Will County Gazette

Senate District 19 candidate Samantha Gasca has endorsed an open letter from Jimmy Lee Tillman II, Founder and President of Martin Luther King Republicans, in praise of former President Donald J. Trump and inviting him to address concerns within the Black community in Chicago. Gasca shared a link to the letter on her Facebook page, signaling her alignment with the principles expressed in the communication.

“From the Martin Luther King Republicans,” Gasca said on Facebook.

The letter, dated December 17, 2023, underscores that Trump's America First policies were advantageous to all Americans, including those within the Black community. It specifically draws attention to accomplishments during his presidency.

"During your administration, Blacks in America experienced growth with the lowest unemployment in history, record funding for our HBCUs, and other programs and reforms, like the Opportunity Zones and the First Step Act. You accomplished these without setting quotas while benefiting all Americans. It stands self-evident that your America First policies were exceptional for Blacks because Blacks are Americans too," Tillman stated. 

In addition to praising past policies, Tillman's open letter also scrutinizes current ones. He cites "Build Back Better" as having adverse effects on Black Americans. Moreover, he highlights the success of Martin Luther King Republicans—a movement boasting over 375K members—and expresses a wish for Trump to engage more with this community. He particularly emphasizes issues such as the southern border crisis and Chicago’s Sanctuary City status.

According to a previous report from Will County Gazette, Gasca's political platform prioritizes people-centric policies along with economic opportunities, accessible healthcare, educational excellence and safer streets. Her overarching aim is to unite diverse communities and foster a sustainable future for Illinois.

Gasca has a multifaceted background spanning radio broadcasting, counseling and business management. Since March 2018 she has been serving as Radio Program Content Coordinator and Data Analyst at Moody Radio where her strong communication skills and data analysis expertise have proven invaluable. Beyond her work in radio, she has also made significant contributions through her ownership and operation of God Heard LLC—a platform established in July 2021 that offers pastoral counseling, life coaching and business consulting services, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Senate District 19 includes all or parts of Arbury Hills, Lockport, New Lenox, Mokena, Orland Park, Orland Hills, Tinley Park, Frankfort, Frankfort Square, Homer Glen, Richton Park, University Park, Matteson, Flossmoor, Olympia Fields, Country Club Hills, Hazel Crest and Oak Forest. The incumbent State Senator for the district is Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort), as per the State Senate District 19 map on Ballotpedia.