The Republican nominee to replace ex-Congressman Aaron Schock says he spent most of his campaign talking about his record as a state senator and former prosecutor, not his famous former U.S. transportation secretary father Ray LaHood.

State Sen. Darin LaHood won his party's nomination Tuesday. He tells The Associated Press his campaign team hit the ground running early on and didn't take anything for granted.

LaHood had early backing from the state GOP, more money than the other candidates and key endorsements, including from the National Rifle Association.

But one of his two GOP opponents, conservative writer Michael Flynn, argued voters were tired of party politics, particularly after the Schock scandal.

The general election is Sept. 10.

Schock resigned in March after mounting scrutiny of his spending.