Metro East Sun

Darren Bailey has endorsed Jennifer Korte for state representative in the 112th District.

Bailey supports her for embodying true conservative beliefs. 

“I am endorsing Jennifer Korte because she is authentic in her strong support of conservative values and principles,” Bailey said. “When she talks about standing up for parental rights, it is not just a talking point or a sound bite. She is a mother and has been sounding the alarm about the dangers of woke policies and curriculum in our schools long before she became a candidate for office. Jennifer Korte is running for state representative for the right reasons. Families in the 112th District can be assured Jennifer Korte will have your back. She is the only candidate in this race who will stand up for you against the corrupt, career politicians bankrupting our state.”

Korte, a mom-turned-political candidate, compared herself to Bailey.

“Like Darren Bailey, I am up against the party establishment in the primary and a well-funded woke Democrat in the general election,” Korte said.

Korte also refuses to compromise her conservative principles and values. 

"We are not going to turn our state around with the same kind of milquetoast, doublespeak coming from the Republican establishment," Korte said. "We need bold leaders who will put people above political insiders. I have been saying from Day One of my campaign that I am the true conservative in this race and Bailey’s endorsement is confirmation of that fact. I will not be a shill for political insiders who are content with the status quo. I am running to change Springfield not to be changed by the insiders and influence peddlers.”

Korte is a lifelong resident of Madison County and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, her campaign bio stated. She earned a master’s degree in social work from St. Louis University and worked as a social worker at Barnes-Jewish Hospital before becoming a stay-at-home mom in 2005. Korte has expressed her support for women's problems, elderly people's rights, parental rights and raising awareness of mental health issues.

Korte is facing Joe Hackler in the June 28 Republican primary. The 112th district includes parts of Madison and St. Clair counties and the communities of Edwardsville and Collinsville.

State Sen. Jason Plummer recently bashed Hackler's candidacy.

“Unfortunately, Joe Hackler himself just moved into Madison County about five minutes ago, has malleable beliefs as he is known locally to assist progressive Democrats in local races, and, most importantly, he himself was hand-picked and is completely funded by Chicago politician Jim Durkin and his minions,” Plummer said in a statement.