Will County Gazette

Floor Leader for the Republican Caucus State Rep. Mark Batinick is sticking by his endorsement for embattled GOP gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin.

“I stand with my support for Irvin,” Batinick, who is not running for re-election, told Will County Gazette.

A movement is afoot to ask high-profile endorsees of Irvin to pull their support from the gubernatorial candidate following the leak of a series of texts in which he calls former President Donald Trump a “bigot,” adding, “I hate Trump too!” And, “He’s an idiot!!!”

Conservative activists are calling the comments disqualifying.

Irvin has been a sore spot for conservatives since he declared for the race as a Republican despite years of voting in Democratic Party primaries, leading some to apply the RINO tag to the candidate.

In ensuing weeks he has also been outed for his previous support of Black Lives Matter.

At a private event, Irvin revealed why he supported BLM despite the organization's role in the Aurora riots in 2020.

"Somebody ... went up to him and asked him about BLM. You know, 'why are you supporting BLM?'" Chicago Morning Answer co-host Amy Jacobson said. "(Irvin) said he supported BLM publicly to save the city from more looting.

Last year, Batinick bragged to audiences that he pushed Gov. J.B. Pritzker to force masking statewide in 2020.

Batinick is hardly the only Republican leaders supporting Irvin.

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) has not only endorsed Irvin's candidacy, but he has also committed his deputy chief of staff and spokeswoman to the campaign.