Schimpf cruises to win in 58th Senate District

Waterloo attorney and retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Paul Schimpf easily defeated Murphysboro attorney Sharee Langenstein Tuesday night for the Republican nomination for the 58th State Senate District.

“I am humbled to have begun the formal process of earning the trust from the 58th State Senate District's voters,” Schimpf said. “As we march towards November's General Election, I know that I will continue earn the trust of the voters of Southwestern Illinois."

He also thanked Langenstein, saying, “I have tremendous personal respect for Sharee and her work on the conservative causes that we both care about.”

Langenstein declined to comment when she was reached Tuesday night.

Schimpf’s last run for public office — a bid for Illinois Attorney General against incumbent Democrat Lisa Madigan — ended in failure in 2014. He faces a name arguably as well-known in Illinois this November when he takes on Democrat Sheila Simon of Carbondale.

Simon, who served as lieutenant governor under former Gov. Pat Quinn, was unopposed Tuesday.

Schimpf said he was looking forward to “what will likely be a spirited campaign from the Simon camp.”

“I’ve met Sheila and her husband (Perry Knop) many times and I think they’re great people,” he said. “We are at very different places on the political spectrum. I’m looking forward to a vigorous campaign.”

The seat in the 58th has been occupied for years by Republican Dave Luechtefeld of Okawville, but the district was recently redrawn and the new district map no longer includes Luechtefeld’s residence.

Schimpf had Luechtefeld’s endorsement in the race.

Vote totals as of 11:07 p.m., with 230 of 241 precincts counted:

58th State Senate District - Republican

Paul Schimpf: 18,277

Sharee Langenstein: 9,094

58th State Senate District - Democrat

Sheila Simon: *Simon was unopposed.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 8:32 PM with the headline "Schimpf cruises to win in 58th Senate District."