Sangamon Sun

Incumbent State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) has survived a challenge in the 95th House District from Springfield attorney Kent Gray.

Gray, an appointee under former president Donald Trump and a state campaign manager for the Trump campaign, challenged Butler on a variety of issues, including his lack of support for the former president.

Butler thanked supporters after the victory.

“Thank you to everyone in the #New95th for the overwhelming support! I never would have imagined we would receive almost 75% of the vote. It is the honor of my life to serve in the Illinois House, and I sincerely appreciate such a tremendous victory tonight. It is humbling. On to the November election!” Butler said on Facebook.

With 95 percent of precincts reporting Butler notched 7.393 votes to Gray’s 2,656 votes.

Days before the campaign Gray filed a libel lawsuit against Butler for sending out a text message to supporters with allegedly false allegations that Gray owed child support.

"It violates state and federal law on campaign disclosure and text messaging sender disclosure by the FEC and the State Board of Elections," Gray said, according to Yahoo News.

Butler was seen campaigning with failed gubernatorial candidate Aurora mayor Richard Irvin in the weeks prior to the election.

“(He is) probably the wrong choice to be our standard bearer for the Republican Party against J.B. Pritzker,” Gray said of Butler’s support of Irvin.

The sighting isn’t out of the ordinary. Butler was one of the legislative leaders who supported Irvin despite his long history of voting for Democrats. Butler refused to renounce his endorsement of Irvin after text messages were leaked in which Irvin called Trump a “bigot” and noted “I hate him too,” the Sangamon Sun reported.

Gray also struck out at Butler for voting to raise the state’s gas tax, noting it was one of the reasons he mounted the primary challenge against the incumbent.

“I'm most concerned about a state representative who joined with the Democrats to double Illinois's gas tax right before you know, we're in a situation now where this is just killing the trucking industry and individuals trying to drive to work,” Gray told the Sangamon Sun.

GOP gubernatorial candidate State zen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) endorsed Gray for the seat due to Butler’s vote to increase the state’s gas tax to the second highest in the nation.