TAYLORVILLE – A decade-long career in Congress will soon come to an end for central Illinois’ Rodney Davis.
Last night, Davis conceded to primary challenger Mary Miller, whose campaign leaned on her ties to former President Donald Trump.
In a 15th district race that was expected to be a nail-biter, Congresswoman Miller ousted Congressman Davis by about 15 percentage points.
Miller is seen to represent the Trump wing of the party, while Davis sees himself as a traditional Republican.
Davis’s campaign said they knocked on over 100,000 doors, and had endorsements from GOP chairs in 31 of the 35 counties in the district.
But Trump’s endorsement and support for Miller loomed large in the race.
In a primary day press conference — prior to the polls closing – Davis felt confident about his years of experience and his ability to win.
“I’m proud of the record that I have. I’ve been able to win a seat 10 years ago that was drawn in Springfield for a Democrat. I’ve been able to beat them every single time,” Davis said.
In a concession statement from Davis’s campaign, he congratulated Miller and Trump.
“This was a hard-fought campaign, and I wish her the best in representing the citizens of the 15th District…It’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Illinois,” Davis stated.
In 2020, Davis voted in favor of certifying the presidential election results, while Miller did not.
Harrison Malkin is a reporter for Illinois Public Media. Follow him @HarrisonMalkin
