At issue is a conversation that took place last fall between Burt Minor and Republican attorney general candidate Erika Harold (pictured). Harold, the party-backed candidate for the GOP, was talking to Minor in his capacity as a Winfield Township chairman. | Jeff Haynes/Getty Images Illinois GOP contender called AG candidate racial, gay slurs, colleagues say

CHICAGO — A Republican candidate for the Illinois Legislature is under fire from his own party amid allegations that he asked an African-American candidate for state attorney general whether she was a “lesbo” and used a racial slur during a conversation with her.

Now, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Republican floor leader of the Illinois House, Peter Breen, are calling for the candidate, Burt Minor, to drop out of a race for state representative.


“He’s not fit to be a Republican nominee for office, especially not the General Assembly,” Breen told POLITICO. “His conduct was outrageous.”

At issue is a conversation that took place last fall between Minor and Republican attorney general candidate Erika Harold. Harold, the party-backed candidate for the GOP, who is also a Harvard Law graduate and former Miss America, was talking to Minor in his capacity as a Winfield Township chairman.

“[Minor] asked Ms. Harold personal questions about her marital status, and even her sexual orientation, going so far as to inquire whether she was a ‘lesbo,’” Breen wrote in a letter to other Republicans this morning. “The chairman also used the full ‘n-word’ repeatedly in front of Ms. Harold and her assistant, asking whether she found its usage offensive.”

Breen told POLITICO that in a meeting, Minor admitted to using the slur and had “tried to explain it away, saying that she wanted him to ask the question so she could get it on the record, which is obviously absurd.”

Illinois’ Republican House floor leader, Peter Breen (pictured), is calling for the candidate who said the offensive statements, Burt Minor, to drop out of a race for state representative. “He’s not fit to be a Republican nominee for office, especially not the General Assembly,” Breen told POLITICO. “His conduct was outrageous.” | Seth Perlman/AP Photo

The Harold campaign confirmed to POLITICO that the conversation did occur.

"I think that when you are a black woman running for office, you do face comments that are objectionable and it’s very important that we change that within our culture,” Harold said in an interview Thursday, adding that she told others about the conversation after it happened. “I never spoke with the governor, but I did speak with a few people within the party and understood there were people who were telling him that he should not be a candidate for this office.”

Still, Minor remains on the ballot four weeks before the election. This week, a local newspaper in his district, the Daily Herald, endorsed Minor in the three-way race.

Illinois GOP Chairman Tim Schneider said on Thursday that it was the first time he had heard the allegations. The party has been under fire since a self-proclaimed Nazi, Arthur Jones, made it onto the ballot, running unopposed as a Republican in the 3rd Congressional District.

This isn’t the first time a GOP official has directed offensive comments toward Harold. In 2013, when Harold unsuccessfully challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis for Congress, a Republican county chairman called Harold a “street walker” who was a “little queen.” The official resigned over the remarks.

“I certainly face my share of objectionable comments on the campaign trail,” she said, adding she tries to face them with grace and dignity. “I think black women are underrepresented. I want to win this race and to be in a position to make change. I know there are a lot of women of color who need to see their perspectives and in the leaders who serve.”

According to the campaign, Minor asked Harold: “Are you a lesbo?” and she replied: “No, and that’s offensive.” The campaign also confirmed he used the slur multiple times and she told him that was offensive.

“Erika found it offensive and said it was offensive at the time,” her spokesman, Jason Heffley, said.

Minor is running for the 42nd District state House seat that is being vacated by Jeanne Ives, who is challenging Rauner in the March 20 gubernatorial primary. Also running in the primary are DuPage County Board member Amy Grant and Ryan Byrne. The district includes some of Chicago's western suburbs.

Minor did not respond to a request for comment from POLITICO today. But in a recent interview with POLITICO, Minor adamantly denied using the word “lesbo” or the racial slur.

“Absolutely not. No, no. I talked with Erika last night, in fact. We're friends, we support and respect each other,” he told POLITICO. “There was never any inappropriate [conversation]. That word never came out of my mouth and it wouldn't.”

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Another Republican lawmaker, state Rep. Mark Batinick, said he was pushing for Minor’s removal from the ticket.

“A few weeks ago, I became aware of very troubling statements made by township chairman Burt Minor who is a Republican state representative candidate,” Batinick said. “I have since had those statements confirmed by multiple sources and have been working with party officials in an attempt to remove him from the race. It is my understanding that those attempts have been futile. This sort of conduct does not belong in our party and will not be tolerated. He needs to immediately withdraw.”

Rauner's campaign said Thursday that Minor should drop out.

"Erika Harold is a star attorney and candidate who is a bright part of the future of the Republican Party of Illinois," said Rauner campaign spokesman Will Allison. "Burt Minor's racist and demeaning language has no place in the GOP or our society. He should drop out of the race."

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