While Kelly will certainly win her congressional seat in IL-02, since it's such a Democratic-leaning district anyway, it's interesting that her likely opponent is a convicted felon who has spent nearly 20 years in prison for burglary, armed robbery and aggravated battery.
The vote has not been certified, and he leads by only 23 votes (the closest competitor has not conceded). But Paul McKinley, the apparent winner of the GOP primary, seems to be headed to face off with Robin Kelly on April 9.
Says the Chicago Tribune:
"As McKinley celebrated his apparent victory, the state's Republican leadership was coming to grips with the fact that its party had just nominated someone with a long rap sheet to run in a district where the last three Democratic congressmen have left office amid scandal. That includes Jackson, who pleaded guilty last week to federal charges.
"Pat Brady, the state's Republican chairman, had no comment Wednesday about McKinley's prospects. Privately, Republican leaders expressed dismay and concern.
"According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, McKinley was sentenced to concurrent three- and four-year sentences in 1978 for burglary and armed robbery in Cook County. In 1981 he was sentenced to four years for burglary, according to a prisons agency spokeswoman.
"In 1985, McKinley was sentenced to five years for two counts of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and 30 years for armed robbery. He was paroled in 1997, according to the state."
Don't you just love it?