Jacobs wins close GOP race for 115th District

Paul Jacobs has won the Republican nomination to serve as state representative for the 115th District.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night, the Pomona optometrist led Texico farmer John Howard 3,273-2,821. Three other candidates - Clifford Lindemann of Bluford, Zachary Meyer of Du Quoin and Johnnie Ray Smith II of Ashley - finished far behind. Results are unofficial until the vote is canvassed.

The 115th District covers parts of Jackson, Perry, Union and Washington counties, as well as all of Jefferson County. It covers about half of Carbondale.

No Democrat filed to run in the primary, but the party could appoint a candidate to run in the general election.

The seat is wide open in this fall's general election after the Republican incumbent, Terri Bryant, announced her intention to run for the 58th Senate District seat being vacated by Paul Schimpf. On Tuesday, Bryant sailed to an uncontested win in the Republican primary for that seat.