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Rare July Election in Illinois

Wikimedia

The race to replace former Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) has shaped up as a classic Republican primary.  It pits the son of a longtime Illinois congressman and Obama Cabinet member against a conservative writer who has railed at what he sees as the "establishment" GOP hand-picking the disgraced lawmaker's successor.

Three Republicans and two Democrats will appear on the ballot Tuesday (July 7), but most eyes in the deeply Republican district have been on State Senator Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) and Michael Flynn.

LaHood is the son of former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, while Flynn helped found the late blogger and commentator Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com.

Donald Rients is also on the Republican ballot.

Two men are vying for the Democratic nomination: Springfield School Board member Adam Lopez and Quincy High School teacher Rob Mellon.

The five candidates have diverse work backgrounds and politics, but all argue one similar point: They're nothing like Schock.

Schock resigned in March after mounting scrutiny of his extravagant spending.

Early voting for the primary began at the end of May. Turnout has reportedly been low throughout the large district, which branches into 19 counties.

The general election is September 10th.