Catalina Lauf is running against Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.). | File Photo
Catalina Lauf is running against Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.). | File Photo
A U.S. House candidate has refuted allegedly calling Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) a "Republican in name only," asserting he is exactly that and it's not an allegation.
Republican 16th Congressional District candidate Catalina Lauf, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, was responding to an April 13 Will County Gazette story headlined "Lauf alleges campaign-rich Kinzinger is a 'Republican in name only.'"
"There is nothing to allege," said Lauf in an April 13 tweet, who is running in a GOP primary against Kinzinger. "It's a fact that my opponent is a RINO who takes money from Democrats and D.C. lobbyists. While he is focused on advancing the swamp’s agenda, I am focused on advancing the America First agenda."
Lauf has political connections to Trump. In 2018, he appointed her as an adviser to the Department of Commerce. During the midterm election campaign she plans to advocate for Trump's policies for economic growth, U.S. dominance in the global arena and securing the borders.
"These are the policies that I will fight for from day one in Congress — and they are policies that Congressman Kinzinger has repeatedly ignored," Lauf said in a column published by Town Hall. "Worse, he has actively fought against the conservative leaders, like President Trump, who have been on the forefront of the battle to end the radical liberal agenda and put America First."
Kinzinger has been targeted by Republicans and called a RINO because of his vote supporting impeaching Trump for a historic second time. Although he has defended his positions on Trump, it has not resonated well with many GOP circles in Illinois, including party organizations that have voted to censure him.
"Adam is someone who has betrayed his constituents and betrayed supporters of President Trump by putting his own political self-interests ahead of the will of the people," Lauf told the Will County Gazette. "He votes with Democrats more often than Republicans and spends his time on MSNBC and raising money from Democrats. That's the definition of a RINO."
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