Monday Ended Judicial, Legislative Candidate Filings for June Primary

There will be one contested race for state senator following the final day of filing Monday for the June 28 primary election.

Stewardson-based businessman and CPA Don Debolt filed as a Republican candidate for 54th District State Senate. Debolt will square off against incumbent State Senator Steve McClure of Springfield for the Republican nomination. 

The new 54th District will include portions of Effingham County as well as Shelby County and portions of the Springfield area. 

Incumbent Republican Jason Plummer filed for another term as state senator, but he will be running for the new 55th District, not the 54th District where he currently serves. Plummer is from Edwardsville.

Effingham resident Bryan Kibler Monday filed for the Republican nomination for Resident Circuit Judge of Effingham County, seeking to succeed the retired Kimberly Koester. Associate Judge Jeffrey DeLong of Effingham is opposing Kibler for the Republican Resident Circuit Judge nomination.

As far as state representative contests, all of the incumbents in this area are seeking another term, although in new districts. That includes Blaine Wilhour of Beecher City in the 110th District, Adam Niemerg of Dieterich in the 102nd District, Brad Halbrook of Shelbyville in the 107th District, and Chris Miller of Oakland in the 101st District. 

In congressional contests, Miller's wife, Congresswoman Mary Miller of Oakland is opposing Congressman Rodney Davis of Taylorville for the Republican nomination in the 15th district, and Mike Bost of Murphysboro is unopposed for the Republican nomination in the 12th district. 

In the 5th District Appellate Court race, Mike McHaney of Iuka and Barry Vaughan of McLeansboro are squaring off for the Republican nomination.

Also of note, Darren Bailey of Xenia is one of several candidates for the Republican nomination for governor, although polling has indicated Bailey is the frontrunner.

One other filing of note Monday; Thomas DeVore, the Greenville-area attorney who has represented a number of individuals and school districts in lawsuits related to COVID guidelines, filed as a Republican candidate for Illinois Attorney General.