A Murphysboro attorney has thrown her hat into the ring for the 58th District state senate seat to be vacated by longtime Sen. Dave Luechtefeld.

Republican Sharee Langenstein, 44, is a wife, mother and attorney from Murphysboro, whose law practice is focused on constitutional law, particularly Second Amendment rights.

“Dave is a class act and has always made himself available to his constituents,” Langenstein said during a sit-down interview with the Republic-Times to announce her candidacy last week. “I intend to carry that on.”

Langenstein has some prior experience in the political arena, serving as attorney for Mike Bost’s successful 2014 campaign for U.S. Congress.

“Mike is a longtime personal friend, so my family and I gladly walked with him in parades, made phone calls and performed other grassroots duties as needed,” she said.

She also served as Southern Illinois Coordinator of Santorum For President in 2012, attending the Republican National Convention as a Santorum delegate. Langenstein was also the Republican nominee for Jackson County State’s Attorney in 2012.

“I understand the games they play in Springfield,” she said. “I want to be out there on the front edge. I know I’m the right person for this job. When elected, I’ll be able to help your business grow.”

Originally the fourth of five children, Langenstein eventually became the older sister to six more children her parents adopted from Ethiopia and India. Sharee’s older sister, Jodi, was killed in 1986 while on active duty with the U.S. Army.

Langenstein earned an English degree from Missouri State University in 1995. She received her Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1998 and is admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. In fact, she recently submitted an amicus brief to that court on behalf of traditional marriage. Currently, the majority of her cases are focused on gun rights.

Together with husband Michael, Langenstein has six daughters, four by birth and two by adoption.
Langenstein is a lobbyist for the Illinois State Rifle Association and various pro-life and pro-gun groups.

“I’m an unapologetic conservative,”  Langenstein said. “We all want to continue to enjoy our Southern Illinois lifestyle. I’m in this to win it.”

Langenstein is the first to announce her candidacy for Luechtefeld’s seat, although the Southern Illinoisan newspaper reports that former Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon of Carbondale, a Democrat, has said she’s “seriously considering” a state senate run.