Republicans Joshua Loyd and Thomas Clatterbuck are vying for the nomination in tomorrow’s primary election to challenge Democrat incumbent Congresswoman Nikki Budzinksi for the 13th Congressional District.
The 13th Congressional District spans central and southern Illinois, including portions of Madison and St. Clair Counties. The District also covers Macoupin County and parts of Sangamon, Piatt, Macon and Champaign Counties.
According to his campaign website, Loyd was born and raised in Illinois and spent most of his childhood playing in the barn, mudding, and hiking. Loyd was also an Eagle Scout.
Loyd is a West Point Graduate and says he lives by the West Point Creed to “never lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.”
Loyd previously served as a precinct committeeman in southern Illinois and worked on political campaigns for candidates at the state and federal level.
Loyd represented and advocated for Career and Technical Student Organizations, represented SkillsUSA Illinois as the state president, and advocated for funding for Career and Technical Education. He also received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award on several occasions.
According to his campaign website, Clatterbuck moved to Jacksonville with his family as an infant and has lived in central Illinois ever since.
He attended University of Illinois at both Urbana-Champaign and Springfield, earning a B.A. in history in 2016.
After graduation, Clatterbuck worked in “the Springfield startup scene,” starting the watchdog media company Springfield Daily with other local entrepreneurs. During that time, Clatterbuck also worked in the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk’s office, aiding litigants without lawyers to navigate the court system.
“Thomas saw first-hand the challenges such citizens face when trying to figure out the legal system without help while also dealing with whatever personal crisis brought them in,” his biography states. “Thomas also joined the office union and still proudly carries his LIUNA card.”
When the Covid shutdown made in-person reporting impossible, Clatterbuck’s media company ended. In response, he returned to school to obtain his law degree. He worked at the Land of Lincoln Legal Aid clinic in Champaign. He is currently in his final year of law school and anticipates finishing his law degree this spring.
Clatterbuck also worked for both the Illinois Senate Republican caucus and Congresswoman Mary Miller’s district office in Mahomet.
Budzinski, of Springfield, took office in January 2023 after defeating Republican Regan Deering, of Decatur. Her current term ends January 2025.
Budzinski formerly served as a senior advisor to Gov. J.B. Pritzker on labor issues and chief of staff for President Joe Biden’s office of management and budget.
13th Congressional District