Republican Jason Plummer of Edwardsville edged out rival State Sen. Matt Murphy in the GOP primary by 4,722 votes.
Plummer's meteoric rise in Illinois politics began in September when he formed a campaign committee chaired by former Republican State Sen. Frank Watson.
His campaign has been financed with more than $1 million of personal wealth, as well as contributions or loans from family or family-owned businesses, according to records from the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Plummer, who is vice president of RP Lumber in Edwardsville, contributed $300,000 to his campaign. He lent his campaign $50,000.
RP Lumber contributed $460,000 and lent the campaign $100,000.
Robert Plummer, company founder, lent the campaign $200,000.
Other Plummer entities contributed or lent $225,000.
Plummer did well in his home county-- Madison-- having netted 8,793 votes out of 13,614 Republican votes cast for Lt. Governor.
By comparison, there were 11,222 Democratic votes cast for Lt. Governor in Madison County.
Plummer tops Murphy in Lt. Governor race
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