GOP candidate from Winfield to switch congressional races
A first-time Republican congressional candidate from Winfield has announced he's switching districts.
Justin Burau said he'll now run for the 3rd District seat. He had been a candidate in the 6th District.
Winfield became part of the 3rd in a congressional map recently approved by state lawmakers and Gov. J.B. Pritzker. It's effective starting with the 2022 election.
Both districts cover portions of the West suburbs, while the 3rd also includes some Chicago neighborhoods and some Northwest suburban communities. The new 6th District includes some Southwestern suburbs.
"I got in this race to bring an outsider's perspective to Washington while truly fighting for the people," Burau said in a prepared statement. "This new district does not mean now is the time to quit on this vision, but to push forward."
The current 3rd District representative, Democrat Marie Newman of LaGrange, plans to run in the 6th District, lining up against Democratic incumbent Sean Casten of Downers Grove.
Republican hopefuls Niki Conforti of Glen Ellyn, Rob Cruz of Oak Lawn and Keith Pekau of Orland Park also are running for the 6th seat, according to paperwork filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Newman's departure leaves the 3rd District seat open. According to the FEC, three Democratic candidates already are set to run in the 3rd: Gilbert Villegas, Delia Ramirez and Iymen Hamman Chehade, all of Chicago.