Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL)
Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL)
Congressman John Shimkus of Collinsville has fended
off a challenge from rival State Sen. Kyle McCarter of Lebanon to win
the Republican nomination in the 15th Congressional District.
No
Democrat candidates sought their party's nomination, meaning Shimkus
will likely be unopposed in the November general election and coast to
an 11th term in office.
Shimkus's spokesperson said the congressman would not be making media calls tonight, but issued a statement.
"Thank
you to the people of the 15th Congressional District for their support
and for allowing me the opportunity to continue to serve them in
Washington. I'd also like to thank my opponent for a hard fought
campaign.
"To all of our hardworking volunteers
and supporters, I cannot thank you enough for the thousands of calls
you made and doors you knocked. Your hard work and dedication to
spreading our conservative message throughout Central and Southern
Illinois was essential to our victory.
"I'm honored and humbled to be able to continue to serve the hardworking families of Central and Southern Illinois."
Vote
totals in Shimkus's home turf - Madison County - mirror preliminary
results from the district at large, which includes all or part of 33
southern Illinois counties at 56 to 44 percent.
With all precincts reporting in Madison County, Shimkus had 5,301 votes to McCarter's 4,114.
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