Son of former transport chief touted as Schock replacement

The son of former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is being mentioned as a potential candidate to replace Rep. Aaron Schock (R), who announced his retirement from Congress on Tuesday. 

LaHood’s son, Darin, is a member of the Illinois state Senate. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that he is contemplating running for the soon-to-be vacant seat in Illinois 18th district. 

The seat Schock is vacating was held by the senior LaHood for 14 years before President Obama tapped him to be his first Transportation Secretary in 2009. 

{mosads}The 33-year-old Schock was seen as a rising star in the Republican Party when he took over for LaHood, but he was forced to resign after numerous reports he had misused hundreds of thousands of taxpayer and campaign dollars on private flights, event tickets and office renovations.

The elderly LaHood left the Transportation Department post in 2013, and he was replaced by current Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. 

LaHood remains popular with transportation advocates in Washington for his frequent quips about infrastructure funding and distracted driving during his four years in the Obama administration. 

The younger LaHood appointed to the Illinois state Senate in 2011 and he was elected to a full-term in 2012.   

-Scott Wong,Cameron Joseph and Ben Kamisar contributed to this report.