Tom Kacich: Miller will likely go unchallenged in 15th District in November

Apr. 21—U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, the conservative Republican from Hindsboro in Douglas County, may be running unopposed this fall for a third term.

No Democrat was listed on the March 19 primary ballot as a candidate in the 15th Congressional District, although Kevin Gaither of Charleston ran a last-minute write-in campaign — so last-minute that he was qualified as a write-in in only nine of the 35 counties in the large, overwhelmingly rural district.

Gaither got 259 write-in votes. He needed 511 to make it to the general election ballot. He got 84 write-in votes in Coles County, 59 in Macon County, 38 in Champaign County, 31 in Moultrie County, 16 in Douglas County, 14 in Sangamon County and single digits or no votes in the rest.

Gaither admitted he did only "minimal" advertising; few Democratic voters probably knew he was a candidate.

"I don't regret anything in the primary. I determined I was going to not crash every party event as I had to do back in 2018," said Gaither, who lost to former U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, in 2018. "The Democratic Party was just not interested in a real, full-throated challenge to Republicans with a real alternative message that they couldn't control.

"Maybe the party enjoys fundraising off of Rep. Mary Miller, because it sends a message to Democratic Party supporters across the state that listening to rural Illinoisans isn't worth the time, the resources, and the care it would take to drop the talking points and focus on people and communities instead of whatever it is that the Democrats are about today."

Gaither earlier expressed opposition to gun bans and said the Democratic Party should focus on becoming a "rights party," in support of the Second Amendment and a woman's right to control her body. That's not what the Democratic Party wants now, he said.

"It's not about protecting all of our constitutional rights, unfortunately. Instead it appears Dems are using the fears of violence to strip those they disagree with of their right to express it," Gaither said.

The 35 Democratic county chairs in the 15th District could meet to select a candidate to run against Miller, but they'd have to do so by June 3. And the candidate would face incredibly long odds. Miller's campaign committee reported this week that she had $495,586 in her campaign fund on March 30, and she is remarkably popular in her district, having won her two previous races with 71 percent (2022) and 73 percent (2020).

A recent ranking by the Conservative Political Action Conference said that Miller is among the most conservative members in the House, scoring 96 percent. Only 21 Republicans had more conservative voting records.

Budzinski pulls in more cash

In the 13th Congressional District (which includes Champaign-Urbana), freshman Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, continues to pile up campaign contributions. As of March 30, she had $1.74 million on hand. That's about $700,000 more than she had six months ago, and about a million dollars more than she had a year ago.

Her Republican opponent, Joshua Loyd of Virden, reported just $37 on hand after winning a primary election last month against Thomas Clatterbuck of Champaign.

Among $2.6 million in campaign contributions to Budzinski since Jan. 1, 2023, $1.58 million was from individuals. Notable among them is hedge fund manager and Democratic supporter George Soros and his son Alex (each $6,600); top Walmart heirs James and Lukas Walton (each $6,600) and longtime Democratic presidential adviser John Podesta ($1,500). Among local donors Budzinski has received $3,250 from Champaign Democratic precinct worker Diane Ore and another $600 from her husband Fred; $3,000 from Champaign school board member Amy Armstrong; and $1,100 from University of Illinois lobbyist and former state legislator Robert Flider.

Budzinski has collected more than a million dollars in this election cycle from political action committees including: $10,000 from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, the Communication Workers of America, the Growth Energy PAC, the National Education Association and the New Democrat Coalition Action Fund; $8,000 from Constellation Energy; $7,500 from Home Depot and the National Association of Letter Carriers; and $7,000 from the Illinois Corn Growers, the Midwest Region Laborers and the Democratic Turnout Project.

Party leaders chosen

As is the normal course following primary elections, the precinct committeepersons of the local Democratic and Republican parties this week chose their leaders for the next two years.

Champaign County Democrats chose Champaign resident and former county recorder Mike Ingram for another term as party chair. His executive committee will include DeShawn Williams as first vice chair, Matt Sullard as second vice chair, Michelle Jett as treasurer and Will Schoell as secretary.

Champaign County Republicans elected Dr. Susan Mantell as their next county chair, succeeding Jim McGuire, who did not run for another term. Mantell, who is the second woman to head the local Republican Party, was chosen over Jeff Wilson.

Marjorie Sodemann was the first woman to serve as Republican chair in Champaign County, back in the mid-1980s.

"It's been a long time," said Mantell.

Vice chair of the local GOP is Kurt Harshbarger, treasurer is Rich Montgomery and secretary is Michael Schamer.

Mantell, who grew up in Philo and now lives in Sidney, will retire later this year as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. She has served for 40 years. She practices family medicine in Philo, is married, has four children and three grandchildren. She has numerous degrees from the University of Illinois, including a bachelor's in agriculture, master's degrees in kinesiology and nutrition, an MBA and a medical degree.

She said she has not been active in politics.

"I love our country and consider myself a patriot and I just want to do what I can to make our country better," she said.