Jackson Jr. Defeats Halvorson in Illinois

By Sean Sullivan  //  March 20, 2012 | 9:59 p.m.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., faced an ethics committee investigation in August 2011. (CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/AP)

Democratic Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., has won the primary in Illinois's 2nd District, turning back former Rep. Debbie Halvorson's comeback attempt.

CBS Chicago reported just before 10 p.m. ET that Halvorson conceded to Jackson. According to the AP, with 77 percent of precincts reporting, Jackson, heavily favored to win heading into Tuesday, led Halvorson by a comfortable 71 percent to 29 percent.

Despite facing ethics troubles, Jackson had the support of some prominent establishment figures including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who recruited Halvorson to run for a GOP-held seat in 2006. Halvorson, who is white, was always the underdog in a majority-black district against an entrenched incumbent, but she did win some community support from African-American pastors who frowned on Jackson's ethics troubles.

Jackson is expected to win reelection easily in the heavily-Democratic district.


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