WEST FRANKFORT — A 33-year-old Belleville labor lawyer is the first 2016 challenger to a new Republican congressman who won a U.S. House seat that had been in Democratic control since World War II.

C.J. Baricevic (Bahr-SIH’-vick) announced his 12th Congressional District candidacy Monday at union halls in Caseyville and West Frankfort.

The seat is held by Rep. Mike Bost, a former Marine and state lawmaker from Murphysboro who defeated U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart in 2014. Baricevic could face a Democratic primary challenger in March.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson planned to meet Tuesday with party leaders in Washington to discuss a possible candidacy.

Baricevic is the son of John Baricevic, the chief judge in St. Clair County and a former county board chairman.