Pierce Criticizes Opponent Over Knowledge of 11th Congressional District (Naperville, IL) —
A candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 11th District is criticizing one of his opponents, arguing the rival has shown a lack of familiarity with the district he hopes to represent.
LTC (Ret.) Michael D. Pierce, a Republican candidate for the seat, said fellow candidate Jeff Walter has repeatedly demonstrated what Pierce called a misunderstanding of the counties that make up the 11th Congressional District.
Pierce pointed to a recent social media post by Walter that listed polling places in Cook, McHenry, Kane and DuPage counties but omitted several others that are part of the district, including Will, Lake, Boone and DeKalb counties.
Pierce also referenced an appearance Walter made on WRMN radio, where Walter was asked to name the counties in the district. According to Pierce, Walter named six counties but initially left out DuPage and Boone counties. Walter later remembered DuPage but did not mention Boone County.
“Being asked to name the counties in the district you are running to represent was never intended to be a ‘gotcha’ question, and yet here we are,” Pierce said in a statement. “I apparently have an unexpected advantage in this race as I have been campaigning in counties one of my opponents does not seem to know are part of the district.”
Pierce added that the incident highlights broader concerns about the way Illinois’ congressional districts are drawn.
“But in all seriousness, my opponent’s blunder is understandable given the gerrymandering taking place in Illinois,” Pierce said. “The district boundaries in the 11th make absolutely no sense. We need an independent commission to draw legislative districts in Illinois.”
Illinois’ 11th Congressional District spans parts of several counties in northern Illinois, including Cook, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, Lake, Boone, DeKalb and Will.
The race is one of several contests taking shape ahead of the upcoming election cycle as candidates begin campaigning across the region.
Pierce Criticizes Opponent Over Knowledge of 11th Congressional District
