Metro East Sun

Conservative reformer Jennifer Korte has won the Republican nomination for the 112th House District. 

Korte, a stay-at-home mom, was victorious over the Illinois GOP competition, Joe Hackler.

“Good morning. Thanking God this morning. My amazing family, friends and volunteers. He put all of you in my path for this season,” Korte said on Facebook. "I want to thank all of the people who put up yard signs, made phone calls, told their friends and neighbors about me and my campaign. Thank you. This victory last night is about more than just me and my campaign. It is a victory for grassroots, conservatives. We still have a long way to go. But let’s enjoy this great victory for common sense conservatism today, and tomorrow we roll up our sleeves and take on far-left extremist Katie Stuart. We could not be together as a family last night since our middle child was working. So today, we celebrate the best way we know how. With Ice cream!” 

Korte was born and raised in Madison County and graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a bachelor's degree in social work. She earned a master's degree in social work from St. Louis University and worked as a social worker at Barnes-Jewish Hospital before deciding to stay at home with her children in 2005. Korte has endorsed causes that benefit women, the elderly, parents, and efforts to increase awareness of mental health issues, her campaign bio notes.

Korte’s win came despite an estimated $200,000 spent on the race by House Minority leader Jim Durkin in support of Illinois Communications Director Joe Hackler. 

“We see the insiders with their well-funded campaigns flush with money spreading their message in an attempt to destroy the credibility of their opponent. This is nothing new. It's disgusting and the common guy is just sick of it and most of this stuff goes straight to the trash, where it should be,” Jeanne Lomax of Collinsville wrote in a letter to the editor published in the Madison St. Clair Record. Hackler was just one of several well-funded candidates supported by Durkin who lost races across the state as well.

Korte won the primary with 4,414 votes against Hackler's 2,153. She will face off against Democratic incumbent Katie Stuart in the November election. Combined, Korte and Hackler received a total of 6,567 votes, compared to Stuart's 5,112 votes in the Democrat primary.