IL Congressman Tim Johnson (R-Urbana) will retire this year despite having just won his GOP primary race.
During the redistricting process, Johnson’s GOP-leaning district was made more Democratic. Among the names floated as possible candidates for the seat are former state GOP executive director Rodney Davis, Rep. Chapin Rose, Rep. Adam Brown, Sen. Sam McCann, Johnson’s former chief of staff Jerry Clarke and his current chief of staff Mark Shelden.
The IL primary saw 3 state senators and 2 state House incumbents defeated. Additionally, one state House race between incumbent Democratic Rep. Toni Berrios and challenger Will Guzzardi remains too close to call as does the congressional Dem primary involving David Gill and Matthew Goetten. All other incumbents easily won their primaries.
State Senate
District 5: Incumbent Annazette Collins (D) lost to Patricia Van Pelt Watkins in a rematch from a 2011 special election. No Republicans filed, which means Watkins will be guaranteed election in November.
District 35: An incumbent-vs-incumbent battle, the senior Senator Dave Syverson defeated freshmen Senator Christine Johnson.
District 53: Incumbent Shane Cultra was defeated by state house incumbent Jason Barickman in the District 53 Senate race.
State House
District 39: Incumbent Toni Berrios is locked in a neck-and-neck battle with Will Guzzardi. Near the end of election night, Berrios led by less than 70 votes.
District 52: Incumbent Kent Gaffney was defeated by David McSweeney. A third candidate, Danielle Rowe, pulled in more than 2,700 votes (24 percent).
District 108: Incumbent Paul Evans was defeated by Charles Meier in a three-way race.
US Congress
2nd Cong. District: Jesse Jackson, Jr.handily defeated former U.S. House Rep Debbie Halvorson 71-29 percent.
13th Cong. District: In the closest primary of the night, the race between David Gill and Matthew Goetten in the Democratic primary remains too close to call. The winner will challenge GOP incumbent Tim Johnson in the general election.
16th Cong. District: In an incumbent-vs-incumbent battle, Adam Kinzinger defeated Don Manzullo in the Republican primary. No Democratic candidates filed, which means Kinzinger is assured election to another term.
IL Gov. Pat Quinn revealed his spending plan Wednesday calling for increased education funding, closing or consolidating state facilities, cutting Medicaid spending, and restructuring the state’s pension systems.
Few details were provided as to how the Medicaid program would be cut or for overhauling pension benefits and costs. While the budget does not call for general tax or fee increases, Quinn called for closing corporate tax loopholes. He said he wants his revenue director to work with state lawmakers to come up with a list. You can view the Governor’s budget address here.
Governor Pat Quinn has named former IL State Rep. Bob Flider director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
Flider served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2003 through 2011. As a legislator, Flider worked on a number of agriculture issues, serving on the House Agriculture & Conservation Committee, the Energy & Environment Committee and the Ethanol Production Oversight Committee. Flider also served as chairman of the House Electric Generation & Commerce Committee and vice chairman of the House Renewable Energy Committee. He was named an "Agriculture Certified Legislator" by the Illinois Farm Bureau in 2004, and he was named a "Friend of Agriculture" by the Illinois Farm Bureau in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
IL Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation adopted last week providing tax breaks for CME Group and Sears. Sears and CME had threatened to leave the state if they didn't get assistance with their taxes.
The signing of the bill prompted CME Group to announce that it will remain in IL. The enacted bill retools tax calculations for the company by changing how much of its business is subject to state income taxes. In the case of Sears, the legislature renewed a credit the company had been getting for years. It guarantees Sears a $15 million break on its taxes over the next decade and extends a property-tax cut.