U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville on Tuesday formally announced his bid to seek reelection to a sixth term in Congress, taking himself out of consideration for the Republican nomination for governor next year.
The central Illinois Republican’s move was a nod toward the new congressional map passed by legislative Democrats that puts his home in a strong GOP-leaning district that stretches from the Indiana border to the Mississippi River and does not include another incumbent Republican.
It also was an acknowledgment of the powerful role seniority plays in Congress. Davis could move up in the ranks of Republicans and gain a committee chairmanship as soon as 2023 if he wins reelection and the GOP regains control of the House in the midterm elections.
As a show of strength aimed at warding off any primary challenges, including a possible bid from fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, Davis on Tuesday unveiled endorsements from 31 of the 35 GOP county chairmen in the new 15th District, as well as from two of his Illinois Republican congressional colleagues, Darin LaHood of Peoria and Mike Bost of Murphysboro.
Miller’s home in Oakland is just outside the new Davis district and is in a district with Bost, who has been in Congress since 2015. Bost has indicated he will seek reelection, while Miller, who’s in the far-right wing of her party in Congress, has not stated her intentions. Members of Congress do not have to live in the district they represent.
In a statement, Davis said he was “excited” to seek reelection and made no mention of considering a bid for governor.
“Democrats in Washington have put our nation in crisis with their big government, socialist schemes and dreams,” Davis said.
“Republicans are primed to retake the House next year and I’m ready to work with a new Republican majority to finally fire (Democratic House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi and hold the Biden administration accountable for their massive failures,” he said. “I look forward to campaigning hard and earning every vote in this district over the next year.”
Davis had been contemplating a potential run for governor for months, while acknowledging the new congressional map drawn by Democrats would likely determine the course he would take. He became highly critical of first-term Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and legislative Democrats, while at times also appearing to take a more centrist tact that could play well in a statewide race.
While a supporter of former President Donald Trump, Davis was among 35 Republicans who in May crossed GOP leadership and voted to create a panel to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection attempt at the Capitol.
He was poised to sit on that special committee but agreed not to at the request of House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy. Davis has strong ties to the House party leadership.
If he wins another term, Davis would be in line to chair the House Committee on Administration, and could in future years head the powerful House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
There remain four announced Republican governor candidates, businessmen Gary Rabine of Bull Valley and Jesse Sullivan of Petersburg, as well as state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia and former state Sen. Paul Schimpf of Waterloo.
Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon has said he is considering a run for governor or senator, but has acknowledged his anti-Trump positioning could keep him from winning a primary. Kinzinger also is considering a potential 2024 presidential bid as he tries to move Republicans away from Trump. Kinzinger is one of two Republicans serving on the Jan. 6 panel.
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GOP U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis to seek sixth term. - Chicago Tribune
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