SPRINGFIELD – As of noon the last day that 2020 GOP primary candidates can submit petitions to be on the ballot, four Republicans could be on next March's GOP primary statewide:
- former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran,
- Springfield area cancer surgeon Dr. Thomas Tarter,
- Belleville area former veteran and law enforcement officer Peggy Hubbard and
- Glenview businessman, as well as former President of the Polish American Congress – Illinois Division Casey Chlebek.
Whichever of these Republicans that wins the March 2020 primary will challenge US Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin in the November 2020 presidential election.
The 75 year old Durbin first was elected to the U.S. Senate from Illinois in 1996 – defeating Republican Al Salvi with the help of former President Bill Clinton at the top of the ticket.