2015 Illinois's 18th congressional district special election

None February 2026 July 2015 2015 Illinois's 18th congressional district special election Illinois By-election Illinois's 18th congressional district no United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2014#District 18 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2016#District 18 2016 September 10, 2015 File:Darin LaHood official portrait (cropped 2).jpg 150x150px Darin LaHood Republican Party (United States) 35,329 68.8% 3x4.svg Rob Mellon Democratic Party (United States) 15,979 31.1% File:2015 Congressional special election in Illinois' 18th congressional district by county.svg 280px County resultsLaHood: #ed8883 50–60% #e55751 60–70% #d02823 70–80% U.S. Representative Aaron Schock Republican Party (United States) Darin LaHood Republican Party (United States) The special election for Illinois's 18th congressional district was held on September 10, 2015, between Republican Darin LaHood and Democrat Rob Mellon to fill the remainder of the term of Republican Aaron Schock, who resigned on March 31, 2015. LaHood won the election with almost 68.8% of the vote. Background Schock announced on March 17, 2015, that he would resign on March 31, 2015, following allegations of improper spending of political campaign funds and an impending ethics investigation.https://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/aaron-schock-resigns-116153.html Aaron Schock resigns after new questions about mileage expenses March 17, 2015 March 17, 2015 Jake Sherman Anna Palmer John Bresnahan Politico According to Illinois state law, Governor Bruce Rauner had to call the special election within five days after Schock's resignation becoming official, and it must be held within 115 days of the call. This would mean that the latest possible day for the election under Illinois law would have been July 29, 2015.http://atr.rollcall.com/schock-resignation-will-trigger-special-election-in-illinois/ Schock Resignation Will Trigger Special Election in Illinois March 17, 2015 March 17, 2015 Emily Cahn Roll Call March 19, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150319214826/http://atr.rollcall.com/schock-resignation-will-trigger-special-election-in-illinois/ dead However, in order to comply with the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), the general election was set for September 10, 2015, with party primaries to be held on July 7.http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/chi-schock-seat-special-election-dates-july-7-and-sept-10-20150414-story.html Judge sets special election dates for Schock seat in Congress April 14, 2015 April 15, 2015 Monique Garcia Chicago Tribune In April 2015, the Marshall County and McLean County governments requested that Schock or his campaign fund reimburse the counties for the special election costs, and two other counties considered similar action. http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/counties-want-schock-state-to-help-cut-election-costs/article_4c486525-ec46-537a-8f62-8ab63ff07589.html Counties want Schock, state to help cut election costs April 15, 2015 Mary Ann Ford Pantagraph.com Bloomington, Illinois April 17, 2015 Stark County declined to request reimbursement, as it still had $12,000 left over from the April consolidated election and Schock had not been convicted of a crime. http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150416/NEWS/150419417 Stark County Board will not seek payment from Aaron Schock Gary L. Smith April 16, 2015 PJStar.com GateHouse Media Peoria, Illinois April 17, 2015 Republican primary Candidates Declared Mike Flynn, political strategist and journalist at Breitbart Newshttps://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-19/the-conservative-media-warrior-who-may-run-for-aaron-schock-s-seat The Conservative Media Warrior Who May Run for Aaron Schock's Seat March 19, 2015 March 20, 2015 David Weigel Bloomberg NewsFund John The Establishment and the Tea Party Face Off in Illinois http://www.nationalreview.com/article/417055/establishment-and-tea-party-face-illinois-john-fund April 17, 2015 National Review April 21, 2015 Darin LaHood, State Senator and son of former U.S. Representative Ray LaHoodhttp://www.pantagraph.com/news/lahood-in-brady-barickman-out-for-congressional-seat/article_ff9484b3-7f0d-5346-990d-d55015fd07f6.html LaHood in; Brady, Barickman out for Congressional