Bost, Bailey primary highlights competitive races in metro-east spring election

The filing period ended Monday for candidates seeking party nominations in congressional, state and local primary elections and contested primary races in the metro-east include battles for Congress and Madison County Board chair.

The Illinois primary is March 19 and the general election will be Nov. 5. The News-Democrat has checked with state and local election officials to get information on contested party primary races in the metro-east.

The 12th, 13th and 15th congressional districts include territory in the metro-east. Two of the districts will have contested races in the primary.

In the race to be the Republican nominee for the 12th Congressional District, Darren Bailey, who is from Xenia and ran unsuccessfully for governor last year, will face the incumbent, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost of Murphysboro.

Three Democrats have filed to run in the 12th Congressional District: Preston Gabriel Nelson of Lebanon, Joshua Qualls of Centralia and Brian Roberts of De Soto.

In the 13th Congressional District, the incumbent is U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, a Democrat from Springfield, and she was the only Democrat to file.

Two Republicans have filed to run in the GOP primary in the 13th Congressional District: Thomas Clatterbuck of Champaign and Joshua Loyd of Virden.

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, a Republican from Hindsboro, is the incumbent in the 15th Congressional District and she is the only candidate who filed for the primary.

In the 58th District Senate Republican primary, state Sen. Terri Bryant of Murphysboro has filed as well as Wesley Kash of Scheller.

In the 110th District House Republican primary, Matthew Hall of Vandalia and state Rep. Blaine Wilhour of Beecher City filed to run.

In the 113th District Democratic primary, state Rep. Jay Hoffman of Swansea and Jamil Mckinney of Shiloh filed for the nomination.

Election officials in Clinton, Monroe, Washington and St. Clair counties did not report any competitive primary races for local seats.

There are competitive races for candidates seeking Republican nominations in Madison and Randolph counties.

Here are competitive races in the Republican primary in in Madison County:

Circuit clerk

• Stephen J. Adler

• Patrick McRae

Madison County Board chair

• Kurt Prenzler

• Chris Slusser

County Board District 7

• Linda K. Ogden

• Michael Turner

County Board District 15

• Bob Coles

• Terry Eaker

County Board District 22

• Ryan Kneedler

• Linda Wolfe

County Board District 24

• Dwight Kay

• Fred Schulte

County Board District 26

• Douglas Matthews

• Jason Palmero

In Randolph County, there is a competitive race in the Republican primary for county commissioner between Andy Gerlach and Christopher Hayes.