Republican Congressman John Shimkus from Illinois’ 15th Congressional District will be returning to Washington for another term. Shimkus, who has been in Congress since 1997, defeated Democratic challenger Kevin Gaither with roughly 70 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s midterm election. 

Illinois's 15th Congressional district stretches from the southern tip of Illinois to parts of the Metro East Area of St. Louis all the way to Danville. Republican John Shimkus is running for his 12th term in Congress. He was unopposed in the 2016 general election but this year faces a challenge from Democrat Kevin Gaither of Charleston.

Betsy Dirksen Londrigan of Springfield has won the Democratic nomination for the 13th District Congressional seat currently held by Republican Rodney Davis of Taylorville. 

And in the 15th District, Kevin Gaither of Charleston has won the Democratic nomination for the Congressional seat currently held by Republican John Shimkus of Collinsville.

Kevin Gaither says people in Illinois’ 15th Congressional District are desperate for change. And Gaither, who works as a tutor in Charleston, says he wants to help them achieve it. Gaither is one of two Democrats running in the March primary, with the goal of unseating Republican Congressman John Shimkus in November.