Peoria Standard

State Sen. Win Stoller (R-Germantown Hills) is celebrating his primary win in State Senate District 37. 

Stoller will be unopposed in the Nov. 8 general election.

“Amy and I are deeply grateful to the voters of the 37th District," Stoller said on Facebook. "I am excited and honored to be returning to Springfield for a second term. There is much work to be done in Illinois, and I will be leading with conservative principles to tackle those challenges. We are determined to help our party’s candidates prevail in November and bring conservative reform to Illinois. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you all!”

Stoller, who was endorsed by GOP candidate State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), saw a close race against Brett Nicklaus. Stoller won 51.2% of the vote and 11,122 votes to Nicklaus’ 48.8% and 10,595 votes, according to Ballotpedia's records.

The race was one of interest from those across the state as Stoller, an incumbent, was challenged by Nicklaus who was backed by House Minority Leader Jim Durkin. Durkin provided Nicklaus with $25,000 in campaign cash. Rep. Toni McCombie (R-Savanna) — a Durkin supporter — also kicked in $16,000 on behalf of Nicklaus. The discord within the party came after Stoller supported Travis Weaver who defeated incumbent State Rep. Mark Luft (R-Pekin) in the 97th District.

“You read that right," Politico reported on the intra-party fight. "The House Republican leader is meddling in a state Senate GOP primary, doling out cash that might otherwise help Republican candidates fight off Democrats in the upcoming general election. Republicans are a minority in Springfield, after all.”

The clash between Stoller and Nicklaus is indicative of larger issues in the state’s Republican Party. Durkin sought to control the outcome of the GOP gubernatorial candidate race working with billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin, who provided $50 million in the effort, to support the deeply flawed candidacy of Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin. Irvin came in third behind eventual primary winner Bailey and runner-up and political newcomer entrepreneur Jesse Sullivan. Amid the swift collapse of the Irvin campaign, Durkin is said to be trying to shore up support from other candidates he hopes will keep him in power in the party. 

Durkin relished GOP primary candidates of his choice with hundreds of thousands in campaign dollars while insiders report he has objected to others in the party getting involved in down-ballot races, Peoria Standard reported. Durkin spent the $1 million in personal campaign funds Griffin provided him trying to shore up support among other House candidates but lost several high-profile downstate races leading many to believe he will face stiff opposition and may lose his position when successful opponents in those races such as Weaver, Jennifer Korte, Dr. Bill Hauter, Dennis Tipsword, Scott Greene and Jed Davis, who were heavily outspent, take office.

When it became clear Irvin’s candidacy was DOA before the June 28 primary, Durkin stalwart State Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria), who also fought against Stoller’s candidacy, jumped ship, Peoria Standard previously reported.

The move away from the Irvin campaign by entrenched Republicans such as Spain came just before the June 28 primary and as Griffin saw the writing on the wall — announcing that Citadel Securities would be leaving Chicago, Chicago City Wire reported.