Congressman Darin LaHood, born and raised in Peoria, serves the constituents of the 18th District of Illinois. Sworn into the US House of Representatives on September 17, 2015, LaHood quickly transitioned into office after his special election win on September 10. He won re-election to serve his third full-term in Congress on November 3, 2020, defeating his opponent with 70-percent of the vote.
The 18th District spans 19 counties across central and west-central Illinois, ranging from McLean County (Bloomington-Normal) to Adams County (Quincy). LaHood serves close to 710,000 constituents.
A strong national defense is crucial to a safe, free, and flourishing America. “Providing for the common defense” is one of the most important roles of our federal government. As a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief Terrorism Prosecutor, I understand the grave national security threats our country faces.
We live in an age when our enemies transcend nation states—and the threat of terrorist attacks persists. Groups like ISIS continue to commit crimes against humanity and genocide. The United States must respond with a proactive strategy to defeat ISIS and keep America safe from terrorists.
I believe we must maintain a trained and ready force structure, provide our troops with the tools and resources they need to be successful, and ensure that military families are recognized for their service to our country. I am committed to making our national defense, active duty service men and women, and veterans a priority.