16th Congressional District

Joseph Albright, an adjunct economics professor at Bradley University in Peoria, is joining the race for U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood's seat because he says the financial policy just doesn’t “math up.”

The so-called Big Beautiful Bill Act that passed by the slimmest of margins in the U.S. House last week would make the 2017 federal tax cuts permanent. It also would make significant cuts to Medicaid and other safety net programs.

The fundraiser regularly draws in big names in the national Republican Party, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence.