Many local incumbents will face a primary challenge in next year’s elections.
The official ballot won’t be ready for several more weeks – but as candidates threw their hats into the ring before the deadline Monday, lots of new names have been added to the list.
In Congressional races, Incumbent Republican Mike Bost faces a challenge from Preston Nelson of Benton. Three Democrats are also hoping to unseat him. Republican John Shimkus is so far unopposed in the primary, but two Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination to challenge him.
In races for State Senate and State Representative, three Republicans are hoping to win in the race for Senator Kyle McCarter’s old seat. Meanwhile there are GOP primaries for nearly every State House race in our region.
Southern Illinois’ first judicial circuit will see numerous changes, as there are six vacancies on next year’s ballot. And this is the first year for Regional School Superintendents to run in their newly consolidated districts.
Election Filings (Updated 12/4/2017)
12th Congress
Preston Nelson (R) – Benton
Brendan Kelly (D) – Swansea
(I)Mike Bost (R) – Murphysboro
David Bequette (D) – Columbia
Charles Koen (D) – Cairo
15th Congress
Kevin Gaither (D) – Charleston
(I)John Shimkus (R) – Collinsville
Carl Spoerer (D) – Mahomet
54th State Senate
Benjamin Stratemeyer (R) – Centralia
Rafael Him (R) – New Baden
George Barber (R) – Greenville
59th State Senate
Dale Fowler (R) – Harrisburg
107th State Representative
Blaine Wilhour (R) – Beecher City
Laura Myers (R) – Greenville
David Seiler (D) – Effingham
108th State Representative
Don Moore (R) – Troy
(I)Charlie Meier (R) – Okawville
109th State Representative
Darren Bailey (R) – Xenia
(I)David Reis (R) – Willow Hill
Cynthia Given (D) – Olney
115th State Representative
Paul Jacobs (R) – Pomona
Marsha Griffin (D) – Jonesboro
(I)Terri Bryant (R) – Murphysboro
Tamiko “TC” Mueller (D) – Murphysboro
116th State Representative
(I)Jerry Costello II (D) – Smithton
117th State Representative
Jason Woolard (D) – Carterville
(I)Dave Severin (R) – Benton
118th State Representative
(I)Natalie Phelps Finnie (D) – Elizabethtown
Samuel Stratemeyer (R) – Metropolis
Patrick Windhorst (R) – Metropolis
1st Circuit Judge – Smoot Vacancy (Williamson County Resident Judge)
Ryan Hall (D) – Marion
John Sanders (R) – Marion
1st Circuit Judge – Clarke Vacancy (At Large Judge)
Amanda Byassee Gott (R) – Marion
Tyler Edmonds (D) – Anna
1st Circuit Judge – Palmer Vacancy (Williamson County Resident Judge)
Stephen Green (R) – Marion
David Lawler (D) – Marion
Phillip Palmer, Jr. (D) – Marion
1st Circuit Judge – Moore Vacancy (At Large Judge)
Jason Olson (D) – Marion
Carey Gill (R) - Carterville
1st Circuit Judge – Jackson Vacancy (Massac County Resident Judge)
Rick Abell (R) – Metropolis
Joseph Neely (R) – Metropolis
Cord Zachary Wittig (R) – Metropolis
Paul Henry (D) – Metropolis
1st Circuit Judge – Schwartz Vacancy (Jackson County Resident Judge)
Christy Solverson (D) – Carbondale
Brian Roberts (D) – Murphysboro
Steven Bost (R) – Murphysboro
5th Appellate Judge – Goldenhersh Vacancy
Kevin Hoerner (D) – Belleville
ROE Supt – Monroe/Randolph Counties
Kelton Davis (D) – Waterloo
ROE Supt – Clay/Crawford/Jasper/Lawrence/Richland Counties
Monte Newlin (D) – Hutsonville
ROE Supt – Bond/Christian/Effingham/Fayette/Montgomery Counties
Julie Wollerman (D) – Bingham
ROE Supt – Clark/Coles/Cumberland/Douglas/Edgar/Moultrie/Shelby Counties
Michael Smith (R) – Tuscola
Kyle Thompson (R) – Charleston
ROE Supt – Franklin/Johnson/Massac/Williamson Counties
Lorie LeQuatte (D) – Herrin
ROE Supt – Clinton/Jefferson/Marion/Washington Counties
Ron Daniels (R) – Belle Rive
Brian Guthrie (D) – Carlyle
ROE Supt – Edwards/Gallatin/Hamilton/Hardin/Pope/Saline/Wabash/Wayne/White Counties
Elizabeth “Beth” Rister (D) – Eldorado
ROE Supt – Alexander/Jackson/Perry/Pulaski/Union Counties
Cheryl Graff (D) – Murphysboro
