2015 Illinois's 18th congressional district special election

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 69% of the vote.

2015 Illinois's 18th congressional district special election

September 10, 2015
Illinois's 18th congressional district
Candidate Darin LaHood Rob Mellon Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 35,329 15,979 Percentage 68.8% 31.1%
U.S. Representative before election Vacant Republican Elected U.S. Representative Darin LaHood Republican

History

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.[1]

According to Illinois state law, Governor Bruce Rauner must 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.[2] 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.[3]

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 are considering similar action.[4] 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.[5]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Mike Flynn, political strategist and online journalist at Breitbart News[6][7]
• Darin LaHood, State Senator and son of former U.S. Representative Ray LaHood[8][9]
• Donald Rients, former corrections officer[10][11]

Withdrawn

• Mark Zalcman, attorney.[12] 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.[13] Zalcman did not file for the seat in 2016.

Declined

• Jason Barickman, state senator[8]
• Bill Brady, state senator, nominee for governor in 2010, and candidate for governor in 2006 and 2014[8]
• Dan Brady, State Representative[14]
• Ed Brady, real estate developer[10]
• Tom Demmer, state representative[15]
• Robert Kent Gray, Jr.,[16][17] attorney and Lincoln Land Community College Trustee[18]
• Bobby Schilling, former U.S. Representative for Illinois's 17th congressional district[19][20]
• Ryan Spain, Peoria City Councilman[21]
• Jil Tracy, former state representative and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014[22]
• Michael D. Unes, state representative[23]

Endorsements

Results

Republican primary results[26][27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Darin LaHood	31,635	69.5
	Republican	Mike Flynn	12,593	27.7
	Republican	Donald Rients	1,246	2.7
	Republican	Robin Miller	16	>0.0
Total votes			45,490	100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Adam Lopez, member of the Springfield School Board and a Country Financial representative[28][29]
• Rob Mellon, teacher and candidate in 2014[30][31]

Declined

• Colleen Callahan, State Director for USDA Rural Development and nominee in 2008[32]
• Sonni Choi Williams, deputy corporation counsel for the City of Peoria[32]
• Kristin Dicenso, advisor for the Illinois Department of Transportation[32]
• Jehan Gordon-Booth, State Representative[32][33]
• Dave Koehler, State Senator[15]
• Andy Manar, State Senator[15]
• John M. Sullivan, State Senator[21][34]

Results

Democratic primary results[26][35]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Rob Mellon	4,613	60.5
	Democratic	Adam Lopez	3,008	39.5
Total votes			7,621	100

General Election

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: OpenSecrets[36]

Results

Illinois's 18th congressional district special election, 2015[37][38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Darin LaHood	35,329	68.8
	Democratic	Rob Mellon	15,979	31.1
	Write-In	Constant "Conner" Vlakancic	7	>0.0
	Write-In	Roger K. Davis	4	>0.0
Total votes			51,319	100
	Republican hold

