Voters in the 18th Congressional District in Illinois turned out July 7 for Republican and Democrat primary elections.  Photo © jinlide/ dreamstime.com

The special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock in the 18th Congressional District will be between Republican Darin LaHood and Democrat Robert Mellon.  Both men easily won their respective primaries on July 7.

LaHood, a Dunlap resident and state senator for the 37th District, captured 69 percent of the votes far-pacing Donald Rients of Benson and Mike Flynn of Quincy, who, respectively, received 28 percent and 3 percent of the votes. Both Rients and Flynn have never held public office.

Mellon, a high school teacher and National Guard reservist, defeated Adam Lopez , a member of the Springfield school board, by a 60 to 40 percent margin.  The 18th Congressional District encompasses a 19-county area, including McLean, Peoria, and Tazewell counties, stretches from the Mississippi River to Bloomington-Normal. The special election is needed find a replacement for Schock, who resigned earlier this year amidst an investigation into his financial matters and spending practices.

— LaHood, Mellon win 18th Congressional primary elections —