Former RNC National Committeeman Porter Won't Seek Senate Seat

Former RNC National Committeeman Richard Porter at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in 2024. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)

NOTE: This story was originally posted for subscribers only. To receive subscriber-only newsletters and content, click here.

Richard Porter, a retired attorney and former RNC National Committeeman who had been seen as likely to enter the U.S. Senate race and give Republicans a shot at winning a Senate seat for the first time since 2010, announced this weekend on Facebook he would not seek the seat next year:

Thank you to everyone who took the time to discuss concerns, ideas and suggestions as I tested the waters for a potential run for the US Senate.

After close consultations with my family and friends, I have decided not to pursue this opportunity. I intend to stay involved in the effort to turn around Illinois.

The tide is starting to turn in Illinois. People are fed up with our highest in the nation property taxes, poor services, woke schools and bloated government — all exacerbated this past month with new electric power bills that are twice or more what they were just a few months ago.

Illinois is craving a reasonable alternative to the woke nonsense of our current political leadership. We are not happy with our Governor’s focus on advancing his own career at our expense. We want to see a government that trusts the people of Illinois and that’s focused on serving us.

I have been around politics and government for decades, but as a first time potential candidate I learned something new every day. I salute anyone who enters the arena with a passion for service and I encourage every one of good faith to consider opportunities to serve our communities, state and nation as they arise.

Sources say many top Republicans had discouraged Porter to run because the seat was seen as “unwinnable” for the GOP next year.

NewsPatrick Pfingsten