DeKalb Times

State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) recently hosted a meet and greet to welcome U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (Springfield) to his new 16th District.

“I invite you to join me this Thursday as I host a free meet & greet from 5-7 p.m. at the Radisson on Bell School Road to welcome Darin LaHood to Northern IL,” Syverson posted on Facebook. “Under the new Congressional map, what will now be the new 16th District will be represented by Congressman LaHood. Darin is a former federal prosecutor and has served in Congress since 2015. When you meet him you will see why we are excited the new map put parts of Northern IL in his district.”

LaHood is one of five Republican primary candidates vying for the GOP seat left open by Adam Kinzinger. The veteran lawmaker previously represented that state’s 18th district and is a current member of the Ways and Means Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

“I’m proud of my record already in Congress,” LaHood told WIFR.com. “Standing up for conservative values. Representing a lot of the same industries that you have up here, manufacturing, agri-business, healthcare. I’ve had a proud record both voting for that and advocating for those issues in Washington D.C.

Prior to being elected to Congress, LaHood served four years in the Illinois State Senate and spent nine years as a state and federal prosecutor.

LaHood currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. In March of 2021, LaHood was appointed by House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy to serve on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, a body that oversees such agencies as the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, State, Treasury and Energy.

The other 16th District Republican candidates include Gene Koprowski, Teresa Pfaff, Michael Rebresh, and Geno Young.