LaHood Wins GOP Nomination in 18th District

Alex Degman -- Illinois Radio Network

The stage is set for a September 10th special election for the congressional seat vacated by Aaron Schock.

Republican State Senator Darin LaHood of Peoria will face Democrat Rob Mellon, a high school teacher from Quincy. Mellon says he’s proud of his victory over Springfield School Board member Adam Lopez.

“I didn’t have the resources of the other candidates, so I just did it with hard work and sweat,” Mellon said. “That’s really fulfilling for me, to win with such a nice margin – especially from my hometown.”

Mellon defeated Lopez with 61 percent of the vote district wide – it was notably higher than that in Adams County.

LaHood, whose spokeswoman would not make him available for an interview, defeated Donald Reints and conservative blogger Mike Flynn. LaHood took 69 percent of the vote.