seat March 18, 2015 March 18, 2015 Kurt Erickson The PantagraphDewey Jim Darin LaHood Announces Candidacy http://quincyjournal.com/above-the-fold/2015/03/31/darin-lahood-announces-candidacy/ March 31, 2015 Quincy Journal March 31, 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154924/http://quincyjournal.com/above-the-fold/2015/03/31/darin-lahood-announces-candidacy/ April 2, 2015 mdy-all Donald Rients, former corrections officerLester Kerry GOP's Darin LaHood Favored in Race to Replace Schock http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IL_HOUSE_ILLINOIS_SCHOCK_REPLACEMENT_ILOL-?SITE=ILBLO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT April 20, 2015 Pantagraph.com (by the Associated Press) April 21, 2015 Withdrawn Mark Zalcman, attorney.http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150309/News/150309457 Bloomington attorney plans GOP primary challenge to embattled Schock March 9, 2015 March 18, 2015 Chris Kaergard The State Journal-Register Zalcman stated that he was forced to withdraw because a limited time to file petitions was "done purposely by the Governor to insure that Darin LaHood would not have to face any grassroots opposition in the campaign," and that he would focus on the regular March 2016 primary.http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=1190439#.VSv2Y5Nzq6N Republican Mark Zalcman withdraws from special election April 13, 2015 April 13, 2015 KHQA-TV Zalcman did not file for the seat in 2016. Declined Jason Barickman, state senator Bill Brady, state senator, nominee for governor in 2010, and candidate for governor in 2006 and 2014 Dan Brady, State Representativehttp://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/elections/dan-brady-not-running-for-schock-seat/article_dae3db8c-3eca-5fb2-94a7-f126f512882e.html Dan Brady not running for Schock seat March 31, 2015 March 31, 2015 Kurt Erickson Quad-City Times Ed Brady, real estate developerhttp://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/ed-brady-not-running-for-schock-seat/article_faea2a5f-33b7-59a1-9569-6b814c7f703c.html Ed Brady not running for Schock seat April 6, 2015 April 6, 2015 Kurt Erickson The Pantagraph Tom Demmer, state representativehttp://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/home_top/152410107/Schock-steps-down Schock steps down March 18, 2015 March 18, 2015 Greg Olson Journal-Courier Robert Kent Gray, Jr., http://www.state.il.us/court/R23_Orders/AppellateCourt/2015/4thDistrict/4140273_R23.pdf Gray v. State Officers Electoral Board (2015 IL App (4th) 140273-U 4th District Appellate Court of Illinois January 23, 2015 April 17, 2015 http://www.lincolncourier.com/article/20131212/Opinion/131219852 Tough words in judge race objection (Opinion) Bernard Schoenburg December 12, 2013 The Courier online Lincoln, Illinois Gatehouse Media April 17, 2015 attorney and Lincoln Land Community College Trusteehttp://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/article/20150324/NEWS/150329692/?Start=2 Congressional hopefuls talk race after Schock news March 24, 2015 April 2, 2015 Lainie Steelman The McDonough County Voice Bobby Schilling, former U.S. Representative for Illinois's 17th congressional districthttp://blogs.rollcall.com/rothenblog/bobby-schilling-aaron-schock-special-election/ Schilling Considering Special Election for Schock Seat March 23, 2015 March 23, 2015 Nathan L. Gonzales Roll Call March 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150324004140/http://blogs.rollcall.com/rothenblog/bobby-schilling-aaron-schock-special-election/ deadhttps://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/237292-ex-rep-bobby-schilling-wont-run-for-schocks-seat/ Ex-Rep. Bobby Schilling won't run for Schock's seat March 28, 2015 March 28, 2015 Hensch Mark The Hill Ryan Spain, Peoria City Councilmanhttp://www.pjstar.com/article/20150317/NEWS/150319194 Possible candidates consider running to replace Schock March 17, 2015 March 18, 2015 Nick Vlahos Journal Star Jil Tracy, former state representative and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014http://www.wgem.com/story/28652844/2015/03/30/tracy-will-not-seek-nomination-for-18th-congressional-district Tracy will not seek nomination for 18th Congressional District March 30, 2015 March 31, 2015 WGEM-TV https://web.archive.org/web/20150401160825/http://www.wgem.com/story/28652844/2015/03/30/tracy-will-not-seek-nomination-for-18th-congressional-district