Special election to replace Aaron Schock pits K Street against Tea Party

By Timothy P. Carney, Timothy P. Carney

Published December 20, 2015

Republican voters around Peoria, Illinois, get a choice this weekend between a candidate sent from K Street and the Republican establishment, and a candidate who hails from the conservative movement.

In the special election to replace former Rep. Aaron Schock, the state and national Republican establishment has chosen Darin LaHood, son of former Rep. Ray LaHood, who also served as President Obama's transportation secretary. LaHood's conservative opponent is Mike Flynn, formerly of the libertarian Reason Foundation and the bomb-throwing Breitbart.com news website.

The seat is in a safe Republican district, meaning the GOP primary is nearly the general election.

It's another battle pitting the K Street wing of the GOP against the Tea Party wing. LaHood's past and his donor list show his close ties with the Beltway lobbyist class.