LaHood, ex-congressman's son, to vie for Aaron Schock's seat

In this May 12, 2014 photo, Illinois state Sen. Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap, greets people during opening ceremonies for an intersection in Peoria, Ill. (AP Photo/Journal Star, Fred Zwicky, file)

PEORIA, Ill. The son of former White House Cabinet member Ray LaHood emerged as the leading contender Wednesday to replace U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, as two other potential candidates abandoned thoughts of seeking the seat that is coming open after a spending scandal forced the Illinois congressman's abrupt resignation.

State Sen. Darin LaHood, whose father held the central Illinois seat before Schock and then served as President Barack Obama's transportation secretary, announced that he would seek the seat Wednesday morning during an appearance on a radio show in Peoria, where his family has resided for decades.

"This is an opportunity that doesn't come around very often," LaHood said, saying he had received "a lot of encouragement" to make a bid for the post in the hours that followed Schock's announcement Tuesday.

LaHood said he plans to campaign on his record as a former state and federal prosecutor, and on his record as a fiscal conservative who advocated for ethics reform. He said he considers himself more conservative than his father.

"I've got a conservative voting record here, a strong record in the senate, so I'll stand on that," he said.

Two other GOP state senators Jason Barickman and Bill Brady were considering bids, but both said they had decided against running in a special election that Gov. Bruce Rauner will call after Schock leaves office March 31. It must be held within 120 days, meaning voters will select a replacement by the end of July.

Schock's departure, fast and hard even by Washington's standards, was still resonating Wednesday for the area's politicians and Schock's constituents.

Schock accepted rides on donors' private planes without properly reporting them, made improbably lucrative real estate deals with political supporters, and spent $40,000 in taxpayer money to decorate his office in the style of "Downton Abbey" money he paid back after the expenditures came under question.

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LaHood, ex-congressman's son, to vie for Aaron Schock's seat