>>> Home Page
>>> Go to Navigation/Site Map
>>> Go to Most Recent Posts

Leaders emerge in early voting Submitted by Medill News Service on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 11:28pm.

An hour after the polls closed in Tuesday's primary election, clear leaders have emerged in hotly contested Illinois congressional races in the Third, Sixth and Tenth districts.

In the Third District, which covers the South and Southwest suburbs, returns from 58 out of 618 total precincts found incumbent Dan Lipinski ahead with 54% of the vote. Mark Pera, assistant prosecutor in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, had 25% of the vote, ahead of 12% for Palos Hills Mayor Jerry Bennett and 10% for attorney Jim Capparell.

Lipinski, a conservative Democrat who often votes against his party on social issue, moved into the congressional seat after his father, William Lipinski, retired. Despite accusations of patronage, Lipinski is favored in the race because voters opposing him could split their allegiances among his opponents.

In the GOP primary for the same seat, Michael Hawkins was leading Arthur Jones 67% to 33%.

There were few surprises in other congressional districts. Expected winners were leading in early returns.

With 27 precincts out of 693 reporting, First District Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Chicago) led William Walls III, 69 percent to 3. Rush has represented the district comprising the South Side and Southwest suburbs since 1993.

Congressman Danny Davis (D-Chicago) had 90 percent of the vote in the Seventh District, which covers Chicago and Eastern suburbs.

• Politics