A longtime Illinois state lawmaker says he's running for a southern Illinois congressional seat.
State Rep. Mike Bost of Murphysboro won't seek re-election in the state's 115th District and instead will pursue the 12th Congressional District seat.
The Republican has been a state lawmaker for 18 years.
The U.S. House seat Bost will pursue is held by Democrat Bill Enyart, who was elected last November and announced in May he'll be seeking another two-year term.
The 12th District stretches from the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis to the state's southernmost tip.
Bost will have competition in the Republican primary from Doug Bucshon, an Illinois Army National Guard veteran and former sports journalist.
