Congresswoman who appeared to celebrate 'victory for white life' wins election
The congresswoman who described abortion laws being overturned as a "victory for white life" has won her primary election in a landslide.
Over the weekend Mary Miller made the statement at a rally as she stood beside former president Donald Trump.
"President Trump, on behalf of all the MAGA patriots in America, I want to thank you for the historic victory for white life in the Supreme Court yesterday," she said.
READ MORE: Roe v Wade has just turned the next US election on its head
Mary Miller and Darren Bailey have been embraced by conservative Republicans in Illinois. AP
She did not correct herself during the speech, but a spokesperson later said she misspoke.
"She very clearly meant to say 'victory for Right to Life' during her remarks," her spokesperson told NPR.
"To suggest that she is somehow not committed to defending all life is disgusting."
But the gaffe did not appear to cost her among Republican voters. Yesterday she was up against a fellow member of Congress in the Illinois primary election.
She won the race comfortably, 57-42.
The district, which is situated in downstate Illinois, was redrawn for the upcoming election to account for population loss in the state.
The redistricting pitted her against Rodney Davis, who has represented the area since 2013.
READ MORE: Trump's favourite candidate enmired in scandal over secret children
Republican Representative Mary Miller said the abortion ban was a victory for 'white life'. AP
She is considered near-certain to win in the November general election in the heavily rural, heavily Republican district.
Miller's gaffe on the weekend is the second time she has been criticised for appearing to espouse white supremacist views.
She apologised last year when she quoted Adolf Hitler in a speech in Washington DC.
"Hitler was right on one thing. He said, 'Whoever has the youth, has the future," she said.
Yesterday's primary elections also handed a victory to the far-right gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey.
READ MORE: How personal data could be used to enforce anti-abortion laws
Darren Bailey is running a conservative campaign for governor in the progressive state of Illinois. AP
Bailey was voted out of the chamber of the state senate in 2020 for refusing to wear a mask.
The candidate is also vocally in favour of criminalising abortion and removing most gun restrictions.
A Chicago hedge fund billionaire spent $50 million in support of moderate candidate Richard Irvin in the Republican primary.
But Bailey prevailed in a landslide, earning 58 per cent of the vote. Irvin got just 15 per cent of the vote.
The win in the primary will pit Bailey against incumbent Democratic Governor JB Pritzker.
JB Pritzker is expected to cruise to re-election after the Republicans nominated Darren Bailey. AP
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
