Debbie Halvorson, the popular Majority Leader of the Illinois state Senate, confirmed Tuesday that she will make an open-seat run and attempt to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Weller (R) in the Land of Lincoln’s 11th district.

Halvorson’s decision to run is a major recruiting victory for House Democrats, who claim the district is trending in their direction — even though they only have had one tight challenge against Weller since he took office in 1994.

Halvorson’s entry into the race almost certainly is going to clear the Democratic field. More than a half-dozen Republicans, meanwhile, are considering whether to enter the GOP primary.

— Matthew Murray