Rodney Davis Officially Running in New Congressional District
Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) formally announced his bid for the new 15th congressional district in 2022, passing on a run for Governor in favor of a safely-drawn Republican seat.
As we reported earlier this month, Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) officially announced Tuesday he would seek the new 15th congressional district seat and pass on a run at Governor JB Pritzker.
Davis was first elected to the 13th district in 2012, winning a new district, drawn by Democrats designed to elect a Democrat. (Disclosure: I was Communications Director on Davis’ 2012 race.) He has continued to hold the seat throughout the decade, and Democrats drew Davis out of the 13th district in the new congressional map and into the new, safer Republican 15th district.
The sprawling new 15th touches the borders of Illinois and Iowa, Missouri, and Indiana. It includes Quincy, Jacksonville, Lincoln, and Greenville, along with portions of Decatur and Mattoon-Charleston.
Davis has been publicly sniping with Democratic Governor JB Pritzker for months, increasing speculation Davis may have his eye on the Governor’s office. But a run for Congress in the new 15th ensures Davis a safe seat for the next decade and possible opportunities to move into House Republican leadership or potentially chair the powerful House Transportation & Infrastructure committee.
From a release Tuesday:
“My family and I are excited to announce that I am running for re-election to Congress,” said Rodney Davis. “I’ve been proud to fight hard for and work on behalf of central Illinois families in this district for many years, both as a member of Congress and as a staffer to my good friend and mentor, former Congressman John Shimkus.”
“Democrats in Washington have put our nation in crisis with their big government, socialist schemes and dreams,” Rodney continued. “Republicans are primed to retake the House next year, and I’m ready to work with a new Republican majority to finally fire Nancy Pelosi and hold the Biden Administration accountable for their massive failures. I look forward to campaigning hard and earning every vote in this district over the next year.”
The wild card in Davis’ path to re-election could be current Trump crowd favorite Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Oakland). She hasn’t publicly announced her plans after being drawn into the new 12th district. Though, a congressional candidate only needs to reside in the state, not the district, to run and serve in Congress.
