Illinois state Sen. Darin LaHood cruised to victory in the Republican primary Tuesday to replace former GOP Rep. Aaron Schock.

LaHood, who beat Breitbart News editor Mike Flynn, is now the strong favorite to win the special general election on Sept. 10 in the heavily Republican district located in central Illinois. In the primary race, LaHood had portrayed himself as very conservative, while LaHood rallied against the GOP "establishment."

"People feel there's a disconnect with what goes on in Washington, D.C.," he told the Associated Press in a phone interview before addressing supporters in Peoria. "They don't want someone who is going to make the same mistakes as the previous congressman."

LaHood, the son of former GOP Rep. Ray LaHood, will face high school teacher Robert Mellon on the Democratic side. Mellon beat out Springfield school board member Adam Lopez and will have a hard time against LaHood — the district they will fight for touches or includes 19 counties that are heavily GOP.

Turnout across the district was dismal: only 11 percent.