Miller and Pritzker's clash at House hearing could be 2026 preview
A recent House hearing over immigration policy turned into a political brawl — and quite possibly a preview of 2026 elections in Illinois.
The big picture: Downstate Rep. Mary Miller is emerging as the MAGA favorite in the Illinois Republican Party and could be a challenger to powerful Democrats running for governor or U.S. Senate.
The latest: Last week, Miller requested to join the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to grill Gov. JB Pritzker.
What they said: "Your policies have been disastrous for our state, and would be disastrous for this country," Miller said during the committee hearing.
Pritzker didn't take Miller's attacks lightly, hurling back, "I'm not going to be lectured to by someone who extols the virtues of Adolf Hitler."
Context: The governor was referencing Miller's comments at a rally right before the Jan. 6 insurrection. Miller said, "Hitler was right on one thing. He said, 'Whoever has the youth has the future.'"
Between the lines: The two continued to spar in the hearing, suggesting the start of a heated rivalry between two very different politicians.
What they're saying:"I think Mary stands for the future of the Illinois Republican Party," downstate Republican state Rep. Adam Niemerg tells Axios.
"The establishment Republican Party has left the state of Illinois. Now you have a working-class Republican Party. People are fed up with being left out."
"I think she would be a great candidate to take on Governor Pritzker for the governor's mansion," Neimerg adds.
Zoom in: Miller has been a lightning rod for controversy. She was recently condemned for posting about her dislike for a Sikh prayer at the beginning of a recent House session.
She was also excoriated for saying that Roe v. Wade being overturned in 2022 was a "victory for white life," which her office later claimed was a misread of her prepared remarks.
Yes, but: Miller is one of President Trump's biggest supporters in the majority-Republican Congress, having served since 2020 and been elected three times by her downstate district.
She is a more popular Republican candidate than former state Sen. Darren Bailey, who lost to Pritzker in 2022.
The intrigue: If Miller doesn't want to return from Washington, she may also be a strong candidate to take on Democrats looking to replace outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin.
Another downstate Republican who could be interested in that seat is Rep. Darin LaHood.
Reality check: While Miller is making waves, the Illinois GOP doesn't currently hold an elected statewide office. State Democrats also hold the supermajority in both chambers in the state legislature.
Miller's right-wing views may clash with the more moderate (and populated) parts of the state, namely in Cook, DuPage and Lake counties.
If Pritzker runs for reelection, he will be a strong candidate because of his fundraising and name recognition.
Of note: Miller hasn't announced any plans to leave her downstate congressional seat.
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