ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) - Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois is preparing to relinquish his role after spending 16 years in elected office and a quarter-century in federal government.
Kirk lost in the Nov. 8 election to Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.
Kirk says he hopes to find a position with a board or organization advancing issues he cares about, such as security in Israel, treatment for stroke victims or the Export-Import Bank. He plans to split his time between Highland Park and Washington, D.C.
Kirk says he doesn't regret running as an independent, moderate Republican or criticizing the now President-elect Donald Trump. He notes that pollsters said his campaign was earning 22 percent of the Democratic vote, even though that ended up not being the case.
He also acknowledges the national Republican Party didn't support his campaign.
