Trump-backed candidate who called Roe v Wade ruling a ‘victory for white life’ wins Illinois primary
Representative Mary Miller beats representative Rodney Davis in a member-on-member primary
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A right-wing freshman congresswoman who called the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v Wade victory for “white life” beat her more established opponent in the Republican primary for Illinois’ 15th district.
Representative Mary Miller, who was elected in 2020, defeated representative Rodney Davis in a member-on-member primary after redistricting by Democrats in the state legislature led to the two facing off.
Ms Miller ran an ad that painted Mr Davis as a Republican in Name Only--known as a RINO--and in an advertisement hit him for supporting so-called “red flag” gun laws which allow for authorities to obtain court orders to prevent people who pose a danger to themselves and others from obtaining firearms.
In the past, Mr Davis had voted for such legislation but was not among the 14 Republicans who voted to pass gun legislation that President Joe Biden signed late last week.
Similarly, Ms Miller criticised Mr Davis--who was ranking member of the House Administration Committee-for voting for the “January 6 witch hunt commission.” Mr Davis voted for a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 riot, but not to create the select committee that is currently investigating the Capitol riot.
Had Mr Davis said won his race, he would have become chairman of the Administration Committee. Last year, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy selected him to serve on the select committee investigating the January 6 attack, but pulled him and other members after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to seat Representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio and Jim Banks of Indiana.
Former president Donald Trump endorsed her efforts and held a rally with Ms Miller, wherein she praised the Supreme Court for its Dobbs v Jackson decision that overturned Roe v Wade, which guaranteed the right to seek an abortion.
“President Trump, on behalf of all the Maga patriots in America, I want to thank you for the historic victory for white life in the Supreme Court yesterday”, she said. Her spokesman later attributed it to “a mix-up of words.”
It wasn’t the first time that Ms Miller faced controversy. On 6 January, before the riot, she quoted Adolf Hitler.
“Hitler was right on one thing: whoever has the youth has the future”, she said, though later apologised.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments