Past Lt. Gov. Candidate Running for Congress

An unsuccessful Republican candidate for Illinois lieutenant governor is running for Congress.

Businessman Jason Plummer's campaign announced Monday he's running in Illinois' 12th Congressional District in southern Illinois. Democratic U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello is retiring.

The seat would be a prize for Republicans. A Democrat-drawn redistricting map attempts to strip them of their gains in Congress.

Plummer was the running mate last year of state Sen. Bill Brady, who lost the Illinois governor's race to Democrat Pat Quinn. Plummer works in his family's lumber company.

His campaign says he's focused on reining in government spending and reforming the country's tax and regulatory systems so the government gets out of the way of small businesses.

Other Republicans also want Costello's seat, including former Belleville Mayor Roger Cook.