April 1, 2015 dead Michael D. Unes, state representativehttp://www.pjstar.com/article/20150320/NEWS/150329963/1994/NEWS Mike Unes won't run for Aaron Schock's House seat March 20, 2015 March 20, 2015 Chris Kaergard Journal Star https://web.archive.org/web/20150322230717/http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150320/NEWS/150329963/1994/NEWS March 22, 2015 dead Endorsements background:#cff Darin LaHood border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:var(--background-color-base); color:var(--color-base); Incumbent and prior state elected officials Bruce Rauner, Republican governor of Illinoishttp://www.lahoodforcongress.com/endorsements/ Endorsements of Darin LaHood for Congress July 23, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151004161411/http://www.lahoodforcongress.com/endorsements/ October 4, 2015 dead Jim Edgar, former Republican governor of Illinois Incumbent and prior members of the U.S. House of Representatives Peter Roskam, congressman for IL-6 Mike Bost, congressman for IL-12 Rodney Davis, congressman for IL-13 Randy Hultgren, congressman for IL-14 John Shimkus, congressman for IL-15 Adam Kinzinger, congressman for IL-16 Bobby Schilling, former congressman for IL-17 Joe Walsh, former congressman for IL-8 Thomas W. Ewing, former congressman for IL-15 Incumbent Illinois legislative officials Jason Barickman, state senator for IL-53 Bill Brady, state senator for IL-44 Chapin Rose, state senator for IL-51 Sam McCann, state senator for IL-50 Kyle McCarter, state senator for IL-54 Jim Oberweis, state senator for IL-25 Dan Brady, state representative for IL-105 Keith P. Sommer, state representative for IL-88 Tom Morrison, state representative for IL-54 Other people Dan Proft, conservative talk radio host and candidate for Illinois governor in 2010 Penny Pullen, former Illinois state representative and conservative activist Paul Schimpf, former Republican nominee for Illinois Attorney General in 2014 Organizations National Right to Life NRA Political Victory Fund United States Chamber of Commerce Newspapers Journal Star background:#cff Mike Flynn border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:var(--background-color-base); color:var(--color-base); Ted Cruz, Republican United States Senator from Texas and candidate for President of the United States in 2016http://www.mikeflynnforcongress.com/#!endorsements/c129n https://web.archive.org/web/20150504012702/http://www.mikeflynnforcongress.com/ dead May 4, 2015 Flynn for Congress: Endorsements 2016-06-24 mdy-all Mark Levin, conservative talk radio host Steve King, congressman for Iowa's 4th congressional district Louie Gohmert, congressman for Texas's 1st congressional district Richard Viguerie, conservative activist and chairman of ConservativeHQ.com Stephen Moore, economic writer and policy analyst, founder and former president of the Club for Growth, and chief economist of The Heritage Foundation Erick Erickson, conservative blogger and editor-in-chief and CEO of RedState Results Republican primary resultsElection Results – Special Primary - 7/7/2015 https://elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=yvvrTGlpIKQ%3d elections.il.gov January 9, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20180509004225/https://elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=yvvrTGlpIKQ%3d May 9, 2018 dead Kaergard Chris http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150707/NEWS/150709444 Darin LaHood easily wins GOP nomination for 18th District seat Journal Star July 7, 2015 September 10, 2015 Darin LaHood Republican Party (United States) 31,635 69.5 Mike Flynn Republican Party (United States) 12,593 27.7 Donald Rients Republican Party (United States) 1,246 2.7 Robin Miller Republican Party (United States) 16 >0.0 45,490 100 Democratic primary Candidates Declared Adam Lopez, member of the Springfield School Board and a Country Financial representativehttp://www.pjstar.com/article/20150408/NEWS/150409226/1994/NEWS Springfield Democrat eyes run for Aaron Schock's congressional seat April 8, 2015 April 9, 2015 Bernard Schoenburg Journal Star http://www.sps186.org/about/boe/?p=19986&cat=15688 Board Members Springfield Public Schools District 186 Springfield, Illinois April 17, 2015 Rob Mellon, teacher and candidate in 2014http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Darin-Lahood-kicks-off-special-election-campaign-298080771.html