ILLINOIS (KWQC) – Illinois primary elections will be held Tuesday and two Republican candidates are vying for the 17th Congressional seat currently held by incumbent Democrat Rep. Eric Sorensen.

Former judge Joe McGraw of Rockford will face off against farmer Scott Crowl of Taylor Ridge in Tuesday’s primary.

Both come with different backgrounds, but share a common goal: Defeat their democratic rival in November.

McGraw brings more than 20 years of experience as a judge and considers himself a problem solver.

“I saw all the consequences of Biden’s failed border policies,” McGraw said. “The drugs, the crime, the human trafficking, turning all of our communities into border communities. I saw that firsthand and knew that I had to step in and put a stop to it. “

Crowl brings experience as a union president, customer service manager at Air Wisconsin and farmer.

“I believe there’s things to be done that we need to take advantage of,” Crowl said. “One is our economic situation, it’s Congress spending too much money that has caused our inflation. And the other one, that goes along with inflation, is energy independence.”

Crowl believes the country should focus on Midwestern corn to help fuel the economy with Ethanol-85, and feed the world.

“It’s a win-win for the Midwest,” Crowl said. “And this is where we are, the egg basket of America, right here in the Midwest.”

In regard to border security legislation, McGraw would like to see the U.S. return to the “Remain in Mexico” policy that was enforced under the Trump administration.

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” McGraw said. “We just need to go back to what was working before.”

If elected in November, the winning candidate would be facing potential gridlock in a divided Congress, heavily influenced by former president Donald Trump.

“I’m running to represent the values of the people of the 17th Congressional district in Washington,” McGraw said. “And I’ll be doing what’s best for them.”

Both candidates agree that they should go to Washington with their district and country, front and center.

“You have to work for the people,” Crowl said. “And that’s who I’m going to go to work for. Not a party, but my country.”

Republicans have not won the 17th district since 2010, when Robert Schilling defeated incumbent Democrat Phil Hare.

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