For the second time in less than a year, Democratic candidate Debbie
Halvorson lost the chance to win Jesse Jackson Jr.’s former 2nd congressional
district seat in today’s special election primary.
Robin
Kelly won the Democratic slot to run in the district’s April 9 general
election to replace Jackson Jr., who pled guilty last week to misusing
some $750,000 in campaign funds.
“This is a big night for Robin,” former congresswoman Halvorson said in her concession speech at Homewood’s Balagio Restaurant.
“We’ve
all been through a lot, and like good Democrats we’re all family, and
we fight a lot, but at the end of the day we have to move on because
things are bigger than us.”
Read more »
Robin Kelly appeared to be running strongly in south suburban Hazel
Crest judging from conversations with a few voters late in the afternoon
who voted at the Grande Prairie Public Library.
For many voters in the south suburban areas of the 2nd Congressional District, Tuesday’s special election to replace former
congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. was a chance to express their desire for
“change”, despite admitting to having a guarded optimism over anyone who
eventually wins the seat.
On any other election day, voters would typically be lined up outside
Winston Churchill School in Homewood waiting for the polling doors to
open at 6 a.m.
In a last-ditch effort to reach voters in her hometown of Matteson,
former State Rep. Robin Kelly and Democratic candidate for the 2nd
Congressional District made a lunchtime stop at IHOP today.
On a dreary day in an area that has seen more than its fair share of
ethically-challenged elected officials, an expectedly low voter turnout
was the story at many polling places Tuesday as residents came out to
cast their ballots in the race to replace former Illinois 2nd
Congressional District U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.