Darin LaHood kicks off special election campaign March 30, 2015 April 2, 2015 CINewsNow https://archive.today/20150403192233/http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Darin-Lahood-kicks-off-special-election-campaign-298080771.html April 3, 2015 dead mdy-all http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=1192936 Mellon aims to strengthen middle class in Illinois Ross Green April 17, 2015 ConnectTriStates.com April 17, 2015 Declined Colleen Callahan, State Director for USDA Rural Development and nominee in 2008http://atr.rollcall.com/darin-lahood-launches-bid-to-succeed-aaron-schock/ Familiar Name Launches Bid to Succeed Aaron Schock (Updated) March 18, 2015 March 18, 2015 Emily Cahn Roll Call March 21, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150321001931/http://atr.rollcall.com/darin-lahood-launches-bid-to-succeed-aaron-schock/ dead Sonni Choi Williams, deputy corporation counsel for the City of Peoria Kristin Dicenso, advisor for the Illinois Department of Transportation Jehan Gordon-Booth, State Representative http://www.elections.state.il.us/ElectionInformation/CandDetail.aspx?CandidateID=19729&ElectionID=43 Candidate Detail: General Election - 11/4/2014: 92nd Representative: Jehan Gordon-Booth Illinois State Board of Elections Springfield, Illinois April 17, 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150418095800/http://www.elections.state.il.us/ElectionInformation/CandDetail.aspx?CandidateID=19729&ElectionID=43 April 18, 2015 mdy-all Dave Koehler, State Senator Andy Manar, State Senator John M. Sullivan, State Senatorhttp://www.galesburg.com/article/20150403/BLOGS/150409878 Politics as Usual: Sullivan opts out of Congressional bid The Register-Mail online Hobe Marty April 3, 2015 April 4, 2015 Results Democratic primary resultshttp://www.cinewsnow.com/news/election-results/Rob-Mellon-Darin-LaHood-win-18th-District-Primary-312328491.html Rob Mellon, Darin LaHood win 18th District primary election WEEK-TV July 8, 2015 September 10, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905084238/http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/election-results/Rob-Mellon-Darin-LaHood-win-18th-District-Primary-312328491.html September 5, 2015 dead mdy-all Rob Mellon Democratic Party (United States) 4,613 60.5 Adam Lopez Democratic Party (United States) 3,008 39.5 7,621 100 General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Reporthttps://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/house/house-overview/house-special-election-updates-il-18-ms-01-and-ny-11 House Special Election Updates: IL-18, MS-01 and NY-11 Dave Wasserman April 3, 2015 January 2, 2022 Solid R April 3, 2015 Inside Electionshttps://www.insideelections.com/news/article/schilling-considering-special-election-for-schock-seat Schilling Considering Special Election for Schock Seat The Rothenberg Political Report March 24, 2015 January 4, 2022 Solid R March 24, 2015 Finance Reports Campaign Finance Reports through August 21 Candidate Raised Spent Cash on Hand Debt Darin LaHood $1,225,929 $906,379 $639,101 $0 Rob Mellon $10,769 $9,503 $1,265 $0 Source: OpenSecretsOpen Secrets | Elections | U.S. Senate opensecrets.org Results Illinois's 18th congressional district special election, 2015Election Results – Special General Election - 9/10/2015 https://elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=Ez4R4SweQhg%3d elections.il.gov January 9, 2017 May 9, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180509004306/https://elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=Ez4R4SweQhg%3d dead Kaergard Chris http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150910/NEWS/150919922 State Sen. Darin LaHood wins special election to replace Aaron Schock Journal Star September 10, 2015 September 11, 2015 Darin LaHood Republican Party (United States) 35,329 68.8 Rob Mellon Democratic Party (United States) 15,979 31.1 Constant "Conner" Vlakancic Write-In 7 >0.0 Roger K. Davis Write-In 4 >0.0 51,319 100 Republican Party (United States) See also List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives References 30em External links Mike Flynn for Congress Darin Lahood for Congress Donald Rients for Congress Rob Mellon for Congress Illinois 2015 18 Illinois 2015 18 2015 18 Special Illinois 18 Special United States House of Representatives 18 Special United States House of Representatives 2015 18