An Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate is offering his endorsement to a challenger of longtime State Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) in next month’s primary election.
Speaking at a campaign event in Aledo on Saturday, Darren Bailey said he supports Josh Higgins, a Biggsville native, in his campaign to win the Republican nomination for state representative in Illinois’s 94th district. Higgins is currently on the West Central School District Board of Education.
Hammond has served in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2010 and is currently the Deputy House Republican leader.
Bailey says his endorsement of Higgins comes after the House Republican Organization, which is supporting Hammond, began an attack campaign against Higgins for a 2011 domestic violence arrest that he was never formally charged of.
The primary election is March 17.
The 94th district includes Aledo and the western portion of Mercer County.