Ex-GOP Rep. Joe Walsh
Oh Joe Walsh, don't get our hopes up again. The former tea partying congressman has been
publicly considering a longshot primary bid against Sen. Mark Kirk, but GOP sources tell the
Daily Herald's Kerry Lester that Walsh is
considering challenging Republican Rep. Randy Hultgren instead. The two almost came into conflict in 2012 after they were thrown into the same safely-red 14th District, but national Republicans convinced Walsh to seek re-election in the Democratic-leaning 8th District instead. The NRCC
pledged millions in help for Walsh if he took one for the team, but it didn't stop him from
losing to Tammy Duckworth 55-45.
Hultgren is one of the many bland but dependable conservatives in the House GOP caucus, and it would be fun to see him fend off the fire-breathing Walsh. Of course, who knows how serious Walsh actually is about this. Many people have speculated that Walsh's flirtations are really just his way of getting some attention for his radio show. But Walsh is an unpredictable enough guy that we can still hold out hope that he'll go after either Kirk or Hultgren.