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Illinois' 2nd Congressional District elections, 2012

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Illinois' 2nd Congressional District
General Election Date
November 6, 2012
Primary Date
March 20, 2012
November 6 Election Winner:
Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. Democratic Party
Incumbent prior to election:
Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. Democratic Party
Jesse L. Jackson Jr.jpg
Illinois U.S. House Elections
District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18
2012 U.S. Senate Elections
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The 2nd Congressional District of Illinois held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012.

Incumbent Jesse Jackson Jr. won the election.[1]

Candidate Filing Deadline Primary Election General Election
December 27, 2011
March 20, 2012
November 6, 2012

Primary: Illinois has a mixed-hybrid primary system. Voters can change parties each year but must declare a party affiliation at the polls. Depending on which party is chosen, the voter will then be counted as registered for that party. Voters may change party affiliation at polls or caucus.

Voter registration: Voters had to register to vote in the primary by February 21. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 9. A "grace period" was also available, allowing voter registration until three days before an election.[2][3]

See also: Illinois elections, 2012

Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D), who was first elected in 1994.

This was the first election using new district maps based on 2010 Census data. Illinois' 2nd Congressional District is based in Cook, Will and Kankakee counties and included the south suburbs of Chicago, extending into Will County and also included the city's far southeast side.

Candidates

General election candidates

Democratic Party Jesse Jackson Jr.Green check mark transparent.png
Republican Party Brian Woodworth
Grey.png Marcus Lewis


March 20, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

Election results

General Election

U.S. House, Illinois District 2 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJesse Jackson Jr. Incumbent 63.3% 188,303
     Republican Brian Woodworth 23.2% 69,115
     Independent Marcus Lewis 13.5% 40,006
Total Votes 297,424
Source: Illinois Board of Elections "2012 General Election Official Vote Totals"

Democratic primary

U.S. House, Illinois District 2 Democratic Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJesse Jackson, Jr. Incumbent 71.2% 56,109
Deborah Halvorson 28.8% 22,672
Total Votes 78,781

Republican primary

U.S. House, Illinois District 2 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Woodworth 63.7% 11,123
James Taylor Sr. 36.3% 6,347
Total Votes 17,470

Race background

Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Incumbent Jesse Jackson, Jr. had held the position since December 12, 1995. For 2012, according to Jackson's campaign website, among the main political issues Jackson had included to address in his campaign were the economy, health care, education, energy and environment and international affairs.

Campaign tactics and controversies that appeared on the campaign trail include the following:

  • In early-October 2011, campaign-related e-mails were sent by Jackson's staff members in response to campaign statements made by Democratic Primary opponent Debbie Halvorson. The e-mails, according to reports, were sent from the staff members' government accounts after requests by the media. Allegedly, this violated U.S. House rules that prohibit using government email accounts for campaign or political purposes. According to the House rules maual: "[T]he use of one‘s office desktop computer (including one‘s mail.house.gov e-mail address) to send or receive such communications continues to be prohibited." However, Jackson's spokesperson Kitty Kurth claimed that those emails can be categorized as appropriate because of an exemption allowing press secretaries to "answer occasional questions on political matters."[8]
  • Jesse Jackson, Jr. stated during his campaign for re-election that he planned on introducing legislation that would turn the Historic Pullman District in Chicago, Illinois into a national park. The Chicago neighborhood was the first planned industrial community in the United States. The potential proposal would allow for a one-to-three year feasibility study to determine if designating the park at certain locations would work. If so, a proposal to Congress would be made to pass a measure to designate it as a national park.[9]
  • Jackson stated that his Democratic Primary opponent, Debbie Halvorson had not supported President Barack Obama as much as he had. He pointed out that Halvorson voted against the president 88 times while in Congress.[10]

Debbie Halvorson

This is the 2nd Congressional District prior to the 2010 redistricting.

From 2009 to 2011, Debbie Halvorson served the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois District 11. Prior to that, she served 12 years in the Illinois State Senate. For 2012, according to Halvorson's campaign website, among the main political issues she had included to address in her campaign were the economy, transportation, education, senior citizens issues, veterans, health care, energy and women's issues.

