On paper, Illinois’ 13th Congressional District could be winnable for a Republican, but it will be an uphill battle for Joshua Loyd, who’s hoping to unseat incumbent Nikki Budzinski in November.
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The biggest factor working against Loyd, R-Virden, is cash. At the end of the second quarter, Budzinski, D-Springfield, held a 123-to-1 fundraising advantage over her GOP challenger in the race to represent the district that stretches from the Metro East to Urbana-Champaign.
“I'm not concerned at all with the finances because I'm actually out there talking with individuals,” Loyd said on the latest episode of the Politically Speaking podcast. “This is not necessarily a money game. People always say it's about the money. No, it's about being analytical, understanding where to put your effort.”
In total, Budzinski has collected more than $3.3 million. Loyd has raised nearly $27,000, according to the Federal Election Commission. The filing deadline for third-quarter fundraising is Oct. 15.
Loyd, 27, describes himself as an entrepreneur. He and his wife own a photography business. Before moving back to his hometown, Loyd served in the Army and attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Personal troubles with the Department of Veterans Affairs prompted Loyd to run for office, he said.
Here are some of the topics discussed on the podcast:
- He would like Congress to rein in government spending to address economic issues, like inflation.
- He’d prefer to stand his ground for conservative values without compromising on legislation.
- He's in favor of blocking the sale of U.S. Steel, which owns Granite City Works in the Metro East, to the Japanese-based company Nippon.
