Rockford Sun

Judge Joe McGraw, who is running for the 17th Congressional District, has voiced his concern over the escalating car theft incidents in Illinois. He stressed his commitment to public safety.

“I have spent my career upholding the law to keep our communities and our belongings safe,” McGraw said on Facebook. “It is devastating to watch the Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies wreak havoc across our home state.”

According to WGLT, car thefts are surging in Illinois, including Bloomington-Normal, with a reported 25% increase in vehicle thefts from January to November 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Bryce Janssen, a spokesperson for the Bloomington Police Department, attributes more than 30 of these thefts to security issues with Hyundai and Kia vehicles. However, a security update from the manufacturers has reportedly stabilized the situation. The Normal Police Department also reported approximately a 25% increase in vehicle theft calls in 2023.

A report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) indicates that car thefts are nearing record levels nationwide. Illinois experienced the largest increase in the U.S. during the first half of the year. Janssen suggests not leaving spare keys in vehicles and recommends parking in well-lit areas while avoiding restricted zones as preventive measures against theft.

McGraw, who has served as a prosecutor, private attorney, and retired Circuit Court judge, announced his candidacy for the 17th Congressional District in mid-October according to Pantagraph's report. He is preparing for a tough race against incumbent Sorensen who managed a narrow victory in 2022.

The focal point of McGraw’s campaign is law-and-order principles. His judicial experience tackling urban crime and immigration issues underpins his policy stances which include support for a border wall, comprehensive immigration reform advocacy and favoring state regulation over federal intervention on abortion matters.

The Census Bureau’s map reveals that Carroll, Fulton, Henry, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, McLean, Peoria, Rock Island, Stephenson, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside and Winnebago counties fall within the 17th Congressional District.