Former Miss America to primary Rep. Rodney Davis

{mosads}Erika Harold, an attorney who was Miss America 2003, never mentions Davis in her campaign’s rollout video. She instead focuses on her work for religious groups and time volunteering in prison ministry.

Harold, who recently moved back downstate after living in Chicago for years, is embarking on a three-day campaign rollout in the central Illinois district.

She has never held office before, but had begun a primary campaign against former Rep. Tim Johnson (R-Ill.) before Johnson decided to retire in 2012. The Illinois Republican Party then chose Davis as his successor.

It’s unclear how serious a threat Harold will be to the well-funded Davis, who’s proven to be one of the strongest fundraisers of all vulnerable House incumbents. But he’s already facing a potentially tough general election challenge from former Judge Ann Callis (D) in the swing district, and primary competition rarely helps a candidate.

Watch her campaign announcement video:

This post was first published at 9:29 a.m. and has since been updated.