See also

• List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives

References

1. Jake Sherman; Anna Palmer; John Bresnahan (March 17, 2015). "Aaron Schock resigns after new questions about mileage expenses". Politico. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
2. Cahn, Emily (March 17, 2015). "Schock Resignation Will Trigger Special Election in Illinois". Roll Call. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
3. Garcia, Monique (April 14, 2015). "Judge sets special election dates for Schock seat in Congress". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
4. Ford, Mary Ann (April 15, 2015). "Counties want Schock, state to help cut election costs". Pantagraph.com. Bloomington, Illinois. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
5. Smith, Gary L. (April 16, 2015). "Stark County Board will not seek payment from Aaron Schock". PJStar.com. Peoria, Illinois: GateHouse Media. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
6. Weigel, David (March 19, 2015). "The Conservative Media Warrior Who May Run for Aaron Schock's Seat". Bloomberg News. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
7. Fund, John (April 17, 2015). "The Establishment and the Tea Party Face Off in Illinois". National Review. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
8. Erickson, Kurt (March 18, 2015). "LaHood in; Brady, Barickman out for Congressional seat". The Pantagraph. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
9. Dewey, Jim (March 31, 2015). "Darin LaHood Announces Candidacy". Quincy Journal. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
10. Erickson, Kurt (April 6, 2015). "Ed Brady not running for Schock seat". The Pantagraph. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
11. Lester, Kerry (April 20, 2015). "GOP's Darin LaHood Favored in Race to Replace Schock". Pantagraph.com (by the Associated Press). Retrieved April 21, 2015.
12. Kaergard, Chris (March 9, 2015). "Bloomington attorney plans GOP primary challenge to embattled Schock". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
13. "Republican Mark Zalcman withdraws from special election". KHQA-TV. April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
14. Erickson, Kurt (March 31, 2015). "Dan Brady not running for Schock seat". Quad-City Times. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
15. Olson, Greg (March 18, 2015). "Schock steps down". Journal-Courier. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
16. "Gray v. State Officers Electoral Board (2015 IL App (4th) 140273-U" (PDF). 4th District Appellate Court of Illinois. January 23, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
17. Schoenburg, Bernard (December 12, 2013). "Tough words in judge race objection (Opinion)". The Courier (online ed.). Lincoln, Illinois: Gatehouse Media. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
18. Lainie Steelman (March 24, 2015). "Congressional hopefuls talk race after Schock news". The McDonough County Voice. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
19. Nathan L. Gonzales (March 23, 2015). "Schilling Considering Special Election for Schock Seat". Roll Call. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
20. Hensch, Mark (March 28, 2015). "Ex-Rep. Bobby Schilling won't run for Schock's seat". The Hill. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
21. Vlahos, Nick (March 17, 2015). "Possible candidates consider running to replace Schock". Journal Star. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
22. "Tracy will not seek nomination for 18th Congressional District". WGEM-TV. March 30, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
23. Kaergard, Chris (March 20, 2015). "Mike Unes won't run for Aaron Schock's House seat". Journal Star. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
24. "Endorsements of Darin". LaHood for Congress. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
25. "Flynn for Congress: Endorsements". Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
26. "Election Results – Special Primary - 7/7/2015". elections.il.gov. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
27. Kaergard, Chris (July 7, 2015). "Darin LaHood easily wins GOP nomination for 18th District seat". Journal Star. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
28. Schoenburg, Bernard (April 8, 2015). "Springfield Democrat eyes run for Aaron Schock's congressional seat". Journal Star. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
29. "Board Members". Springfield, Illinois: Springfield Public Schools District 186. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
30. "Darin LaHood kicks off special election campaign". CINewsNow. March 30, 2015. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
31. Green, Ross (April 17, 2015). "Mellon aims to strengthen middle class in Illinois". ConnectTriStates.com. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
32. Cahn, Emily (March 18, 2015). "Familiar Name Launches Bid to Succeed Aaron Schock (Updated)". Roll Call. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
33. "Candidate Detail: General Election - 11/4/2014: 92nd Representative: Jehan Gordon-Booth". Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
34. Hobe, Marty (April 3, 2015). "Politics as Usual: Sullivan opts out of Congressional bid". The Register-Mail (online ed.). Retrieved April 4, 2015.
35. "Rob Mellon, Darin LaHood win 18th District primary election". WEEK-TV. July 8, 2015. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
36. Open Secrets | Elections | U.S. Senate opensecrets.org
37. "Election Results – Special General Election - 9/10/2015". elections.il.gov. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
38. Kaergard, Chris (September 10, 2015). "State Sen. Darin LaHood wins special election to replace Aaron Schock". Journal Star. Retrieved September 11, 2015.

External links

• Mike Flynn for Congress
• Darin Lahood for Congress
• Donald Rients for Congress
• Rob Mellon for Congress