Primary election winner calls it victory for gun control forces
Robin Kelly won the Democratic primary election in Chicago Tuesday. (Photo: News.medill.northwestern.edu)
CHICAGO -- Helped by millions of dollars in pro-gun control ads from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s political fund, former Illinois state Rep. Robin Kelly won the Democratic primary Tuesday night in the race to replace the disgraced Jesse Jackson Jr. in Congress.
A snowstorm and lack of voter interest kept turnout low as Kelly had 53 percent to 24 percent for former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson and 11 percent for Chicago 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale with more than three-fourths percent of precincts counted.
Kelly will formally take on the winner of the Republican primary in an April 9 special general election in the heavily Democratic district. In the GOP contest, the nomination fight was tight between convicted felon Paul McKinley, businessman Eric Wallace and talk show host Lenny McAllister.
Kelly framed her win as a victory for gun control forces.
“You sent a message that was heard around our state and across the nation,” Kelly told supporters in a Matteson, Ill., hotel ballroom. “A message that tells the NRA that their days of holding our country hostage are coming to an end.
“To every leader in the fight for gun control ready to work with President Obama and Mayor Emanuel to stop this senseless violence, thank you for your leadership and thank you for your courage,” she said.
-- The Chicago Tribune