QUINCY, Ill- U.S. Rep. Mary Miller’s win over U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis in last week’s 15th congressional district Republican primary makes her a heavy favorite to win re-election in November. But despite the big odds against him, the Democrat challenging her in the general election is running on a big idea.

Paul Lange, a Baltimore, MD native who has lived in Adams County, where former President Donald Trump rallied for Miller, since 1974. A former college instructor-turned commodities broker who ran two unsuccessful races for the Illinois General Assembly in the 1990s, Lange is pushing the idea of legislation to allow a national referendum, akin to state ballot initiatives, to get people involved in building a consensus on issues. Former presidential candidates Ralph Nader and former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel have backed similar ideas.

“I’m getting close to retirement and I knew with this new district, one, no one would probably run, two I think I have some things to say and I want to give everyone an option come November when they go to the polls as far as who represents them in Congress,” Lange told Spectrum News in a recent interview. He’s spending the money he thought he’d use on retirement travel to travel the new 15th district, which includes portions of Madison County in the Metro East.

Lange points to Miller’s vote against the federal infrastructure bill earlier this year, which he hopes will lead to upgrading the lock and dam system in the Quincy area. Lange supports codifying abortion rights, believes Trump should face prosecution for inciting the violence on Jan. 6, and also said he would not have reappointed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Would he vote for Nancy Pelosi in the next leadership election? “I think she’s had a hell of a career, but I think her age is getting to a point we need somebody else. I’m not going to write that in stone, but that’s the way I’m looking at it. And I’m getting older too, so a couple more years and I wouldn’t be running.”