Jesse Jackson Jr. (on leave/under investigation) is re-elected albeit with less support than before.
Last edited Thu Nov 8, 2012, 03:55 AM - Edit history (1)
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL-2, district in South Side Chicago) has won re-election for a 10th term in office. However, Jackson got only 63% of the vote in his district this year compared to 80% in 2010. In all of his regular House elections (Jackson was first elected to his House seat in a 1995 special election with 74% of the vote; the special election was held after Mel Reynolds resigned over sex crime conviction) from '96 to '10, Jackson got at least 80% of the vote. Now Jackson is in the Mayo Clinic being treated for depression and has an FBI corruption investigation on him. These events definitely played a role in Jackson's weakened support in the polls.
However, because of higher voter turnout in 2012 than 2010 (on the coattails of a presidential election), Jackson's vote total of ~180k this year is +30k from '10. However, ~67k votes (23%) went to his Republican challenger Brian Woodworth and ~38k (13%) to an independent challenger, Marcus Lewis (who http://abclocal.go.com/wls/feature?section=news/politics/local_elections&id=8800501 holds progressive views). Comparably in 2010 Jackson's Republican challenger Isaac Hayes (not related to the singer) got ~26k votes (14%) and Green challenger Anthony Williams ~11k (6%).
The Chicago Sun Times reports that Jackson is arranging a plea deal (http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/16234631-452/sneed-exclusive-jesse-jackson-jr-in-plea-deal-talks-with-feds-sources-say.html) with federal prosecutors regarding charges of campaign finance violations.
Marcus Lewis went on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/MarcusLewisForCongress2012/posts/399472100122797) to complain:
I lay claim on a seat to Congress for the 2nd District that would have gone to me had this had taken place 'before' the election.
I spoke on these exact things that a great sham is being played on the constituents of the district by the entire Jackson Campaign and others in the know.
Now a special election will have to be called as Jackson will not remain congressman-elect.
This NBC Chicago http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Jesse-Jackson-Jr-Wins-Reelection--175717941.html article about the election is basically Free Republic meets Facebook. Comments such as: "Blacks vote for blacks, corrupt or not. Their unemployment rates are through the roof, and it doesn't matter. Their votes are bought for a lousy free phone or govt check. I feel sorry for them and their future." Or: "Don't hire any blacks ,that's what they get." Or: "It's about time to drop the racism from the US and just be realistic that the black community will ruin any place they exists - don't believe me? Explain Africa. Thought so."
I seem to sense Jackson will be the 113th Congress' first resignation.
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