Galesburg Reporter

Judge Joe McGraw, a candidate for Illinois' 17th Congressional District, has voiced his concerns about the economic burden of inflation on Illinois residents. "Inflation is crushing Illinoisans," McGraw said. He aims to challenge incumbent Democrat Eric Sorenson and recently shared a link to a news article discussing the impact of inflation on local households.

"Inflation is crushing Illinoisans," said Judge Joe Mcgraw, according to Facebook. "It's time to cut reckless spending, balance the budget, and cut taxes on working families."

In a Facebook post, McGraw referenced a report from WGN9 that drew on data from the Joint Economic Committee of Congress. The report indicates that to maintain the same quality of life as in 2021, most U.S. households would need to spend an additional $10,000 or more. According to WGN9, inflation has driven up the cost of goods and services by over 17% since 2021. For Illinois households, this translates into needing an extra $964 each month or $11,566 annually to cover the same expenses they had in January 2021. The report identifies Illinois as one of the Midwest states hardest hit by inflation.

Screenshot of Judge Joe McGraw's March 27 Facebook post | Judge Joe McGraw Facebook page

The inflation report was issued by Republican members of the Joint Economic Committee on December 13, 2022. "We chose January 2021 as the baseline because it was the last time inflation was within recent historical norms," stated the report. It also includes a downloadable file providing detailed information on inflation costs per state.

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. His campaign emphasizes law-and-order principles and leverages his judicial background to address urban crime and immigration issues while aiming to eradicate corruption. As stated on his website: "The district is the best place in Illinois to live, work, and raise a family, but it takes grit and determination to keep it that way."

The 17th Congressional District encompasses Carroll, Fulton, Henry, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, McLean, Peoria, Rock Island, Stephenson, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside and Winnebago counties. The district's boundaries can be found on the Census Bureau’s website. Currently represented by Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), the incumbent is seeking reelection to continue representing the 17th Congressional District.