Will County Gazette

86th House District Republican candidate and Joliet resident Jim Lanham said that his opponent has resorted to "a big smear campaign" against him and other republicans, leveraging a stark fundraising advantage. 

Incumbent State Rep. Larry Walsh Jr.’s (D-Elwood) campaign sent out a text message titled “Illinois Opinions Survey” that includes pointed accusations against Lanham. 

“I raised $2,000, and he has hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Lanham told Will County Gazette of Walsh’s campaign fund largess. “In one of his text messages, they say that I am backed by a wealthy extremist who funded January 6th. Like I said, I raised $2,000. So there's no one wealthy and there's not one extremist in my circle.”

Walsh's suvey question regarding Kyle Rittenhouse included factual errors. | Jim Lanham

One of the questions on the “Illinois Opinions Survey” claims, “Lanham is too divisive to represent us in Springfield,” and highlights his social media remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor J.B. Pritzker. 

“He has called Kamala Harris ‘utterly worthless and stupid,’ called J.B. Pritzker a ‘tyrant’ and ‘fat ass,’ and slings profane insults at people who disagree with him on social media,” it states.

Lanham noted that his comments on social media have drawn criticism, but he stands by his statements. 

“They did criticize me for my social media presence because I called Kamala utterly worthless and stupid and I called Pritzker a fat ass and a tyrant, which I did. I absolutely did,” Lanham said.

“But I have yet to find a person who has disagreed with me on either statement.” 

Lanham expressed disbelief at the extent of the attacks in Walsh’s “Illinois Opinions Survey.” 

“Are you that nervous?” he said. “You see some of these lies and it's just absolutely nuts.” 

Walsh's survey also reads, “He defended Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenage shooter who killed two men and shot another during a protest in St. Louis, saying that it was ‘his right as an American’ to go there with an assault weapon.” 

Meanwhile, Lanham noted Kyle Rittenhouse’s case unfolded in Kenosha, Wis., not St. Louis. 

“Particularly telling they say Kyle Rittenhouse was in St. Louis when that was the Kenosha riots,” he said. “Can’t keep Democrats' riots straight.” 

Another Walsh survey entry claims, “We can't count on Lanham to stand up for women's health and safety.” 

Addressing the contentious issue of abortion, Lanham criticized the Democrats for their fear-mongering tactics. 

“They attack all of us Republican candidates like we’re coming after abortion and want women to die,” he said. “But they don’t tell voters that abortion is encoded in Illinois law and it’s part of the state constitution. There’s literally nothing Republicans can do, and I know a lot of Republicans are just saying it is what it is.” 

Walsh’s survey also accuses Lanham of being backed by insurance and pharmaceutical interests. 

“There's other things like I'm backed by big pharma and big insurance,” he said. “Walsh Jr. has got donations from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, AstraZeneca, the Illinois Medical Association. So all these things I'm accused of he's doing.” 

Meanwhile, Lanham said Walsh’s ads are notably devoid of questions addressing immigration issues. 

“A lot of blacks and Mexicans are upset about this,” he said. “(Illinois Democrats) spent $2.84 billion since 2022, and a lot of East Side communities are asking, ‘Where is my money on that?’” 

Lanham said existing minority communities are particularly upset over asylum funding. 

“It's honestly, striking, the amount of blacks and Mexicans that come out to me and say, 'Why didn't I listen to you two years ago?' I'm like, well, I tried telling you. They're using you, they're playing you. Blacks are super pissed over the asylum funding.” 

He explained that many long-time Mexican residents feel overlooked in favor of more recent arrivals. 

“Their families had to jump through all these hoops, take all these classes… they didn’t get co-pay and deductible-free medical care,” he said. “They came here, kept their heads down, and worked hard.”

Lanham noted the reason behind the subsidizing illegal aliens moving to the state is obvious. 

“I think the Democrats want to keep buying votes,” he said. “Eventually these asylum seekers will become assimilated, will get voting rights and stuff like that and then they'll expect to be paid back with voting Democrat and getting their benefactors in.” 

In the past, Lanham has criticized sanctuary city policies amid rising concerns about gang violence linked to groups like Tren de Aragua. Earlier this year he highlighted a recent incident involving an illegal alien charged with violent crimes who was released despite prosecutors' objections, arguing that such policies undermine public safety and cost taxpayers millions. 

Lanham called for an end to these policies. 

"Stop letting any of them in. Period," he previously told Will county Gazette. 

His comments reflect broader concerns about the financial and social implications of supporting undocumented immigrants in Illinois, which he feels contributes to organized crime and escalating violence in communities. 

Lanham noted high property taxes. 

“For a townhouse, we pay, like $5,000 a year or so, which is I think is pretty ridiculous,” he said. 

In contrast he noted an acquaintance in Missouri who has 16 acres, a house and outbuildings who pays a fifth of that amount. For other residents, he asked why money used to subsidize illegal aliens was not used for property tax relief. “The money we spend on them, why isn't that sent to property tax relief for us versus just flat out wasting it?” 

Lanham sees this election as a pivotal moment for the community and himself. 

“This is probably the most critical election for all of us in our lifetime,” he said. 

Looking toward the future, he acknowledged the challenges of living in Illinois but expressed a commitment to his roots. 

“If I win here, I’ll stick it out. I still have my mother here, a lot of family here. That’s a good anchor to keep me here.” 

However, he is also weighing other options, pondering a potential move to states like Georgia or Mississippi as Illinois becomes increasingly unlivable due to poor governance, high taxes and the erosion of basic rights, such as Second Amendment rights. 

“Do I go now? Do I go down to Georgia? Do I go down to Mississippi where I’ve got some family?” he said.

As the race comes to a close, Lanham remains determined to make his voice heard despite the financial and tactical disadvantages.

“(Illinois’ Democrats) make issues out of non-issues to cover their own inadequacies,” he said.  

Lanham recently called out Walsh and other Democrats for doing nothing to stop a Joliet apartment complex from housing 11 child sex offenders under one roof. Lanham emphasized the dangers posed by such a concentration of offenders in one location. 

Lanham believes a new park approved by Joliet City Council will force the offenders to relocate. 

“When it is built, any child sex offender will have to move. There’s no grandfathering in,” he said. 

He expressed frustration with lawmakers’ lack of response. 

“They did nothing about it... total complete inaction. I see nothing whatsoever,” he said. 

The 86th House District encompasses all or portions of Channahon, Elwood, Joliet, Ingalls Park, Preston Heights, and Rockdale.