8:04 AM

Congratulations, Jake!

Jake Zimmerman’s concession to area Democratic leaders a few months ago — who talked him into dropping his bid for the County Council and run instead for the state Legislature — has paid off.

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Zimmerman is unopposed for the 83rd District state House seat in mid-St. Louis County. He’s guaranteed election in November. No August primary, no frenzied fall.

And better yet, he has a fat warchest — $142,632, as of his latest report — that can collect interest over the next two years.