Carbondale Reporter

State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) has announced his re-election bid.

"I have worked to rid this state of the corrupt influence of Chicago politicians, stop the radical abortion agenda, and protect our God-given constitutional freedoms in the face of an out-of-control Governor," Severin posted on Facebook. "JB Pritzker has used COVID-19 to destroy businesses and control every aspect of our lives through Executive Order. Enough is enough!"

Since first taking office in 2017, Severin has served as a member of several key House committees, including Agriculture, Energy and Environment, Veterans' Affairs, Higher Education, Judiciary Criminal Law, Elementary and Secondary Education, Tourism, and most recently, the House Redistricting Committee.

"It's been my distinct and humbling honor to serve the people of the 117th district and Southern Illinois over the last nine months," Severin said in the post. "Last year, the voters decided they wanted to chart a new course for our region. With that in mind, I've worked hard to keep the promises I made during that campaign. Voting in the House, I have said no to higher taxes, no to taxpayer-funded abortions, no to a bailout of Chicago Public Schools, and no to placing Mike Madigan as Speaker of the House. I'll keep taking our voice and Southern Illinois values to Springfield every day."

Recently, Severin voted against changes to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which he highlighted in the Facebook post that announced his run.

"My voting record reflects my strong conservative Republican principles," Severin said. "I have opposed all of the Democrats' gun-grabbing attempts, I voted no on repealing a parent's right to know if their minor child is going to have an abortion, I voted against JB Pritzker's plan to limit religious freedoms in health care matters, and I voted against the Democrats' ridiculous gerrymandered legislative maps. I have a long conservative legislative record that puts me in the strongest position to continue representing the people of Southern Illinois in a new district."