2009 Illinois's 5th congressional district special election explained

Election Name:2009 Illinois's 5th congressional district special election
Country:Illinois
Type:by-election
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 5
Previous Year:2008
Next Election:2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 5
Next Year:2010
Seats For Election:Illinois's 5th congressional district
Image1:File:Michael Quigley official portrait, 111th Congress.jpg
Nominee1:Mike Quigley
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:30,561
Percentage1:69.2%
Nominee2:Rosanna Pulido
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:10,662
Percentage2:24.2%
Image3:3x4.svg
Nominee3:Matt Reichel
Party3:Green Party (United States)
Popular Vote3:2,911
Percentage3:6.6%
Map Size:350px
U.S. Representative
Before Election:Rahm Emanuel
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Mike Quigley
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

A special election was held in Illinois's 5th congressional district in 2009 to fill the seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel. On April 7, Democratic nominee Michael Quigley defeated Republican nominee Rosanna Pulido and Green nominee Matt Reichel. Quigley was sworn in on April 21 and served out the congressional term.

Emanuel officially resigned from the House of Representatives, effective January 2, in a letter to his constituents and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.[1] Emanuel was named White House Chief of Staff by incoming President-elect Barack Obama. Emanuel was first elected to Congress from Illinois's 5th congressional district in 2002. His resignation followed being re-elected to a fourth term.

The governor's office announced that a special primary election would be held on March 3 and special general election would be held on April 7.[2] State law requires the governor to set a date for a congressional special election within five days of a vacancy being created. State law mandates that a general election must be held within 115 days of the vacancy.[3] In an effort to cut costs and 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 small—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. 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

Primary elections

Green Party primary

Candidates

Democratic Party candidates

Republican Party candidates

Green Party candidates

Other candidates

Notes and References

  1. News: Rahm Emanuel to resign from House Jan. 2 to join Obama White House; 10 candidates already in race. Emanuel has $1.7 million campaign war chest.. Chicago Sun Times. Lynn Sweet. Lynn Sweet. December 29, 2008. May 9, 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090206234340/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/12/rahm_emanuel_to_resign_from_ho.html. February 6, 2009. mdy-all.
  2. Web site: Blago Sets April Special Election for Emanuel's Seat. NBC Chicago. January 5, 2009. May 9, 2009.
  3. Web site: Illinois's 5th Congressional District Special Election 2009. PBWorks. Art Howe. February 10, 2009. May 9, 2009.
  4. Web site: Gov sets 5th district election date; Burris drama builds. Crain's Chicago Business. Greg Hinz. January 5, 2009. May 9, 2009.
  5. News: Quigley claims victory in race to replace Rahm Emanuel. Chicago Tribune. John McCormack. April 7, 2009. May 9, 2009.
  6. Alex Isenstadt: Republicans' outlook remains bleak Politico, April 2, 2009.
  7. News: Pallasch. Abdon M.. Mark Konkol. Mark Konkol. Quigley takes the 5th. Chicago Sun-Times. March 3, 2009. March 4, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090305042435/http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/1458839,quigley-lead-fifth-district-election-030309.article. March 5, 2009. dead. mdy-all.
  8. News: Great nephew and namesake of former House member, Frank Annunzio in 5th cd race . January 19, 2009 . . January 7, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090217042533/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/01/great_nephew_and_namesake_of_f.html . February 17, 2009 . mdy-all .
  9. Web site: Chicago Journal . 2009-01-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110708144220/http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=48&SubSectionID=141&ArticleID=6793&TM=83145.23 . July 8, 2011 . mdy-all .
  10. News: Businessman to vie for Emanuel's seat . December 26, 2008 . . December 10, 2008.
  11. Web site: Dates Set For Election To Replace Emanuel . CBS2 Chicago . January 6, 2009 . January 6, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090307161525/http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/emanuel.congress.seat.2.900869.html . March 7, 2009 .
  12. News: Ald. O'Connor now the favorite to get backing for Emanuel's seat . Fran Spielman . December 26, 2008 . . January 6, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090123044414/http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/1363526,CST-NWS-cong06.article . January 23, 2009 . mdy-all .
  13. Web site: Official Candidate List for Rahm's Seat. January 20, 2009. March 3, 2009. Chicagoist. Samantha. Abernethy. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090228192509/http://chicagoist.com/2009/01/20/official_candidate_list_for_rahms_s.php. February 28, 2009. mdy-all.
  14. Web site: Wheelan for Congress . December 26, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081218011725/http://wheelanforcongress.com/index.php . December 18, 2008 . dead .
  15. Web site: Augustson Drops Out of Green Party Primary. February 5, 2009. March 3, 2009. Ronald. Hardy. Green Party Watch.
  16. Compare Chicagoist, Official Candidate List for Rahm's Seat with current list as of March 1, 2009 .
  17. News: Justin Oberman latest name in 5th District race to replace Rahm Emanuel . December 26, 2008 . . December 2, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081219020215/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/12/justin_oberman_latest_name_in.html . December 19, 2008 . mdy-all .
  18. News: The announcements of intentions to run for Rahm Emanuel's old job are coming fast and furious. . December 26, 2008. Chicago Reader. November 21, 2008.
  19. News: Joey Vartanian launching 5th district campaign . December 26, 2008 . . December 8, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081211204426/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/12/joey_vartanian_launching_5th_d.html . December 11, 2008 . mdy-all .

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