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Walsh Will Run Against Hultgren For Congressional Seat

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Freshman U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh says he'll run for re-election in the state's newly drawn 14th Congressional District.

That will put the Tea Party member in a primary battle with fellow freshman Republican Rep. Randy Hultgren.

That's if the state's contested new map survives a court battle.

Some state Republicans are challenging the Democratically drawn map. They say it attempts to erase Republican gains in Congress by lumping GOP lawmakers together in the same district.

"I understand that there is another Republican congressman drawn into this new district, Randy Hultgren, and it would be unfortunate if we had to run against each other," Walsh said in a statement. "But the new 14th District, if it stands, doesn't belong to any incumbent or any politician. The district belongs to the people of this district."

Walsh currently represents the northwest suburban 8th District. He was moved to the new 14th District with Hultgren. Walsh could have considered a run in the new 8th District, but the redrawn map makes it lean Democratic, the Chicago Tribune reported.

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