Illinois Valley Times

Illinois state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) has officially launched her challenge against first-term U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) in the 14th Congressional District.

Rezin, who has served nine years in Springfield, made her intentions known this week by formally filing a declaration of candidacy and other required paperwork. She joins a growing pool of at least six GOP candidates who have launched challenges to Underwood in a district that has traditionally been a Republican stronghold.  

The Chicago Tribune reports that Rezin marked her candidacy by opening a campaign office in Gurnee, nestled in the far northeastern part of the district that also includes parts of McHenry, DuPage, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall and Will counties. The veteran lawmaker who won reelection last year joins a group of candidates that includes fellow GOP lawmakers state Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) and state Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee).  

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) | twitter.com/repunderwood

Underwood, meanwhile, formally launched her reelection campaign late last month. The first-term U.S. representative swept into office as part of a suburban blue wave in the 2018 midterm elections that saw her knock off four-term incumbent Randy Hultgren (R-Plano) by nearly 15,000 votes.