Campaign tactics and controversies that appeared on the campaign trail include the following:

  • A supporter of Jesse Jackson, Jr., Halvorson's Democratic Primary opponent, stated Debbie Halvorson's campaign was "driven by demonic forces." In response to this claim, Halvorson stated, while also commenting on Jackson's job as a congressman: “If he had been doing his job, there would be no need for me to run. Whoever said my agenda is demonic is wrong. The people and those who are supporting me are happy I’m running and there’s finally going to be a choice in this race.”[11]
  • During the week of February 19, 2012, Halvorson called for the investigation of the company that has a contract to build an airport in Chicago that was proposed by Jesse Jackson, Jr. According to reports, the company, SNC Lavalin, had faced scrutiny under allegations that it had business ties to Libya after a consultant was accused of trying to smuggle Muammar Gaddafi’s son into Mexico. Jackson had since stated full faith in the company.[12]

Impact of redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Illinois

Slow population growth required Illinois to lose one congressional seat following the 2010 census. With Democrats in charge of the House, Senate and governorship, it was easy to pass a map beneficial to their party. According to an analysis by Politico, the new map could have potentially cost the GOP up to five U.S. House seats. GOP consultant David From said of the map, “It’s kind of a work of art, in the wrong direction. There’s a lot of creativity.”[13]

Republicans filed suit against the map, but eventually saw it upheld in the courts. A federal court panel agreed with the Republican complaint that the map was "a blatant political move to increase the number of Democratic congressional seats," but said that Republicans "failed to present a workable standard by which to evaluate such claims."[14]

Following the passage of the map, Jesse Jackson, Jr. said he had serious concerns about minority representation and whether it adhered to the Voting Rights Act.[15] Under the new map, former congresswoman Debbie Halvorson (D) was drawn into Jackson's district. She previously represented District 11 until losing to Adam Kinzinger (R) in 2010.[16] Halvorson, who is white, is the first real competition Jackson has had. The district has been held by a black congressman for the last three decades.[17]

The new 2nd District was composed of the following percentages of voters of the old congressional districts.[18][19]

District partisanship

FairVote's Monopoly Politics 2012 study

See also: FairVote's Monopoly Politics 2012

In 2012, FairVote did a study on partisanship in the congressional districts, giving each a percentage ranking (D/R) based on the new 2012 maps and comparing that to the old 2010 maps. Illinois' 2nd District became less Democratic because of redistricting.[20]

  • 2012: 78D / 22R
  • 2010: 86D / 14R

Cook Political Report's PVI

See also: Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

In 2012, Cook Political Report released its updated figures on the Partisan Voter Index, which measures each congressional district's partisanship relative to the rest of the country. Illinois' 2nd Congressional District has a PVI of D+27, which is the 26th most Democratic district in the country. In 2008, this district was won by Barack Obama (D), 82-18 percent over John McCain (R). In 2004, John Kerry (D) won the district 75-25 percent over George W. Bush (R).[21]

Campaign donors

2012

Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.[22] Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
Pre-Primary[23]May 25, 2012$262,942.21$273,519.00$(85,355.91)$451,105.30
April Quarterly Amended[24]April 13, 2012$451,105.30$177,590.86$(321,089.53)$307,606.63
Running totals
$451,109.86$(406,445.44)

Polls

Illinois' Congressional District 2 General election, 2012
Poll Jesse Jackson Jr. (D) Brian Woodworth (R)Marcus Lucas (I)Margin of ErrorSample Size
We Ask America
(October 21, 2012)
 58%27%15%+/-3.5819
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org
Illinois' Congressional District 2 Primary election, 2012
Poll Jesse Jackson Jr. (D) Debbie Halvorson (D)UndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Lake Research Partners
(March 8-11, 2012)
 59%23%18%+/-4.9496
Lake Research Partners
(January, 2012)
 44%30%26%+/-0496
Debbie Halvorson campaign (dead link)
(January 10-12, 2012)
 48%35%17%+/-0400
AVERAGES 50.33% 29.33% 20.33% +/-1.63 464
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Endorsements

The following are endorsements from notable people or organizations regarding district candidates:

Jesse Jackson:

Endorsed by Statement
Nancy Pelosi "He may be junior in terms of his title in the family, but he is very senior in the amount of respect he commands in the Congress of the United States."[25]
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel In a statement, the Chicago mayor called Jackson, Jr. a "progressive fighter."[26]
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn "Time and again, Congressman Jackson has delivered for the residents of the 2nd District in Illinois. Congressman Jackson deserves to go back to Washington, D.C.and help President Obama continue to fight for jobs, economic recovery and everyday Americans."[27]

Debbie Halvorson:

No notable endorsements have surfaced from reports'.

