A former television meteorologist in the Quad Cities and Rockford is announcing his run for the new Illinois 17th Congressional District. So is a former Rockford state representative.
Born in Rockford, Eric Sorensen worked for WREX-TV in Rockford and later for WQAD-TV in Moline. He's running for Congress as a Democrat.
Sorensen lives in Moline with his partner, Shawn. In a tweet, he said he wants to use his background in science to help solve problems.
Former state Rep. Litesa Wallace (D-Rockford) is also announcing her run for the new seat. She served in the Illinois General Assembly from 2014-2019.
A single mother, Wallace co-founded the Rockford Anti-Racism Network and serves as a fellow for the Diversifying Faculty in Higher Education Board. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Northern Illinois University.
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Moline) isn't running for another term. Rockford alderman Jonathan Logemann and Rock Island County Board member Angie Normoyle are also vying for the Democratic nomination.
Esther Joy King, who lost to Bustos by just a few thousand votes last year, is running for the seat again as a Republican. Insurance agent Charlie Helmick of East Moline is also seeking the Republican nomination.
The new Illinois 17th Congressional District cuts a swath through much of northern, central, and western Illinois. It snakes from Rockford down through the Quad Cities, and down Interstate 74 through Galesburg, Peoria, and Bloomington. The new district also stretches southwest to include the city of Macomb, home of Western Illinois University.
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