Steve McClure beats Donald Debolt by large margin in GOP 54th Senate District primary race

State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, on Tuesday won the GOP nomination for the redrawn 54th Senate District.

With an estimated 95 percent of the vote counted, McClure, currently the senator of the 50th District, had defeated opponent Donald Debolt by nearly 6,000 votes.

McClure had 59.8 percent of the votes, according to The Associated Press.

McClure attributed the victory to hard work.

"Myself and (campaign manager) Bailey Tate, the two of us just put our shoes on and knocked on doors in all 10 counties for the past month in the half," McClure said. "It's the grassroots in-person interaction with people that I think made our campaign really successful."

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Debolt, of Stewardson, didn't immediately return a request for comment.

The new 54th District covers portions of several counties. Among those counties are Sangamon, Christian, Macoupin, Macon, Menard and Christian. The district was redrawn in the recent redistricting process.

McClure said he expects to face off with a Democratic opponent during the general election on Nov. 8. There was no declared Democratic candidate on Tuesday.

The senator said he hopes to remain an effective lawmaker during his next term if he wins.

"I'm looking forward to fighting inflation, fighting crime and continuing to advocate for the taxpayers. Its an honor to win the Republican nomination, its very humbling," he said.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: McClure winning 54th Illinois Senate District primary by large margin