SPRINGFIELD — A Republican state lawmaker who threatened to move to Florida earlier this year because of Illinois' ongoing political turmoil has picked up a challenger in the March primary.
Businessman Jonathan Kaye of Toledo filed Monday to run against state Rep. Reggie Phillips of Charleston, who has represented the 110th House district since 2014.
Monday marked the final day of filing at the Illinois State Board of Elections to get on the ballot for the March 15 primary. Republican and Democratic voters in a number of downstate communities will see contested races for the Illinois House and Senate.
Kaye, a political newcomer, said he supports much of the same agenda as Phillips, but believes he can better represent the east central Illinois region.
"I can speak more for my generation," the 54-year-old tree nursery owner said.
People are also reading…
In September, Phillips said the ongoing political stalemate between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the General Assembly had him thinking about moving to Florida, where he already has a business presence.
Days later, the real estate developer announced he was running for reelection in the district that stretches from the Indiana border to Shelby County and includes areas near Champaign and Decatur.
Kaye, who has not previously run for government office, said he supports Rauner's agenda, which includes attempting to weaken labor unions as a way to reduce the cost of government.
He also favors term limits, redistricting reform and improved funding for downstate schools.
The primary race in the 110th is among a number of match-ups expected to take shape in the following districts:
102nd House
In the 102nd House district, where state Rep. Adam Brown of Champaign is retiring, a three-way Republican race is on tap.
Former state Rep. Brad Halbrook of Shelbyville has filed to run against Randy Peterson of Paris and James Acklin of Ogden.
Peterson, the GOP chairman of Edgar County, is backed by Brown. Acklin is a former school superintendent.
Halbrook formerly represented the Charleston-Mattoon area.
96th House
Two Republicans are vying to take on state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, in a district that stretches between Decatur and Springfield.
Springfield resident Gary Pierce filed Monday, joining Cynthia Wolfer of Macon on the GOP ballot.
Pierce attempted to run for the seat in 2012 as a member of the Jobs Party, but was removed from the ballot.
Wolfer is a former Decatur Park District commissioner and businesswoman. she owns Shop On Main in downtown Decatur and also runs an event planning company called Events Plus.
74th House
A three-way Republican primary is brewing in the district currently represented by longtime state Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson.
With Moffitt retiring, Republicans Michael DeSutter of Woodhull, Wayne Saline of Rio and Daniel Swanson of Alpha filed petitions to get on the GOP ballot.
The winner will face Democrat Bill Butts of Galesburg in the November general election.
72nd House
The retirement of state Rep. Pat Verschoore, D-Milan, has generated a primary fight featuring four Democrats. Michael Halpin, Katelyn Hotle and Glen Evans Rock Island, as well as Jeffrey Jacobs of Moline.
Jacobs, an attorney, is the nephew of Verschoore and has the support of the outgoing lawmaker.
Hotle is a member of the Rock Island City Council. Halpin is an attorney. Evans, a social activist, previously ran for the office in 2012.
The winner of the Democratic tilt will face the winner of a Republican match-up between Brandi McGuire of Milan and Jordan Thoms of Rock Island.
109th House
State Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill, is facing a challenge from John Curtis of Hidalgo in a district that borders Indiana and includes Carmi, Olney and Jasper County.
Reis has been a member of the House since 2005.
50th Senate
State Sen. Sam McCann, a Plainview Republican who has bucked Rauner's agenda on labor union-related issues, picked up a primary challenger Monday.
Bryce Benton of Springfield is an Illinois State Police trooper and a member of the elected board that oversees Springfield's downtown convention center.
The district runs from the Missouri border to Pawnee and includes a large number of unionized state workers.
95th House
Two Republicans filed to take on appointed state Rep. Avery Bourne of Raymond in a district that stretches from Taylorville to Staunton.
Bourne, who was named to the seat after former state Rep. Wayne Rosenthal of Morrisonville was tapped to head up the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, will face Dennis Scobbie of Litchfield and Christopher Hicks of Sawyerville in the March GOP primary.
Macoupin County Clerk Mike Mathis of Gillespie is seeking the Democratic nomination.
58th Senate
As expected, Murphysboro Republican Sharee Langenstein filed Monday to make it a two-way battle for the Republican race to replace retiring state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville.
Langenstein, an attorney since 1998, is facing off against Paul Schimpf of Waterloo, a former military attorney who made an unsuccessful bid for attorney general in the 2014 election.
The winner of the GOP match-up in this southern Illinois district will take on Democrat Sheila Simon of Carbondale, who served as Illinois lieutenant governor until January.