Dennis Tipsword (R) and Morgan Phillips (D) seek Illinois 105th District Office
Incumbent Republican Illinois state Rep. Dennis Tipsword of Metamora is seeking a second term in the 105th District against a 25-year-old Democrat and political newcomer.
Tipsword, the Chief Deputy Sheriff in Woodford County, was unopposed in his last election campaign — the first of his life — after he pushed through a four-way primary with 39% of the vote.
His opponent will be Morgan Phillips, a native of Lostant in LaSalle County, who previously served as a campaign manager for Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, just months after graduating from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2022.
Dennis Tipsword (R)
Age: Unknown
Current occupation: Chief deputy, Woodford County Sheriff's Office
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Prior offices: A 17-year member of the Woodford County Sheriff's Office; also serves as a youth sports coach, small business owner and seasonal restaurant owner.
Education: Graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in law enforcement administration; attended Metamora Township High School.
Views on key issues:
Economy: Tipsword referred to the recently passed state budget as "shameful," saying that families across Illinois had to pay more in order to fund various spending priorities.
Abortion: Tipsword said that taxpayers shouldn't be forced to pay for abortions and believes that the choice of whether or not the practice should be allowed needs to be returned to the states. In addition, he supports reinstating parental notification and streamlining the adoption process to make it easier for families.
Guns: Has supported legislation that would protect the information of those who own guns and supports hardening soft targets, such as schools, against gun violence.
Agriculture: Has promised to stand with local farmers and livestock producers, which he calls the "cornerstone" of his district.
Morgan Phillips (D)
Age: 25
Current occupation: Muralist at Westclox Studios in Rutland; no prior political experience.
Prior offices: Was campaign manager for Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, during his successful third-term victory in 2022.
Education: Graduated in 2022 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with a Bachelor's Degree in industrial and product design; earned associate's degrees in arts and sciences from Illinois Valley Community College; was accepted into the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and graduated in 2017.
Views on key issues:
Economy: Phillips told the Bloomington-Normal NPR affiliate that she wanted the state to become less reliant on local property taxes, as she feels it has a negative impact on rural districts like the 105th.
Agriculture: Phillips wants to make conservation of farmland a key issue, according to the NPR article.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois 105th House District: Dennis Tipsword faces Morgan Phillips
