State Rep. Jason Barickman was a surprising easy winner for the GOP nomination for the 53rd Senate District seat in Tuesday's Illinois primary election..

Barickman defeated state Sen. Shane Cultra, 19,713 votes to 11,861 votes.

The 36-year-old Barickman said “I am honored and humbled to receive such support from all corners of the district.”   He said "This is the culmination of months of hard work and a positive campaign in an effort to bring effective, conservative leadership to the Illinois Senate.

“This is a significant step in that process. I am thankful for such support.”

Barickman, a graduate of Illinois State University, was student body president his senior year. He received his law degree from the University of Illinois in 2005 and was in private practice, concentrating on business and real estate law prior to his appointment to fill the 105th House District seat in January 2011.

He was appointed to Cultra’s House seat when Cultra was appointed to fill Dan Rutherford’s Senate seat after Rutherford was elected state treasurer in 2010.

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