of the last 25 elections.
In 2012, he was defeated in the GOP primary, and in 2016, he ran unopposed in the GOP primary and was removed from the ballot "for flagrant disregard of the election code," the Chicago Tribune reports.
Jones says he supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election but in 2017, he expressed his regret over voting for Trump over a weakened stance on the US-Mexico border wall.
"I'm sorry I voted for the son of a b****, I really am," Jones told the Guardian.
On the Democratic side of the election, incumbent Rep. Dan Lipinski is facing a challenge from the left, and his opponent has been endorsed by several Democratic lawmakers, including local Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Luis Gutierrez and national stars like New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
CNN's Chris Boyette and Tal Kopan contributed to this report
"The Illinois Republican Party and our country have no place for Nazis like Arthur Jones. We strongly oppose his racist views and his candidacy for any public office, including the 3rd Congressional District," Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider said in a statement.
I suppose this is something positive but you are the Republican Party Chairman, Mr. Schneider.. find somebody to run against him.
I swear I don't know from what cave the republicans keep pulling these candidates...
"The Illinois Republican Party and our country have no place for Nazis like Arthur Jones. We strongly oppose his racist views and his candidacy for any public office, including the 3rd Congressional District," Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider said in a statement.
I suppose this is something positive but you are the Republican Party Chairman, Mr. Schneider.. find somebody to run against him.
I swear I don't know from what cave the republicans keep pulling these candidates...
From a strategy or logistics standpoint, neither party wants to waste time and money in districts they have zero chance of winning. That makes sense, to a point.
This is said point, though, where a normal person would say "we have to stop this". The lack of effort is appalling and telling.
Also, FYI, for those not familiar with the area, this guy has run many times in the past. This isn't a new development.
From a strategy or logistics standpoint, neither party wants to waste time and money in districts they have zero chance of winning. That makes sense, to a point.
I would think we have passed that point. Seems to me that the sum is greater than the individual parts in the damage it is doing right now to the republican party as a whole.
I get that you don't want to devote a bunch of resources to a district you can't win but for goodness sakes man, at least don't embarrass yourselves... this has to have a ripple effect on the way folks think about other, more reasonable republicans, running in other districts.. doesn't it?
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
trying to say the R party supports this guy because he is running unopposed it stupid.
trying to say people on this board support the guy is stupid, unless they live in his district or have donated to him.
anyone can run for office if they choose. You cannot stop someone from doing that, regardless of their past or beliefs - but I forgot, the left likes to take away people's civil liberties. smh
Hers to hoping he gets creamed the next election. Which he will.
trying to say the R party supports this guy because he is running unopposed it stupid.
trying to say people on this board support the guy is stupid, unless they live in his district or have donated to him.
Maybe.. but you've got Roy Moore, Arpaio, Jackson in Virginia.. it's not an isolated incident, it's a trend.. and some of them got a lot more support than this guy will.. running extremists who are completely out of touch with 95% of Americans is becoming a trend for the R party and it is having a cumulative effect which is bigger than any one race that the Rs weren't going to win anyway.
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anyone can run for office if they choose. You cannot stop someone from doing that, regardless of their past or beliefs - but I forgot, the left likes to take away people's civil liberties. smh
Nobody is trying to take away anything so shake your head all you want.. What people are saying is that it's pathetic that this is the best the R party can do, even in a highly D dominated area.
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Hers to hoping he gets creamed the next election. Which he will.
Conservatives are really on a roll since Trump took office.
Roy Moore, Arpaio, Jones.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
I didn't see they were supporting him to begin with -
If the same thought process applies that applies to terrorism, if Muslim's aren't openly denouncing, then they are passively supporting.. and I can't find anything from the national GOP or the Illinois GOP denouncing this guys candidacy as a Republican... If you have anything, let me know.
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Secondly, they cannot support someone who is not running - you know that right?
You think these things happen in a vacuum? The Illinois GOP and the national GOP know people, they talk about these positions... they are constantly grooming people for the next position and/or the next race.. Now I know that even the best R candidate is unlikely to win this race, but I find it hard to believe that they couldn't come up with SOMEBODY decent to run against him just to save face.
From a strategy or logistics standpoint, neither party wants to waste time and money in districts they have zero chance of winning. That makes sense, to a point.
I would think we have passed that point. Seems to me that the sum is greater than the individual parts in the damage it is doing right now to the republican party as a whole.
I get that you don't want to devote a bunch of resources to a district you can't win but for goodness sakes man, at least don't embarrass yourselves... this has to have a ripple effect on the way folks think about other, more reasonable republicans, running in other districts.. doesn't it?
I would argue that the party welcomes the dogwhistle.
Look at the current president. If they cared about morality or racism, they never would've let him on the ticket.
You really have no idea about registering with a party do you. Man for someone who is constantly yelling about elections and parties, you have no idea how they work.
That's how it used to be, I'll grant you that. Not anymore though. But now? Anyone who isn't a right wing extremist is labeled a RINO.
I actually know one poster on this very board who is a conservative Republican who just can't seem to get on board with this administration. Nation wide there are a lot of them.
He's just one slimy dude. His morals, his personal values and all of the divisive rhetoric he spews is about as unpresidential as one could possibly get.
Now I understand that Republicans were faced with the exact same situation most voters felt. It was a choice of the lesser of the two evils. I get that. But people going around making excuses for everything he does and says is just sickening.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
You gripe like the bitter old lady down the street but this President is getting the job done like no other.
Sorry you don't like his style but he has America up and running again after 8 years of being sold out.
Oh when you wake up you are going to be so disappointed and butt sore... wish I could be there.
Well while I am sleeping, I am dreaming of Tax Cuts and Tax Reform. Our Military being funded and NATO paying its share. Repatriation of money from overseas and Record unemployment. A soaring stock market and Business confidence. Raises and bonuses for workers and Immigration Reform.
He's just one slimy dude. His morals, his personal values and all of the divisive rhetoric he spews is about as unpresidential as one could possibly get.
But people going around making excuses for everything he does and says is just sickening.
I've watched this all happen over the past 2 years, and I'm simply left shaking my head. I guess I can understand enthusiastic posters here at a fansite, but seasoned politicians fully steeped in our system of checks & balances? I've watched those in charge simply throw out/ignore the rule book. For this most unworthy of people.
He's just one slimy dude. His morals, his personal values and all of the divisive rhetoric he spews is about as unpresidential as one could possibly get.
But people going around making excuses for everything he does and says is just sickening.
I've watched this all happen over the past 2 years, and I'm simply left shaking my head. I guess I can understand enthusiastic posters here at a fansite, but seasoned politicians fully steeped in our system of checks & balances? I've watched those in charge simply throw out/ignore the rule book. For this most unworthy of people.
Mystifying.
Party loyalty...
WE DON'T NEED A QB BEFORE WE GET A LINE THAT CAN PROTECT HIM my two cents...
I see his name is propped up and supported with an (R) in every piece of text I've read about him.