Conservative firebrand and freshman Rep. Mary Miller managed to edge out Rep. Rodney Davis in the heated Republican primary battle for Illinois’s 15th Congressional District on Tuesday.
Her win comes in the wake of former President Donald Trump holding a rally in the district on Saturday in an effort to boost her odds in the neck-and-neck race.
Trump opted to endorse Miller in the race despite House GOP leaders urging him to stay neutral earlier this year.
The race was seen as a litmus test for the power of the former president’s endorsement after a mixed record in primaries this cycle.
ILLINOIS MEMBER VS. MEMBER GOP PRIMARY BATTLE HEATS UP
Davis conceded the race late Tuesday.
Miller opted to run in the deep-red district, which encompasses much of central and southern Illinois, despite her home being drawn outside of its lines. Davis was first elected to his congressional seat in 2012 and is now the top Republican on the House Administration Committee.
Davis was endorsed by key Republicans, including Illinois Reps. Darin LaHood and Mike Bost, as well as former Rep. John Shimkus, his old boss. Thirty-one out of 35 GOP county leaders, a slew of state lawmakers and groups — including the Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR, the Illinois Police Benevolent and Protective Association, and both the Illinois and U.S. Chambers of Commerce — also backed him in the race, while outside groups including the Club for Growth spent roughly $4 million in the race to boost Miller’s candidacy.
The race became increasingly contentious as Election Day neared, with Miller attempting to paint Davis as a “RINO,” or Republican in name only, accusing him of supporting the Jan. 6 select committee, which he voted against, and arguing in attack ads that he had a softer line on gun rights and abortion.
Davis defended his record as a conservative and highlighted a string of controversies involving Miller, including Miller saying that the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was a “victory for white life” during a weekend rally with Trump in the district, having had a convicted pedophile assist with her campaign, and saying that “Hitler was right about one thing” during a 2021 speech.
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Shortly after her weekend remarks drew controversy, Miller asserted she misspoke at the Trump rally and meant to say, “Victory for right to life.” Miller also previously apologized following her remarks on Hitler. Her campaign did not respond to requests for comment on whether the convicted pedophile is still associated with her campaign.
Miller is expected to win the safe Republican seat in November handily.
