Rep. Rodney Davis Allies Seeking to Primary Miller Supporters Halbrook and Caulkins
Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) and State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) speak at a town hall in 2019. Halbrook is supporting Davis’ primary opponent, Congresswoman Mary Miller, and sources say Davis and his allies are recruiting a primary candidate to take Halbrook on.
Sources say Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) is targeting two top legislative allies of his primary opponent, Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Oakland.)
Miller is married to Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland), a member of the so-called “Eastern Bloc,” a group of ultra-conservative members based in southeast Illinois. Two of those Eastern Bloc members, Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) and Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur), are reportedly supporting Miller in the upcoming June primary.
(Disclosure: I worked on Davis’ 2012 campaign, I worked on a primary campaign against Halbrook in 2016, a primary campaign against Caulkins in 2018, and a primary campaign against Mary Miller in 2020.)
Under redistricting, Halbrook would represent Davis’ home in Christian County. Davis is reportedly unhappy with Halbrook, and has dispatched top aides to recruit a candidate to primary Halbrook in the June primary.
Davis’ campaign manager denied the story when contacted Monday night.
But we’re told Davis staffers have made an entreaty to Macon County Board member Grant Noland, the son of longtime Sen. Duane Noland.
When contacted by The Illinoize Monday night, Halbrook said the efforts were “news to me.”
Davis wouldn’t be allowed to directly fund a primary candidate through his federal campaign fund, but his large network of deep pocketed donors could prove incredibly helpful to any potential challenger.
