Tonight, the Belleville News-Democrat has confirmed what we have expected: St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly (D) is running for Congress for the chance to unseat two-term incumbent Mike Bost (R) in 2018.
[Brendan] Kelly, a Democrat, said while he respected U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) as a man and a father, he disagreed with some of his actions. Kelly talked about the American Health Care Act that he said would cut 38,000 Southern Illinoisans from coverage, including 7,000 veterans. He also talked about opioid epidemic and reduction in mental health and addiction treatment. And the failing trust in institutions such as the media, religion and the government.
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Kelly has served as St. Clair County State’s Attorney since 2010 when he was appointed to replace Robert Haida, who became a circuit judge. Before his appointment, he served as St. Clair County circuit clerk. He worked as an assistant prosecutor under Haida. Kelly graduated from Notre Dame University and Saint Louis University School of Law.
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So far, four other people have formally announced their candidacies: Dean Pruitt, of Millstadt; David Bequette, of Columbia; Pat McMahan, a city council member in Mascoutah; and Adam King, of Alton. Nathan Colombo, of Carbondale, has filed paperwork to run for the Democratic nomination but has yet to formally announce his candidacy. Chris Miller, a Roxana native, is raising money to run in the 12th.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO- A rumored bid at a run for Congress became reality Wednesday night for St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly, who confirmed his plans for the 2018 in an interview with the Belleville News-Democrat. He said a news release would be coming out Thursday morning but was already Tweeting about the race from a campaign account Wendesday night.
Brendan Kelly’s campaign Facebook:
Until 2014, the district was represented by Democrats (Jerry Costello and Bill Enyart). Most of this district was friendly to Democrats, but in recent years, the Republicans have made inroads into this district. Example: Obama won in 2008 and 2012, but Trump won in 2016 at the Presidential level. Duckworth probably won this district at the Senate level in 2016. Despite that, significant Democratic strength downballot (especially at the county level and the state legislature) remains in most areas of the district, although some signs of that may be eroding, as evidenced by Forby and Bradley’s losses in the legislature and Kurt Prenzler (R)’s ousting of incumbent Alan Dunstan (D) to win Madison County Board Chairman in 2016.
Not too long ago, this district was in the news nationwide, as the Congressional baseball game practice shooter had ties to the city of Belleville.
Hopefully Kelly (or whoever emerges out of this primary) will topple Bost in 2018 at the ballot box!