Rock Island Mayor Thoms Likely to Run for Senate
Republican Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms says he’s likely to jump into the race for the new 36th District Senate seat in 2022.
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Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms told some local media earlier in the week he is considering running for the new 36th Senate District next year (if the maps hold up in court or aren’t changed by Democrats). Thoms spoke to The Illinoize Tuesday and confirmed he’s leaning toward getting in the race.
Thoms says he’s about 80-percent decided to enter the race, but he had yet to discuss the race with Senate GOP Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) or senate campaign staff.
The new 36th Senate district is outlined in white.
Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia) was drawn about a mile out of his current 36th district into a new safe Republican district covering most of western Illinois. The new 36th includes nearly all of Rock Island and Moline and stretches a pencil-thin length south to capture Galesburg and Macomb. Thoms told us last night he has Anderson’s support.
Democrats think the new district leans their way, but Republicans think the right candidate makes it a 50/50 race. Thoms, 62, just won his second term as Mayor of Rock Island in April by 221 votes out of about 5,000 cast.
Local Democrats don’t have a candidate for the seat yet and it appears the potential field is frozen until Rep. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) decides what he wants to do. Halpin is said to be considering a run for Congress, Senate, or seeking re-election to his House seat. If Halpin were to run, he’d be an automatic favorite as he is sitting on a campaign war chest of nearly $400,000. Thoms is down to around $1,000 on hand following his April election.
