Will County Gazette

11th Congressional District candidate Catalina Lauf is advancing to the November general election after a commanding performance Tuesday in the GOP primary.

Under former President Donald Trump, Lauf worked as an adviser at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“Thank you to every voter, volunteer, supporter and prayer warrior,“ Lauf posted on Twitter. “My team and I fought for every inch this election, but it was YOU ALL who brought it home to a victory for us last night. Last night’s wins across Illinois proved that Illinoisans are ready for new leaders and new perspectives to carry the torch forward — outsiders who will unite our communities, and who will bring common sense back to our State."

“To my primary opponents: It's not an ‘easy’ choice for anyone to run for office. It's tough on families, personal life, especially in today's environment. Despite the times in which we live, YOU all are true and proud Americans who stepped into the arena. We Illinoisans are lucky to have each of you: fellow outsiders that our Party in Illinois desperately needs. I look forward to working with each of you in defeating Bill Foster this November, and with the many other candidates who won last night.”

“To IL-11: The fight is not over, it is only beginning. Our district is the beating heart of the State, and Country. We are America's Heartland and we are largely considered the "broadest representation" of America's culture. The values we defend as a Nation begin HERE. This November, we will need each of YOU to step forward to HOLD THE LINE and defend those values. It's our turn to send a powerful message to the rest of the Country- that we in the Midwest reject progessive extremism.”

“What we are fighting for is for the soul of our Country, our culture and our economy. Both our State and Country have been run into the ground economically. We have been sold out to foreign entities and our individual liberties are constantly under attack. We are paying $6 for gas and many residents in our district are struggling to feed their families. All of this was brought upon by the radical and regressive economic policies led and enacted by Nancy Pelosi and the Biden Administration. Government shutdown our businesses, and Government keeps spending our hard earned tax-payer money on their priorities-instead of prioritizing what matters to the American people.”

“Culturally, American kids in school are being taught to hate their own Country, to be ashamed of their skin-color and to question their gender. As crime increases in our communities, our law-enforcement officers are vilified, and criminals are set free. Thousands of illegals cross our border monthly, yet those who want to come here legally, or who have worked hard for their citizenship and pay taxes are cast aside. Labor, drug and sex trafficking are at all time highs. What has been wrong, has become right. This is unacceptable and we Americans and Illinois families will tolerate it NO MORE. This State is worth fighting for, and fear not, together we can and will unseat Bill Foster and the many other out-of-touch extremist elites like him in Congress this November.”

“When elected, I will continue to work tirelessly to bring COMMON SENSE back to IL-11, and to our Nation in Washington against the far leftist ideologies that seek to divide us.”

“To the progressives extremists and the media: No matter how much you try to destroy our economy, our culture and our values, you forget that we are Americans.”

“United We Stand, Divided We Fall."

“WE THE PEOPLE are UNITED this year, and we the people will NEVER, EVER, BACK DOWN.”

Lauf won 31.1% of the vote in the crowded six-way primary.

Her vote count of 15,189 was a third more than her closest competitors Jerry Evans and Mark Carroll.

Lauf has criticized socialist authoritarianism by Democrats during the campaign.

She criticized so-called "Big Tech" for censoring conservative candidates' remarks on their platforms and provided numerous examples of how "free speech is being censored," and encouraged Illinoisans to "remain tough against these attacks on their rights."

Republicans are expected to win the district in 2022, according to Lauf. The contest has been targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee as a potential flip.

The cities of Aurora, Naperville, Woodridge, Darien, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge, New Lenox, and Joliet are all included in the new 11th Congressional District. Cook, Will and portions of DuPage counties are included.