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A Republican who was running to replace a retiring House member is running for retiring Sen. Dan Duffy’s seat instead, negating what could have been a contentious primary race.
Barely an hour after Duffy's announcement Thursday that he would not seek a third term, Republican Dan McConchie announced he would run for the 26th Illinois Senate seat, rather than the 51st House District seat now held by retiring Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein. The 51st District and the 52nd District represented by David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, are paired with the 26th Senate.
McConchie’s decision, for now, eliminates a 51st District primary between two candidates backed by two different local politicians. Duffy, R-Lake Barrington, endorsed McConchie for the 51st, while Sullivan has publicly backed Lake County Board member Nick Sauer as his successor.
McConchie, of Hawthorn Woods, said the 26th District needs “strong conservative leadership” to continue with Duffy’s example, and called him a “role model in the principled stands he has taken.”
“Like Sen. Duffy, I will be a principled advocate for lower taxes, smarter government and will uphold the conservative values we hold dear,” McConchie said in his statement,
McConchie, a veteran and a married father of two, is vice president of government affairs for Americans United for Life, a national pro-life and bioethics legal advocacy group, and sits on several not-for-profit boards, as well.
The 26th District covers southeastern McHenry County, southwestern Lake County, far northwestern Kane County and a sliver of Cook County, including all or parts of Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, Cary, Fox River Grove, Carpentersville and Barrington. McSweeney made clear after Duffy's announcement that he would not seek the seat and will run again for the 52nd District, which covers the western half of the 26th, including the McHenry and Kane county portions.
Duffy, who was first elected in 2008 and pledged to limit himself to two terms in office, said he wanted to make good on his promise. Sullivan was first elected in 2002.
Local state Rep. Mike Tryon, R-Crystal Lake, also is retiring and will not seek a seventh term representing the 66th House District. A four-way GOP primary has shaped up to replace him. The district includes parts of southeastern McHenry and northern Kane counties, including parts of Crystal Lake, Lakewood, Lake in the Hills, Huntley and Algonquin.