Kankakee Times

Phillip Nagel has won the GOP primary for the 40th State Senate District. 

He will take on State Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) in the November general election. 

“And the general begins ... Nagel vs. Joyce,” Nagel posted on Facebook. “That said our campaign is growing and if you have ever asked yourself, 'How do I get involved?' This is your opportunity. Check out my website nagelforsenate.com and sign up to join the team or shoot me a message/text 815-341-3628. Remember, freedom will only remain, so long as we are willing to fight for it and this is our time!” 

Nagel was an overwhelming victor in the GOP challenge. He took on Krystyna Vela besting her with 78.6% of the vote. Nagel received 9,202 votes to Vela’s 2,500, according to Ballotpedia.

“Phillip Nagel is an Air Force veteran, husband, parent, employee, patriot, Second Amendment defender and Republican who is NOT a politician looking to better himself – but is fed up with the direction our state and country have been going,” his campaign website reads. "I am running for State Senate, as I cannot and will not stand by any longer while the governor and his super majority of Democrats attack our religious freedoms, deprive our children of fresh air and fire those frontline workers that carried us through the last two years; all because we choose freedom over communism."

Nagel also notes on his campaign website that he is "advocating for parental rights, safer neighborhoods, pension protection and an end to government corruption.” 

Joyce, who Nagel will take on this fall, has been in the Senate since 2019. He currently chairs the Agriculture Committee, chair and serves on the Energy and Public Utilities Committee, Labor Committee and Local Government Committee. Joyce was unopposed in the Democrat primary, Ballotpedia reported.