Former Illinois Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti announces intent to run for 6th District seat

Former Illinois Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti announced Monday that she intends to run for Congress in 2020 in the 6th District, which is currently represented by freshman Democrat Sean Casten.

Sanguinetti, R-Wheaton, said she wanted to see how things would work out with Casten in office – but she doesn’t believe he represents the 6th District. She made her announcement to run at an event Monday in Wheaton.

Sanguinetti said she believes Casten wants to grow government and there is not a tax hike he doesn’t like. She said she also is critical of Casten’s support of the Green New Deal.

“It’s not a good conversation starter if right now your proposition kills businesses,” Sanguinetti told the Northwest Herald on Friday. “It’s not American, and it does not advance the American dream – the American dream that I lived, and the American dream that with my leadership, I will make sure that our kids have.”

Sanguinetti also made a stop Monday in Cary to tour Illinois Blower, 750 Industrial Drive, and planned a rally Monday evening in Barrington.

Before becoming lieutenant governor under Bruce Rauner, Sanguinetti served on the Wheaton City Council for nearly four years and was an assistant Illinois Attorney General.

As lieutenant governor, Sanguinetti served on a number of committees and task force that worked on issues such as government consolidation, opioid abuse and recidivism.

Casten’s campaign manager, Chloe Hunt, responded Monday to Sanguinetti’s decision to run. She said Casten ran for office to ensure the voices of the 6th District were heard in Washington.

“While Sean brings experience as a business owner and scientist to Washington to help solve problems, Evelyn Sanguinetti has a very different record and set of priorities as a leader in Springfield that left Illinois without a budget for two years and resulted in endless gridlock and dysfunction,” Hunt said in a statement.

Hunt likened Sanguinetti to President Donald Trump, saying she plays “political games” and will pursue “extreme right-wing” policies on abortion and same-sex marriage.

The 6th Congressional district stretches from Crystal Lake to Darien and covers portions of DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry and Cook counties.