A 2021 Sherrard High School graduate has announced an election campaign in an Illinois House of Representatives race.
New Windsor’s Veronica Sparksman, 22, is running as a Democrat in Illinois’ 71st congressional district in 2026. Sparksman was a candidate in the Sherrard School Board race in April but wasn’t elected.
She spoke with WRMJ about the origins of her interest in politics, the role her time in the Sherrard School District played in her decision to run for public office, what she hopes to accomplish, and more.
Illinois’s 71st congressional district is currently represented by State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha). Swanson, a Republican, announced his re-election campaign earlier this month.
The district includes Sherrard, New Windsor, and Alexis in Mercer County.