State Representative Dave Severin has officially announced his intention to seek re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives, continuing his tenure representing the 116th District.
A Benton native and small business owner, Severin has served in the General Assembly since 2017. In a statement released Monday, Severin emphasized his conservative voting record and commitment to representing the values of southern Illinois.
“My constituents know that I put their interests and values first,” Severin said. “I’ve built a solid conservative Republican voting record in Springfield.”
Severin highlighted his stance on several key issues, including opposition to Sanctuary State policies, taxpayer-funded abortion, and expanded gun control measures. He also reaffirmed his positions as pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, and an advocate for restoring Illinois’ energy independence.
A vocal critic of the recently signed $55 billion state budget — the largest in Illinois history — Severin voted against the measure, calling it a product of “Democrats’ tax-and-spend policies.” He attributed much of the state’s financial growth to what he termed “explosive spending” under Governor JB Pritzker’s leadership.
“State spending has jumped by 38% in just six years,” Severin said. “Meanwhile, families are still struggling with Biden-era inflation, and now they’re also footing the bill for expanded government services and programs.”
Severin, who serves as the Republican spokesperson on the House Energy & Environment Committee, also condemned Democratic energy policies, arguing that the closure of coal-fired power plants has led to rising electricity costs and grid instability.
“I’ve voted NO on radical energy legislation that’s devastated southern Illinois,” he said. “We need to bring back baseload power, restore reliability, and reduce energy costs for families and businesses.”
Severin and his wife Penny have been married for 47 years and reside in Benton. They have one son, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.
Comments