Jackson Gets Dem Nod, GOP Still Too Close To Call: IL Primary 2022

ILLINOIS — (Updated at 11:22 p.m.) The Associated Press is projecting that Jonathan Jackson will win the Democratic nomination to run for Illinois’ 1st Congressional District seat, long held by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, while who will get the GOP nod is still too close to call.

The AP called the Democratic primary race for Jackson at 11:11 p.m.

With 95 percent of the expected votes counted, Jackson had 18,529 votes, while his closest opponent, Pat Dowell, had 12,694 votes.

On the other side, just 376 votes separated Republicans Eric Carlson and Jeffery Regnier as of 10:49 p.m. Carlson led with 10,531 votes to Regnier's 10,155 votes, with an estimated 95 percent of the total votes counted, according to AP.

Polls closed at 7 p.m., except for here, and Patch kept an eye on the results as they come in. We will be updating this article with the latest information, so be sure to check back often.

Here's what we know so far. Patch will continue to update vote totals as they roll in Tuesday night and into Wednesday.

As of as of 11:22 p.m.

Democratic candidate vote totals (Total votes in parentheses):

• Jonathan Jackson - 18,529 (28%) *Projected winner
• Pat Dowell - 12,694 (19.2%)
• Karin Norington-Reaves - 9,303 (14.1%)
• Jacqueline Collins - 7,962 (12%)
• Chris Butler- 3,707 (5.6%)
• Jahmal Cole - 3,300 (5%)
• Jonathan Swain - 2,200 (3.3%)
• Michael Thompson- 1,467 (2.2%)
• Charise Williams - 1,399 (2.1%)
• Cassandra Goodrum - 1,265 (1.9%)
• Robert Palmer- 817 (1.2%)
• Marcus Lewis - 781 (1.2%)
• Nykea Pippion McGriff - 761 (1.1%)
• Terre Layng Rosner - 709 (1.1%)
• Ameena Matthews - 574 (0.9%)
• Kirby Birgans - 425 (0.6%)
• Steve DeJoie - 217 (0.3%)

Republican candidate vote totals:

• Eric Carlson - 40.6% (10,531)
• Jeff Regnier - 39.2% (10,155)
• Geno Young - 14.4% (3,735)
• Philanise White - 5.8% (1,512)

Rush announced in January that he would not be seeking re-election this year, marking the first time someone other than him will occupy the seat in Congress that he's held since 1993.

Rush's decision made the normally secure race wide open for the first time in nearly 30 years. Rush had won every race he was in for the seat with at least 70 percent of the votes.

Voters had a plethora of options for Tuesday's primary. The crowded field had 17 Democrats vying for the nod, while the GOP offered up four people looking to flip a seat that has for decades belonged to the Democrats.

Related:

• Lemont Man Running For Congress Has 1995 Sexual Assault Conviction
• Are You Getting Catfished By Jonathan Jackson's Campaign For Congress?

The 1st Congressional District map was redrawn following the completion of the 2020 U.S. Census. It now covers an area stretching from Chicago in the north all the way down to Bourbonnais in the southern end of the District, totaling more than 700,000 people represented in the District.