Rock Island Today

Republican Brandi McGuire's primary win for the House seat in the 72nd District has placed her that much closer to her goal of winning the seat that has been in the hands of Democrats for the past five decades.

“When I first started this, my whole goal was to get to Springfield, and it has not changed,” McGuire recently told Rock Island Today. “That is exactly what my goal is to this day -- so I am just one step closer to my goal.”

McGuire explained that she feels pretty confident about her campaign and how clean it was, never attacking her opponent Jordan Thoms.

“I don’t think Republicans should ever attack other Republicans,” McGuire said. “Thoms was there on Tuesday night to congratulate me and shook my hand. He was a real stand-up guy to do that. It was a great evening.”

McGuire also explained that Mike Halpin won the Democratic primary, who was backed by the Democratic Party at large, and she is prepared to run a good campaign to replace current Democratic Rep. Patrick Verschoore.

“In the upcoming months leading up to the general election, I am going to continue to work as hard as I possibly can, because the people of Rock Island County are worth it,” she said. “The people deserve to be heard, and that’s exactly what I am going to do.”

People are ready for change, McGuire believes. She is confident that she is the right candidate to help bring that change.

“This seat has been in the Democratic hands for 50 years -- it is time to be given back to the people -- and I think people are ready listen, and I think they are ready to be heard,” she said. “It is going to be a tough race, but I am not going to slow down at all.”

McGuire hopes to attract people from both political parties, explaining that more than ever people are voting for the candidate that they like, not necessarily the party.

“I believe that I am that candidate,” she said. “I think I have proven myself in this community. I have lived here my entire life, and my family have lived here for generations. People are looking for someone just like them: an everyday person. Somebody with some common sense to go to Springfield, not just another establishment type.”

McGuire wants to focus on education, especially serving those with disabilities. She herself has had to battle school systems to treat her own daughter, who has special needs.

“Our state is last in the country for serving those with disabilities and that needs to change,” McGuire said. “I think I am a prime example of that.”

She went on to explain that she does not support raising taxes -- and the representative seat is not a platform for notoriety.

“We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem: we don’t need more taxes,” McGuire said. “We need to look at a lot of unfunded mandates in the state and also look at regulations. I don’t think this is a career that warrants attention -- it is a public service, and I don’t think it is being treated as such right now.”

McGuire’s next step is to get out into the community to be with the citizens in Rock Island County. She is grateful for the support she has received and wants to make the community proud.

“I am going to try and be everywhere I possibly can be,” McGuire said. “I want to hear what they need and what they want from a state representative. What is most important to them is what should be most important to me.”