Batinick Passes, Kathy Salvi Jumps Into U.S. Senate Race
Kathy Salvi, with husband former State Rep. Al Salvi, announces a bid for Congress in 2005. Salvi confirmed to The Illinoize she plans to seek the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate. (Photo: Daily Herald)
NOTE: This story was originally posted for subscribers only. To receive subscriber-only newsletters and content, click here.
Kathy Salvi, a longtime GOP activist and 2006 candidate for Congress from Lake County, confirmed to The Illinoize Tuesday night she is jumping in the race for U.S. Senate.
Salvi is an attorney and the wife of former Rep. Al Salvi, who ran for U.S. Senate in 1996 and Secretary of State in 1998. She’s no stranger to politics, either, though, finishing second in the race for the GOP nomination for the 8th congressional district in 2006.
She raised a good chunk of money in her 2006 run, losing to David McSweeney, who eventually became a State Representative.
Salvi brings financial resources to the race, which is populated by a group of well-meaning, but inexperienced and poorly known, Republican candidates for U.S. Senate. The Salvis have long been involved in pro-life and pro-family causes, though they pre-date the Trump takeover of the GOP, so it remains to be seen how she will be received by primary voters in 2022. It should be noted, though, that former GOP nominee for Governor Bill Brady has not announced his plans for 2022 yet, and a Senate run was potentially under consideration.
If Salvi wins the primary, and she would immediately be considered the favorite, she would face Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who has more than $4 million cash on hand.
But one Republican operative told me last night “don’t underestimate her.”
Salvi’s entrance in the race will keep Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) out of the Senate contest. Batinick told me last night he considered the race but says he’s “excited” about Salvi’s candidacy.