Schock endorses Truax in GOP primary race to unseat Durbin

Congressman Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, put his support behind Republican candidate Doug Truax in the U.S. Senate Republican primary, Truax’s campaign announced today.

Truax is going up against state Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, who so far has significantly more name recognition and money.

Truax has been winning the unofficial endorsement contest in the primary race, touting support of 13 out of 15 Republican organizations. Last week, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich released a video backing Truax, a West Point grad. The primary is March 18th.

“Doug Truax represents the type of young and energetic leader Republicans want to embrace. Truax has fresh ideas to shrink government and grow the economy and a strong work ethic to carry those ideas through,” Schock said in a statement. “Doug Truax has served our nation in the military and is ready to serve our nation in the U.S. Senate. As a businessman he brings an understanding of the private sector and deep expertise on health care. As a family man he is rooted in tried and true conservative principles.”

Truax says he brings military background, experience as a health care consultant and youth to the job.

Oberweis says he has statewide name recognition to build upon and the resources to take on the formidable veteran U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.