Lake County Gazette

Thomas McCullagh is already plotting his next campaign.

“I’ll being doing it again in 2022 and I’ll be formally kicking things off in a few months,” McCullagh told the Lake County Gazette soon after conceding his race against Democrat Meg Loughran Cappel in the 49th District.

McCullagh, who ran on a campaign of ethics and spending reform and finished with 48,072 votes (44%), vowed that things will be different next time around. Cappel won with 60,706 votes (55.8%). 

“If we had to do it all over again, we’d concentrate on raising more money that would allow us to better deliver our message,” he said. “Without question, fundraising is a big part of the equation.”

McCullagh didn’t shy away from pointing an accusatory finger at the Illinois state GOP, blasting party leaders for not offering enough support or financial resources to his campaign or that of any other GOP candidate.

“At the end of the day, Rob Blagojevich did more for my campaign than the Illinois GOP,” he said. “They have no leadership or ability to execute plans and there needs to be a vote of no confidence for party leaders. Blagojevich at least came out to a fundraiser.”

McCullagh insists he has no doubt his reform-themed message would have resonated with voters even more if he had just a little help from party leaders.

"I am extremely concerned about the fiscal shape of our state," he added.

The two candidates were vying to replace outgoing state Rep. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, who after eight years elected instead to run for Will County Executive.