Flynn Rush recently filed paperwork with the State Board of Elections to run in the Democratic primary against State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, who has represented Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood since 1979. She’s the person House Speaker Michael Madigan often relies on for important legislation.

Flynn Rush didn’t return WBEZ’s calls for comment. But his uncle, Marlon Rush, did. Marlon said his nephew is still thinking about challenging Currie, and hasn’t made a final decision. He said the younger Rush thinks not all people of the district have been represented during Flynn Currie’s tenure in Springfield.

“He has a second nature to be concerned for all people,” Marlon said of his nephew. He went on to say that Flynn Rush has worked on previous campaigns of his father, working in polling places and talking with community groups.

In a phone interview, Currie said that it’s a free country if Flynn wants to run, but she and Flynn’s father, Bobby Rush, have “got along reasonably well, I would’ve thought.”

Flynn Currie said she’s seeking her 20th term in office “because I still have work to do.” She said the state faces some “knotty problems” in finding enough revenue for Illinois to meet the needs of vulnerable populations.

Tony Arnold covers Illinois politics for WBEZ. Follow him @tonyjarnold.