District history

2010

On November 2, 2010, Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Isaac C. Hayes (R) and Anthony W. Williams (G) in the general election.[28]

U.S. House, Illinois District 2 General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJesse L. Jackson, Jr. Incumbent 80.5% 150,666
     Republican Isaac C. Hayes 13.8% 25,883
     Green Anthony W. Williams 5.6% 10,564
Total Votes 187,113

2008

On November 4, 2008, Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Anthony W. Williams (R) and Nathan Peoples (G) in the general election.[29]

2006

On November 7, 2006, Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Robert Belin (R) and Anthony W. Williams (L) in the general election.[30]

2004

On November 2, 2004, Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Stephanie Sailor (L) in the general election.[31]

2002

On November 5, 2002, Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Doug Nelson (R) in the general election.[32]

2000

On November 7, 2000, Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Robert Gordon III (R) in the general election.[33]

1998

On November 3, 1998, Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Robert Gordon III (R) and Matthew Joseph Beauchamp (L) in the general election.[34]

1996

On November 5, 1996, Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Frank H. Stratman (L) in the general election.[35]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Illinois"
  2. ↑ Illinois Board of Elections, "2012 Election Calendar," accessed July 21, 2012
  3. ↑ Illinois Board of Elections, "Registering to Vote in Illinois," accessed July 21, 2012
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 ABC News 7 "Election Results Primary 2012" accessed March 20, 2012
  5. ↑ Chicago Tribune "Halvorson takes on Jackson for Congress" accessed December 5, 2011
  6. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Candidate List" accessed December 27, 2011
  7. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections "Candidate List" accessed December 27, 2011
  8. ↑ WBEZ.org, "Jackson's staff sends handful of campaign-related emails from congressional addresses," February 14, 2012
  9. ↑ Chicagoist.com, "Jesse Jackson, Jr. Says Pullman Should Be A National Historic site," accessed February 16, 2012
  10. ↑ CBS Chicago, "Halvorson voted against the president 88 times while in Congress," February 20, 2012
  11. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Rep. Jackson supporter says foe driven by 'political demonic forces'," February 20, 2012
  12. ↑ CBS Chicago, "Halvorson Calls For Probe Of Peotone Airport Contractor," February 19, 2012
  13. ↑ Politico, "Illinois Republicans brace for bloodbath," June 2, 2011
  14. ↑ BusinessWeek, "Illinois Republicans Lose Challenge to New Congressional Map," December 16, 2011
  15. ↑ Roll Call, "Democratic Illinois Trio Voices Ire Over Map," September 22, 2011
  16. ↑ Progress Illinois, "Halvorson To Run Against Jackson Jr.," October 6, 2011
  17. ↑ Huffington Post, "Jesse Jackson Jr.'s House Seat Challenged By Debbie Halvorson," February 3, 2012
  18. ↑ Moonshadow Mobile's CensusViewer, "Illinois' congressional districts 2001-2011 comparison"
  19. ↑ Labels & Lists, "VoterMapping software voter counts"
  20. ↑ "2011 Redistricting and 2012 Elections in Illinois," September 2012
  21. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Partisan Voting Index Districts of the 113th Congress: 2004 & 2008" accessed October 2012
  22. ↑ Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. FEC Reports, "Summary Reports" accessed July 7, 2012
  23. ↑ Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. FEC Reports, "Pre-Primary" accessed July 7, 2012
  24. ↑ Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. FEC Reports, "April Quarterly" accessed July 7, 2012
  25. ↑ WGN TV.com, "Nancy Pelosi throws her support behind Jesse Jackson Jr.," March 3, 2012 (dead link)
  26. ↑ PJ Star, "Mayor Rahm Emanuel Backs Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. for District 2 Congressman," March 6, 2012
  27. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Quinn backs Jackson, but not in person," March 11, 2012
  28. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
  29. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008"
  30. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
  31. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004"
  32. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002"
  33. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000"
  34. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998"
  35. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1996"
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Dick Durbin (D)
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