GRIDLEY, Ill. – The mayor of Washington will likely have opposition in his bid to run for a seat in the Illinois Senate in next year’s election.
Livingston County resident Mike Kirkton has announced his candidacy for the seat representing the 53rd District, which covers portions of the Tri-County area.
That sets up a primary in March, with Gary Manier having already announced.
Kirkton – the CEO of a family farm and an Army veteran – says he’s pro-life and pro-Second Amendment, and wants to help small businesses by lessening what he called “government interference.”
Kirkton ran for the Illinois House seat in the 2022 primary that was won by Woodford County Sheriffs Chief Deputy Dennis Tipsword.
Incumbent State Senator Tom Bennett is opting to retire.
