Primary races will be needed for Republicans and Democrats for a newly-drawn congressional district that will include much of Bloomington-Normal and parts of western and northern Illinois.
Several other primaries emerged Monday during the first day of filing for state and federal offices for Illinois’ June 28 primary.
Five candidates filed Monday on the first day to submit nominating petitions for the 17th Congressional District. That seat is held by Democrat Cheri Bustos. She is retiring from Congress. Democrats Angie Normoyle and Eric Sorensen of Moline and Litesa Wallace of Winnebago filed for the seat on Monday morning. Ester Joy King and Charlie Helmick Jr., both from East Moline, are the first two Republicans to file for the seat.
As expected, U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis filed for reelection in the 15th Congressional District that no longer includes McLean County, but will represent much of the state’s midsection, minus parts of Champaign-Urbana, Springfield and Metro East St. Louis. Fellow incumbent Mary Miller of Oakland, whose district was one of two eliminated during redistricting, filed to run against Davis in the heavily Republican district.
Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood of Peoria was the only candidate to file for the 16th Congressional District that will cover heavily rural areas in central and northern Illinois from McLean County to the Wisconsin border.
State legislative races
In Illinois House races, two Republicans filed for the newly-drawn 87th House District for the June primary. That district includes western McLean County and much of Tazewell and Logan counties. Tazewell County Treasurer Mary Burress and Morton doctor Bill Hauter both filed as Republicans for retiring Rep. Keith Sommer's former territory.
The new 105th District includes parts of northern McLean County and parts of Livingston and Woodford counties. Woodford County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dennis Tipsword and former congressional candidate Donald Rients of Benson are both running as Republicans. They are seeking to fill a seat that longtime Republican House member Dan Brady has served. He’s running for Illinois Secretary of State.
The 91st District stretches from Bloomington-Normal to East Peoria. Democrat and small business owner Karla Bailey-Smith and Normal Town Council member Scott Preston, a Republican, filed for that seat.
Illinois House member Mark Luft, R-Pekin, filed in the newly-drawn 93rd District, as did Travis Weaver of Edwards. The new district includes mostly rural areas from Pekin north to Interstate 80.
Incumbent Illinois House members Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, and Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, were the only candidates to file in their districts — the 92nd and 88th, respectively.
One primary has emerged among the Illinois Senate races in central Illinois. GOP incumbent Win Stoller of East Peoria will face a challenge from Dixon business owner Brett Nicklaus in the 37th District that will cover a large swath of western Illinois from north of Peoria to Rochelle.
Democratic Sen. Dave Koehler turned in his petitions for reelection to the 46th District, which will stretch from Bloomington-Normal to Peoria along Interstate 74.
Republican State Sen. Jason Barickman of Bloomington filed to keep his seat in the 53rd District that covers a large stretch of rural area north of Peoria and Bloomington-Normal and panning east to the Indiana border.
GOP Sen. Sally Turner of Beason filed to keep her seat in the 44th District. The heavily rural district stretches from south of Bloomington-Normal to north of Decatur.
Republican State Sen. Neil Anderson of Aldalusia is seeking reelection in the new 47th District that includes most rural areas west of Peoria from Beardstown to the Quad Cities.
