Kirk will not attend 2016 Republican National Convention

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) will not attend the Republican National Convention this summer.

Kevin Artl, Kirk's campaign spokesman, sent out a statement Thursday saying the senator is focused on winning his re-election campaign and would not travel to Cleveland for this year's convention in July.

"Senator Kirk has his own re-election to win, so he will be working hard toward that goal, not attending the Republican convention in Ohio," Artl said.

Tammy Duckworth's campaign said in a written statement, in part: "No amount of physical distance will separate Sen. Kirk from his Republican roots, nor from Donald Trump's circus."