Bob Gray, the President of the Springfield, Illinois Citizens Club, will seek to run for State Senate as an independent candidate. He needs 3,000 valid signatures, due in June. He is well-known in Springfield, and in 2009 was the recipient of the State Journal-Register’s “First Citizen” award. The Citizens Club is well-known for holding regular public forums and candidate debates.

So far, the only other person running for State Senate in that district is the Republican nominee. No Democrat ran in the Democratic primary, but the Democratic Party could still field a candidate if it wishes.