By Stephen Elliott, selliott@qconline.com

Illinois State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, will face Democratic challenger and Atkinson Mayor August "Gus" Junior in the November general election in the new 74th legislative district.

The district includes all or parts of Knox, Henry, Mercer, Bureau and Lee counties. Neither Rep. Moffitt, who has served in the legislature since 1992, nor Mr. Junior had opposition in Tuesday's primary.

The 74th House District is a part of the 37th Senate District, in which incumbent Republican Daren LaHood who won the nomination without opposition.

Sen. LaHood, of Dunlap, has no Democrat opponent at the moment. A spokesperson for Sen. LaHood said they won't know until June if he has a Democratic challenger.

The 37th District takes in all or parts of Mercer, Henry, Bureau, Knox, Stark, Peoria, Marshall and Woodford counties. Sen. LaHood was appointed in March 2011 to replace State Sen. Dale Risinger, who announced his retirement.

Sen. LaHood is the son of Ray LaHood, the U.S. Secretary of Transporation and former U.S. representative.

A LaHood staffer said Wednesday, if elected in November, Mercer County then becomes part of his new district in 2013. She said the senator's territory would shrink in Knox and Peoria counties while taking in much of Mercer County.