Rep. Jim Durkin | Courtesy photo
Rep. Jim Durkin | Courtesy photo
After more than two decades of representing the western suburbs, Jim Durkin has stepped down from his seat in the House. "You know it in your heart and in your stomach when it's time to go,” Durkin said.
According to ABC 7, with Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey having fallen short in his run to unseat Gov. J.B. Pritzker last November, Durkin has expressed concern about the direction of the party, noting that Bailey was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
"You can't have a party that's controlled by extremists, it's not what the Republican Party of Illinois is about," Durkin said.
Durkin stepped down as minority leader in the fall after Republicans lost seats in the House. Some in the party blamed Durkin's leadership.
Durkin said that he has always stood for bipartisanship and worked to find compromise.
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Sterling) has replaced him as minority leader. Illinois Republican Party leaders will pick a successor for Durkin's seat in the House.
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