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Candidates start to emerge

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Illinois

* Paul Schimpf has the Rauner/SGOP backing in this race…

Murphysboro attorney Sharee Langenstein threw her hat into the ring to run for the 58th Senate District seat.

That seat is currently held by Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, who announced he is not seeking re-election in 2016.

Langenstein, a constitutional law attorney specializing in First Amendment rights, ran unsuccessfully for Jackson County State’s Attorney in 2012. She also specializes in elections and government relations. […]

Langenstein is a registered lobbyist, whose clients include Family PAC and Eagle Forum.

Also having expressed an interest in the seat are former Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon of Carbondale and former attorney general candidate Paul Schimpf, a former military lawyer, of Waterloo.

* Bernie…

A Springfield native and assistant state’s attorney in Sangamon County is considering a run for state Senate against incumbent SAM McCANN, R-Plainview, in the 50th Senate District.

“Several people have approached me about running for state Senate,” said STEVE McCLURE, 31. “It is something that I am seriously considering, and I’ve reached out to a lot of really intelligent people that are more politically astute than I am to get their advice.” He said he doesn’t expect to make a decision until at least September.

McClure says he’s a conservative Republican. He has history and political science degrees from Arizona State University, and he was vice chairman of the College Republicans in Arizona. He also was president of Valparaiso University Law School Republicans when he attended there, graduating in 2011.

He has a master’s degree in political studies from the University of Illinois Springfield, was a legislative intern and worked on the appropriations staff for Senate Republicans.

Sangamon County types have never really gotten over the fact that they’re represented by a non-Sangamon County type.

But McCann could very well be vulnerable in a GOP primary. It’ll be interesting to see how the union issue plays out here as well. McCann started off as a tea partier, but has moved to the left on some economic issues.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 11:44 am

Comments

The politics begins…

This is where is going to be fun, for me.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 11:47 am
I believe Schimpf will be supported by the incumbent Luechtefeld..

Comment by Not Rich Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 11:47 am
===Sangamon County types have never really gotten over the fact that they’re represented by a non-Sangamon County type.===

x 10.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 11:54 am
Sam better watch his back in that primary. Could always cut a deal with Cullerton, run as an independent, and then caucus with the Dems.

Comment by Freddy Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 11:55 am
Believe Steve McClure is a Rock Island County native.

Comment by lil' enchililada Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 12:03 pm
Schimpf certainly looks like the stronger choice.

McCann v. McClure looks like a real contest.

Comment by walker Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 12:07 pm
I believe that the first time McCann ran he was opposed in the primary by a Sangamon County candidate and Sam beat him rather handily.

Comment by HL Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 12:08 pm
McCann kept his promise to my wife to oppose pension reduction. He’ll continue to have our family’s support.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 12:08 pm
===Langenstein is a registered lobbyist, whose clients include Family PAC and Eagle Forum.===

If she can leverage those relationships, she could make it interesting on the GOP side.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 12:35 pm
Family PAC and Eagle Forum does give her some creds here in Southern Illinois with a segment of the Republican base. Guess we will have to see if they have any significant influence in this primary and if they will move her to the next round.

Comment by illini Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 1:06 pm
McCann has made a lot more enemies than friends since he took office….and he didn’t start out with that many friends.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 1:11 pm
If Steve McClure changed his first name to Sam, this would be a very interesting race: Sam McCann vs. Sam McClure.

Comment by Johnny Jutice Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 1:12 pm
==Believe Steve McClure is a Rock Island County native.==

well, his mother worked for Jim Edgar back in the day, and he graduated from Springfield High. he’s been in the area for quite a while.

Comment by non sequitur Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 1:47 pm
Overall, I like Sam McCann. I may have to send another check to his campaign.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jul 23, 15 @ 9:43 pm