2009 Illinois's 5th congressional district special election

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2009 Illinois's 5th congressional district special election

← 2008 April 7, 2009 (2009-04-07) 2010 →

Illinois's 5th congressional district
 
GOP
GPUS
Nominee
Mike Quigley
Rosanna Pulido Matt Reichel
Party Democratic Republican
Green
Popular vote 30,561 10,662 2,911
Percentage 69.2% 24.2% 6.6%


U.S. Representative before election

Rahm Emanuel
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Mike Quigley

Democratic

A

Green nominee Matt Reichel. Quigley was sworn in on April 21 and served out the congressional term
.

Emanuel officially resigned from the

re-elected
to a fourth term.

The

help save money, the date of the special general election coincided with municipal elections scheduled in Chicago, Cook County, and surrounding metropolitan areas.[4]

There were 24 candidates representing three political parties in the March 3 special primary election. The Democrats had 13 candidates; the Republicans had six candidates; and the Greens had five candidates.

Quigley, a 50-year-old Cook County commissioner, won the Democratic Party's primary with 22% of the vote. He defeated a strong field of Democrats, including state representatives John Fritchey (District 11) and Sara Feigenholtz (District 12), physician Victor Forys, and Chicago City Council alderman Patrick J. O'Connor (40th Ward).

Pulido, a Mexican-American and director of the Illinois Minuteman Project, won the Republican Party's primary with 25% of the vote. She defeated a handful of local businessmen, including Tom Hanson, David Anderson, Gregory Bedell, Daniel S. Kay, and Jon Stewart.

Reichel, a 27-year-old activist and political operative, won the Green Party's primary with 34% of the vote. He defeated four other candidates for the party's nomination. Reichel's margin of victory over fellow Green Party nominee Deb Gordils was extremely smallโ€”only 11 votes. Reichel won with 166 compared to Gordils' 155.

Nearly a month after the primaries, the three candidates took part in the April 7 special general election. Democratic Party candidate Michael Quigley defeated Republican Party candidate Rosanna Pulido and Green Party candidate Matt Reichel. Quigley won with 30,561 votes (69.2%); Pulido had 10,662 (24.2%) and Reichel had 2,911 (6.6%).[5]

The election did not receive a great deal of coverage, due to the district's heavy Democratic lean. The Republican Party did not put up a top-tier candidate, acknowledging that they were not even focusing on the race[6] This is highlighted in the fact that the Republican nominee was the founder of an anti-illegal-immigration group, running in a district that is one-quarter Hispanic.[6] The real fight was for the Democratic nomination, which would almost assure being elected to Congress. In fact, over 12,000 more votes were cast in the Democratic Primary than there were in the general election.

Results

General election

Illinois's 5th Congressional District Special Election, 2009[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ยฑ%
Democratic
Mike Quigley
30,561 69.2%
Republican Rosanna Pulido 10,662 24.2%
Green
Matt Reichel 2,911 6.6%
Turnout 44,134
Majority 19,899 45.1%
Democratic hold Swing

Primary elections

Democratic Party primary

Democratic Primary, Illinois's 5th Congressional District Election, 2009[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ยฑ%
Democratic
Mike Quigley
12,100 22%
Democratic John Fritchey 9,813 18%
Democratic Sara Feigenholtz 9,166 17%
Democratic Victor Forys 6,415 12%
Democratic Patrick J. O'Connor 6,371 12%
Democratic Charles Wheelan 3,672 7%
Democratic
Tom Geoghegan
3,336 6%
Democratic Paul Bryar 1,111 2%
Democratic Jan Donatelli 890 2%
Democratic Frank Annunzio 750 1%
Democratic Cary Capparelli 713 1%
Democratic Carlos Monteagudo 519 1%
Majority

Republican Party primary

Republican Primary, Illinois's 5th Congressional District Election, 2009[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ยฑ%
Republican Rosanna Pulido 1,001 25%
Republican Tom Hanson 855 21%
Republican David Anderson 711 18%
Republican Gregory Bedell 663 17%
Republican Daniel Kay 379 10%
Republican Jon Stewart 368 9%
Majority

Green Party primary

Green Primary, Illinois's 5th Congressional District Election, 2009[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ยฑ%
Green
Matt Reichel 166 34%
Green
Deb Gordils 155 32%
Green
Mark Fredrickson 71 14%
Green
Alan Augustson 62 13%
Green
Simon Ribeiro 37 8%
Majority

Candidates

Democratic Party candidates

Republican Party candidates

Green Party candidates

Other candidates

References

  1. ^
    Chicago Sun Times. Archived from the original
    on February 6, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  2. ^ "Blago Sets April Special Election for Emanuel's Seat". NBC Chicago. January 5, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  3. ^ Art Howe (February 10, 2009). "Illinois's 5th Congressional District Special Election 2009". PBWorks. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  4. Crain's Chicago Business
    . Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  5. ^ John McCormack (April 7, 2009). "Quigley claims victory in race to replace Rahm Emanuel". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Alex Isenstadt: Republicans' outlook remains bleak Politico, April 2, 2009.
  7. ^ "Special General Election 5th Congress 4-7-2009". Illinois State Board of Elections. April 7, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  8. ^ a b c "Unofficial AP numbers: Illinois - Summary Vote Results, March 4, 2009 - 06:36PM ET". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. March 4, 2009.
  9. ^ Pallasch, Abdon M.; Mark Konkol (March 3, 2009). "Quigley takes the 5th". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
  10. ^ "Great nephew and namesake of former House member, Frank Annunzio in 5th cd race". Chicago Sun-Times. January 7, 2009. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
  11. ^ "Chicago Journal". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  12. ^ "Businessman to vie for Emanuel's seat". Windy City Times. December 10, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Dates Set For Election To Replace Emanuel". CBS2 Chicago. January 6, 2009. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
  14. ^ a b c "The announcements of intentions to run for Rahm Emanuel's old job are coming fast and furious". Chicago Reader. November 21, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
  15. ^ Fran Spielman (January 6, 2009). "Ald. O'Connor now the favorite to get backing for Emanuel's seat". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
  16. ^ Abernethy, Samantha (January 20, 2009). "Official Candidate List for Rahm's Seat". Chicagoist. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  17. ^ "Wheelan for Congress". Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
  18. ^ Hardy, Ronald (February 5, 2009). "Augustson Drops Out of Green Party Primary". Green Party Watch. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  19. ^ Compare Chicagoist, Official Candidate List for Rahm's Seat Archived February 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine with current list as of March 1, 2009 Archived February 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  20. ^ "Justin Oberman latest name in 5th District race to replace Rahm Emanuel". Chicago Sun-Times. December 2, 2008. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
  21. ^ "Joey Vartanian launching 5th district campaign". Chicago Sun-Times. December 8, 2008. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2008.