Like the 94th and 107th, this House district in the far southern part of the state sees a challenge to the incumbent. Voters will have a choice between a Meier or a Meyers.
State Rep. Charles Meier, 66, an Okawville Republican, has served in the House since 2013. Now he faces attorney Zachary Meyer, 29, in the Republican primary.
This is not Zachary Meyer’s first campaign — he ran in the Republican primary for Illinois House District 115 in 2020, finishing a distant fourth. We have not endorsed the incumbent in previous cycles, primarily because of past tax hike votes. That record is certainly a weakness, and his opponent in this primary is capitalizing on it, focusing squarely on fiscal issues and keeping taxes low. That said, we were surprised when Meyer told us he’d be open to limited public funding for the Chicago Bears. Meier, the incumbent, said the opposite.
Meier also told us that there’s belt-tightening that needs to be done in Springfield, and he identified $200 million in pork projects and other significant spending items that would be a good place to start. We appreciate that, and hope he’s serious about pursuing these efficiencies should he win another term. To his credit, he did oppose the graduated income tax in 2020, and we believe his experience makes him the stronger candidate in this primary race.
Charles Meier is endorsed.
Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois primary election here.
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