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17th Congressional GOP Primary Heating Up

Esther Joy King (L) and Bill Fawell (R)

Three Republican candidates have filed to run for the 17th Congressional District. 

East Moline attorney Esther Joy King, U.S. Army veteran Eugene Farrell of Roseville, and Bill Fawell of Galena filed statements of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission. 

King has made appearances at events throughout the sprawling 17th Congressional District since declaring her candidacy last month. She recently appeared at the Pekin Marigold Festival with the Tazewell County Republicans. 

Both King and Farrell reportedly made appearances at a Rock Island County GOP BBQ event earlier this month. 

Fawell filed a statement of candidacy earlier this month. He ran against Bustos in 2018 with little national party support as the default GOP candidate after primary opponent Mark Kleine of Galesburg dropped out of the running. 

Bustos ultimately won the general election contest 62 percent to 37 percent over Fawell.

Bustos has held the seat since 2013. She defeated Republican Bobby Schilling in 2012. The district was drawn to lean Democrat, but voted for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton in 2016. 

Fawell has announced a Wednesday morning press conference in Rock Island.

His campaign committee currently had $91 cash on hand at the end of the 2017-18 filing period. No information was immediately available for King or Farrell's fundraising. 

Bustos has a little over $2.3 million cash on hand as of the last reporting period. 

Tim is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.