The dark-paneled office walls in the United States Courthouse in downtown Peoria are steeped in history. Photographs depict the office's previous esteemed denizens meeting world leaders, appearing at historic events, meeting constituents and even riding an elephant in a parade.
That tradition isn't lost on the current office occupant, 16th District Congressman Darin LaHood, 55, a Peoria Republican, who recently gave an exclusive interview to Illinois Times.
"It's an honor and a privilege to be elected by the people of this district where Bob Michel served for 38 years and my dad served for 14 years," said LaHood, whose father, Ray, also served as the U.S. Transportation Secretary under former President Barack Obama.
"Everett Dirksen is buried right across the river, Ronald Reagan came from the northern part of my district and Abraham Lincoln is buried not far from here in Springfield," LaHood said. "They all set an example for bipartisanship, where you have to compromise for the betterment of the country, but also standing for your principles."
LaHood previously served a wide area of central Illinois, including part of Springfield, but since the 2022 redistricting he now represents primarily smaller, rural and overwhelmingly conservative communities in north central and northern Illinois. The 16th District slaloms around, but mostly avoids, Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, Rockford and the Quad Cities. The new district is not an example of the bipartisan spirit that LaHood said he prefers.
"Illinois is a disaster of blatant gerrymandering. I supported the Fair Map initiative and we tried unsuccessfully to get that on the ballot twice in Illinois," LaHood said. "In a district like mine you have Republican, rural voters compacted and that shouldn't be the way it works. The Democrat-controlled legislature is to blame for that."
LaHood pointed to several areas of bipartisan cooperation in which he has been involved as proof that Democrats and Republicans can still work together on important issues. LaHood is especially proud of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, a bill he sponsored as part of his membership on the House Ways and Means Committee that provides tax credits to develop low-income housing of the type needed in much of Illinois. The bill has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate.
"When my bill was introduced we had 110 Democrat and 110 Republican cosponsors, and it passed on the House floor with 350 yes votes," LaHood said. "I'm very proud of the work we did in a bipartisan way to meet the demand for low-income housing in this country."
LaHood also serves on the House Intelligence Committee's Select Committee on China, where Republican and Democrat members are working together to address the existing and future security threats posed by that country.
"This Select Committee is probably the most bipartisan thing that Congress does. We are exposing the malignant activities of the Chinese Communist Party, whether it's in Ukraine, the South China Sea, Taiwan, Iran or North Korea," LaHood said. "We need to partner with like-minded allies from an economic standpoint, increasing trade, bringing supply chains back and working in sectors where China is trying to beat us, like artificial intelligence."
LaHood supports continued funding to help Ukraine in its war with Russia, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin "a thug, an international criminal" who "needs to be stopped in Ukraine." But Ukraine shouldn't be given a blank check, and "we need to define what victory in Ukraine looks like," LaHood said. The congressman also backs continued support for Israel in its fight against Hamas.
Closer to home, LaHood said by far the number one issue on his 16th District constituents' minds is the ongoing United States immigration and border control situation. That's where he points the political finger of blame at his Democrat colleagues.
"I think people had an open mind on what the Biden administration was going to do, but it has been a complete failure," LaHood said. "You have communities across the country, like Chicago, that are essentially border towns now."
LaHood advocates a return to the Trump administration's Remain in Mexico Policy, where people who want to enter the United States apply for immigration, citizenship, Green Card and asylum status while they are still in Mexico. LaHood said that former policy was an illegal immigration deterrent, and the Biden administration could reinstate it without congressional approval, but the president has so far refused to do so.
"This is a country built on immigrants. I get that," LaHood said. "But we are also a country based on the rule of law and we can't allow the law to be broken every single day and have no remedy for it."
The law is important for the former federal prosecutor, and that's why he "is not in favor" of pardoning those convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. LaHood, who has endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024, also said he voted to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election and anticipates doing so again this coming January.
"Were there people that voted who shouldn't have in 2020? Yes. Was it enough to overturn the election? No," LaHood said. "The Trump administration filed 62 cases in federal court, many of those decided by Trump-era judges, and lost every one of them."
"This time around, I think we will do a much better job of how we run the election," LaHood added.
His largely rural district would like to see a new federal Farm Bill and LaHood thinks a bipartisan solution will be coming by September. He said constituents remain concerned about the economy and inflation, and LaHood joins them in wanting to see a return to Trump-era energy policies where the United States was a net exporter of energy.
LaHood has helped to bring federal investments to Illinois during his nine years in office, including upgraded locks and dams on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, the Springfield rail improvement project, and improved access to the Rivian electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Bloomington-Normal.
The Peoria Congressman supports term limits for elected officials and would like to bring newer, younger people into politics. He thinks social media disinformation is a major problem in the nation and feels the traditional news media needs to "get to the truth, which is a tough thing to do because there's a lot of apprehension and misinformation out there right now."
LaHood said his political values continue to reflect those of his constituents, including hard work, humility, patriotism and faith in God. He feels his current political affiliation reflects those values.
"I'm a proud Republican," LaHood said. "I'm going to stand for the principles I believe are important."
