Centralia Democrat running for Congress in the 12th district

Joshua Qualls, of Centralia, has announced his candidacy in the Democratic primary for the 12th congressional district.

The Illinois primary election will be held in June 2022 and the general election is in November 2022. At this point, Qualls is the only Democratic candidate running in the 12th.

In the recent redistricting based on the 2020 census, southern Illinois was reduced to one congressional district, the 12th.

The seat is currently held by Republican Mike Bost of Murphysboro, who is running for reelection. U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of the 15th district has not yet announced if she will run for reelection in the 12th against Bost, or in the 15th against congressman Rodney Davis. Her hometown of Oakland has been drawn in to the new 12th district.

In a news release announcing his candidacy, Qualls said he believes in lowering the voting age to 16.

"The young people of this country have a voice and it needs to be heard," he wrote.

He added that he has proposals to help the American farmer and water conservation proposals to counter global warming and drought.