New legislative districts mean your lawmaker may change. Who’s running in Springfield?
The 2022 campaign for Illinois state offices will start gaining speed on Thursday. It’s the first day that would-be candidates can begin knocking on doors to circulate petitions and gather signatures to run for office.
Though no one in the area has filed paperwork with the Illinois board of elections yet, several incumbent politicians already have announced they’re running in the June 28 primary to keep their jobs.
This is the first year candidates will run for office in new districts, which were redrawn in 2021 by state lawmakers in a process that included legal challenges from Republicans and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
More:Three-judge federal court panel upholds state legislative redistricting plan
Even for the politically savvy, keeping track of which districts can be confusing after the district borders shift. Don’t know what district you’re in? Check this map to see the districts. Here is the latest on area districts and candidates:
95th House District
Northern, southern, and western Springfield, Chatham, Edinburg and Stonington are all in the new 95th House District.
Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, is running for election in the 95th. He previously represented the 87th district, which covered an area further north, which included Petersburg and Lincoln.
“I’m excited about the opportunities we all have to make Illinois a better state,” said Butler in a statement on Monday. “There is much work to do, and we need to bring a lot more common sense to the Statehouse than what we have seen over the past few years.”
Rep. Sandy Hamilton, R-Springfield, has not publicly announced her plans for the 2022 election. She previously represented the 99th district, which contained western Springfield, Chatham and rural Sangamon County. She lives in the new 95th district and is eligible to run in the 95th, 96th or 108th districts.
96th House District
Downtown and eastern Springfield, Bolivia, Mount Auburn and central Decatur are all in the new 96th House district.
Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, is running for election in the 96th. She previously represented the 95th district.
“I’m running and want to let the people know I’ll be knocking on people’s doors soon,” she said. “There’s still work to do and that’s why I’m running.
87th House District
No incumbents have announced that they intend to run in the 87th district, which includes Lincoln and Clinton.
108th House District
Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, has not publicly announced her plans for the 2022 election. She previously represented the 95th district. She lives in the new 108th district and is eligible to run in the 95th, 100th, 107th, 108th, 109th and 110th districts.
100th House District
Pittsfield and Jerseyville and rural counties along Illinois’ western edge are in the new 100th House district. Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, is running for reelection in the 100th, having previously represented the same district, which covered a similar area.
“In order for Illinois to create opportunities for the next generation, we need balance, not one-party rule,” said Davidsmeyer in a Dec. 15 statement.
94th House District
Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb has not publicly announced her plans for the 2022 election. She previously represented the 93rd district. She is eligible to run in the 71st, 94th, 99th and 100th districts.
48th Senate District
Downtown Springfield and Decatur are connected by the 48th Senate district. Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, currently represents this area. She has not formally announced her plans for the election, though she said she intends to run in the new 48th district.
“I look forward to circulating petitions Thursday,” she said.
44th Senate District
Clinton, Lincoln and Monticello are in the 44th Senate district. Sen. Sally Turner, R-Beason, is running for reelection. She previously represented the 44th district, though it only covered the western half of the new district.
“I look forward to meeting more people as we campaign across the 44th,” she said Monday. “I have truly been blessed to serve in this capacity and want to continue to represent our district by helping them with everyday problems navigating state government and protecting their constitutional rights.”
54th Senate District
In the 54th Senate district, Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, is running for election. The district is home to Carlinville, Effingham, Shelbyville, Petersburg. He previously represented the 50th district, which covered an area stretching from Springfield to Illinois’ western border.
“Nearly three years ago, when I first took office, no one could have predicted how America and Illinois would be tested,” said McClure in a Nov. 4 statement. “I am committed, now more than ever, to standing up for our communities against the radical liberal agenda that is driving the chaos across Illinois.”
50th Senate District
The new 50th Senate district covers the western edge of Illinois from Jerseyville in the south to Quincy in the north. Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, is running for election there, having previously represented the 47th district.
While she has not formally announced her candidacy, she said Monday she expects to launch her campaign on Jan. 24.