CHICAGO, IL Several local media outlets and community organizers in Chicago are questioning the motives behind the embattled Rep. Bobby Rush re-election bid. Crain Chicago Business and the Chicago Tribune join the chorus of those perplexed over the long time congressman sudden filing and lack of campaigning.

Even before the primary, Crain Chicago Business Greg Hinz wondered “Is U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush going to be the second Chicago congressman in a week to hang it up?” after similar reports that he and Rep. Gutiérrez were ordered to pay the US Treasury following congressional ethics probes. He also reports his Washington resources claim “he really is retiring, and perhaps is trying to work out a way to hand off the seat to his son,” This strategy was abandoned after his son lost to a Madigan-backed candidate.

The Chicago Tribune editorial board writes:

“The big question for voters of the 1^st Congressional District is … why?” and

“We’ve joined with a chorus of constituents who complain Rush is practically invisible. He missed 27.2 percent of votes in 2017, according to GovTrack.us. He’s had health and family issues, but also legal issues. He was ordered this year to pay $1.1 million on a delinquent bank loan dating to a 2005 Chicago church he purchased, according to the Better Government Association.”

Chiming in include members of the Black Independent Political Organization (BIPO) and Women are Rising(WAR) , two south-side based grassroots groups, who are also concerned with who Rep. Rush owes his loan.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported

"“The now failed New City Bank was acquired by Colony Northstar Inc., headed by billionaire Thomas J. Barrack Jr., a friend of President Donald Trump who chaired Trump’s inaugural committee.

“Is this campaign all about a salary?”, asked Darva Watkins of WAR. “Are we expected to just vote for Rush because he is in financial trouble? We should not be responsible for his personal mismanagement.”

Jimmy Lee Tillman, II candidate for 1^stcongressional district says “ For too long the district has had an inactive Congressman. We must end this taxation without representation.”