Rodney Davis says he's honored to be chosen as a replacement on the November ballot for longtime Republican Congressman Tim Johnson.

GOP officials from 14 Illinois counties met Saturday and chose Davis for the 13th District. He's an aide to Republican Congressman John Shimkus.

Davis says he was informed of the decision while he was coaching his children's baseball game. He says he wants to be a common sense and fiscally-conservative Republican in Washington.

In November, he'll face Democrat David Gill, a Bloomington physician.

Gill says he welcomes Davis to the race. Gill says he's an ordinary citizen who represents the interests of ordinary people.

The new 13th District stretches across parts of central and southwestern Illinois.

Johnson announced his abrupt retirement last month, citing family reasons.