For the first time in a long time, the 15th Congressional District which includes Lawrence County has a new representative in Washington D.C. Republican Mary Miller was sworn into office Sunday along with other newly elected members of Congress. The Oakland native was elected to the seat last November and becomes the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Illinois since 2013. She succeeds longtime Congressman John Shimkus who retired after 12 terms in office. Miller indicated that one of her first actions in office will be to stand with other Republican representatives Wednesday to object to the certification of Electoral College votes from certain states. Miller stated her action is not about alledged voter fraud, but about states such as Pennsylvania who went against their state legislatures to rework election protocols.