FARMER CITY, Ill. (WAND) – State Rep. Dan Caulkins, (R-Decatur) kicked off the start of his 2022 campaign for reelection running in a new district with a visit to an American Legion Hall in Farmer City.

The Democratic controlled General Assembly drew new redistricting maps that put Caulkins head-to-head with fellow Republican Brad Halbrook of Shelbyville in the 107^th district. But Caulkins will run instead in the new 88^th district, ending the possibility of one of the incumbents being voted out of office in a primary.

To run in the 88^th Caulkins would have to move out of his house in the 107^th district and into a new residence in the 88^th if we wins in the November 2022 general election. Caulkins tells WAND News he will make that move.

Caulkins could have been up against another incumbent Republican in the 88^th but Representative Dan Brady, (R) Bloomington, announced Wednesday he will instead run for Secretary of State. The new district is made up of about 70% of Caulkins old district.

Caulkins started the first day of his campaign in his new district with a radio interview on WZUS FM in Decatur and with stops in Monticello, Farmer City and lunch in Bloomington. His district will include parts of Macon, Piatt, DeWitt and McLean counties.