No recent polls have been taken for the race to succeed retiring Republican Rep. John Shimkus in Illinois' 15th District (Springfield).
At best, Prairie State sources who spoke to Newsmax agree that the race for the district in which Shimkus had little trouble winning for the past 24 years is now up for grabs.
In Republican Mary Miller and Democrat Erika Weaver, a lively contest that sometimes seems to be President Donald Trump vs. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., by proxy is under way.
Miller, a farmer, business manager, and mother of seven, won the GOP primary with 57% of the vote over several "establishment" Republicans.
Coles County Public Defender Weaver won the Democrat primary on a hard-left platform, calling for expansion of the Affordable Care Act and declaring her backing of "Medicare for All." She also supports clean energy and power to combat climate change.
Miller, 60, had the early backing of the House Freedom Caucus, which she promised to join if elected, and then-Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., before he became White House chief of staff.
A strong admirer of Trump and "his America First agenda," Miller spoke of going to Washington, D.C., "to be an independent voice for local families" and "fight the socialist agenda."
Her strong pro-Second Amendment and pro-life positions aside, Miller emphasized to Newsmax that "my top priority is creating economic opportunity, and until we do that, businesses will flee the area."
The contrast between the candidates and their agendas is sure to draw national attention to the race in Illinois-15 before the election next week.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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