Chicago City Wire

U.S. House candidate Eric Carlson reflected on his failed campaign in an interview with Chicago City Wire.

When asked why his district's constituents voted for his opponent, incumbent Democrat Jonathan Jackson, Carlson chalked it up to Chicago citizens' "blind obedience" to the Democratic Party, despite its alleged failed policies for minority residents. "The 'Jackson' name recognition played a role as it has throughout Jonathan’s life, from college admittance to beer distributorships. The mapping of the 1st Congressional District is such that you could run a head of lettuce with a 'D' next to it and get the same result. The fact that Jonathan Jackson also had $1M in ads bought on his behalf by Bankman-Fried during the primaries is very suspect as well. We have no actual journalists anymore, otherwise, someone might have looked into all of this prior to the election."

Carlson also mused that too many Americans have no real understanding of America's problems, a conclusion he came to following the under-50% turnout for his race. "I feel that Americans have become numb to politics and do not realize that the true power lies with them, and they need to take it back," he said.

"As in decades past, under (U.S. Representative) Bobby Rush, the suburban and rural areas of the district will receive no attention and little representation. Another takeaway would be the lack of media coverage or even interest in this race as although every news agency was contacted by my campaign, not one reached out prior to election night. Jonathan Jackson not only refused to debate so that the voters could see where we both stood, but no media questioned him on the issues. Chicago media are complicit in keeping democrats in power," Carlson continued.

Carlson then said that he would return to helping veterans and other Americans through his two nonprofits, dismissing the idea that Republicans could ever hope to win more offices in Illinois in the future. "Illinois is too far gone as far as district maps and consolidation of Democrat power is concerned," he said. "It pains me to say this, but my suggestion would be for all conservatives to leave Illinois and let it collapse in on itself because that is the way it is headed. Chicago is on track to be Detroit shortly in a Democrat monopoly city, county, and state."

According to Ballotpedia, Carlson, who also served in the U.S. Army from 1986 to 1991, won approximately 34.5% of the vote in November. He had advanced from the June Republican primary after beating three Republican opponents. Democrats ultimately won 14 of Illinois' 17 Congressional seats in November, with many of the victors being incumbents. U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and Governor J.B. Pritzker, also incumbents, won re-election, as well, according to Reuters.

Carlson shared a message thanking his supporters in a Facebook post published on November 8.

"Made a call to Jonathan Jackson at 11:45 to congratulate him and wish him luck. I reminded him that the people in Will and Kankakee Counties need to be properly represented just as much as the people in the city and he assured me that that was his goal," Carlson said. "Thanks again to everyone who came out and broke records for Republican votes in the 1st Congressional District!"