Macon Reporter

Illinois State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) has endorsed U.S. Rep. Mary Miller to represent the state's newly drawn 15th Congressional District.

She faces fellow Republican incumbent Rodney Davis in Tuesday's primary contest.

"I am proud to endorse Mary Miller for Congress in the Illinois 15th District," Caulkins wrote on Facebook. "This has been a very difficult decision for me as I consider both Mary and Rodney to be my friend. I was one of the earliest supporters of Rodney, even before he first ran for Congress in 2012. I’ve been a supporter of Rodney throughout his five terms in Congress."

Caulkins said he is "disappointed in the negative campaign that Rodney has waged against Mary Miller."

"One of my favorite things about being a Republican is that we welcome a wide variety of ideas from people of all different walks of life," Caulkins wrote. "We debate those ideas on their merits, choose which ideas to support, and then elect leaders to carry those ideas forward. Rodney’s negative campaign ignored this process, and I can no longer stay silent. Throughout these attacks, Mary has exhibited resolve, grace and class. She has shown true leadership, sticking to her message about promoting the America First agenda and bettering the lives of all Americans."

Miller's actions in Congress and during the campaign convinced Caulkins to endorse her, he said.

"If her actions as a first-term congresswoman weren’t enough, her demeanor throughout one of the ugliest mud-slinging campaigns I’ve witnessed show her to be not only qualified, but the right person for the job," he said. "I’m proud to stand beside Mary and give her my endorsement in the 15th Congressional District. Friends, join me in re-electing Mary Miller on June 28."

Miller has also been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, Illinois Newsroom reported.

“Congresswoman Mary Miller is doing a fantastic job representing the people of Illinois,” Trump said in a statement. “She fights hard against Joe Biden’s open borders, runaway inflation and the radical indoctrination of our children. Mary has my complete and total endorsement!”

On June 21, Miller said she would vote against the gun control package that was under consideration by the House and Senate. 

"I oppose the Senate gun control bill released today because I oppose all efforts to infringe on the Second Amendment rights of my constituents with 'red flag' gun confiscation," Miller said. "The leftists pushing these gun confiscation policies have created a crime wave with their 'woke' soft-on-crime policies and the open southern border. If they cared about public safety, they would secure the border and these leftist DAs would prosecute criminals instead of releasing them."

Miller has also been endorsed by the Illinois Beef Association, she announced in a June 22 Facebook post.

"So thankful to have the endorsement of the Illinois Beef Association!" Miller wrote. "My husband Chris and I run a third-generation cattle and grain farm and are members of the Illinois Beef Association. I also serve on the House Agriculture Committee and am one of the few remaining family farmers in Congress."

In a statement, Dr. Paul Walker, president of the Illinois Beef Association, said, “Mary Miller is a family farmer and beef producer who has been, and will continue to be, a strong voice for agriculture and the cattle industry in Washington, D.C." 

Walker said Davis "has taken large sums of money from animal rights extremists during his time in Congress."

"These are the very groups working to put Illinois farmers out of business. Accepting money from these fringe activists sends a bad message and goes against supporting the livestock industry. How can a rural congressman say he supports farmers while affiliating with these anti-agriculture activist groups? Mary Miller is a farmer, and she supports agriculture and the cattle industry," he said.