State Sen. Kyle McCarter, Republican from Lebanon, announced Wednesday his candidacy for the U.S. Congressional seat held since 1997 by Rep. John Shimkus, Republican from Collinsville.
McCarter spoke to the Madison-St. Clair Record after making the announcement, saying he has the energy and ideas to bring some good to Washington.
“We all know that Washington’s broke,” McCarter said. “Unfortunately the representative in this district has become part of the problem, so I’m stepping up.”
In a statement provided to the Record, Shimkus said a little competition is a good thing.
“I will strongly defend my conservative voting record, my accessibility throughout the district, and the constituent service that my office provides to the people of Illinois,” the statement read.
Shimkus also pointed out that McCarter doesn’t live in the district in which he’s running.
“Unlike my opponent, my family lives in the 15th District,” the statement reads, “and we never moved to Washington.”
McCarter, who resides in the 12th Congressional District, says that fact is a non-issue.
“I was drawn out of the district, I’m a mile south of the line,” McCarter said. “And right now, I’m looking for a place so I can be in the middle of the district.”
As for the present disparity in campaign finances, Shimkus had more than $1 million on hand at the end of the second quarter, McCarter told the Record, “You don’t win elections matching dollars for dollars.”
Third quarter financial disclosure reports for federal-level candidates and office holders are due Oct. 15.