Miller Uses Power of Trump to Beat Davis in Battle of GOP Incumbents
Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Oakland) speaks with volunteers in Quincy Tuesday. She defeated Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) in a member vs. member primary Tuesday night in the new 15th Congressional District.
In a result hardly any political observers expected when Democrats redrew congressional maps earlier this year, Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Oakland) has ousted five-term Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) in the new 15th Congressional District.
With around 95% of expected votes in, Miller, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, leads Davis, a close friend to top House leaders in line for a committee chairmanship if the GOP retakes the House, by around 16,000 votes. Miller has around 64,000 votes to around 48,000 votes, a total of around 57%-43%.
In a statement late Tuesday night, Davis was clear why he believes he lost.
“I’d like to congratulate Congresswoman Miller and President Trump on their victory tonight,” Davis said.
“I’ve lived in the real world, I understand the issues that impact real people,” Miller said in a campaign video Tuesday. She said she has Trump’s endorsement because she is “pro-Second Amendment, pro-life, and pro-family.”
Trump visited Quincy in support of Miller last weekend, and Miller had alligned herself closely with GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey as soon as Bailey’s poll numbers took off.
The 15th is heavily Republican and she will likely face just nominal Democratic opposition in the fall.