Chicago News Cooperative reporters and photographers were on the scene reporting live from various campaign headquarters throughout the city. Scroll down for updates and photos from inside election night.
1:20 a.m. Quinn Sees ‘Landslide’ in Tight Governor Race
Flashing a small smile, and paying tribute to his opponents, a visibly drained Gov. Pat Quinn spoke to a crowd of supporters at the Hotel Allegro just before 1 a.m. on Wednesday.
With his race against Republican nominee Bill Brady still too close to call, Quinn and running mate Sheila Simon thanked their families and their staffs and claimed victory.
“I believe we have won,” Quinn said, to loud cheers. “It looks like another landslide victory is headed our way.” Jessica Reaves
Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn and Lt. Gov candidate Sheila Simon thank supporters at the Allegro Hotel in Chicago Tuesday night. Jose More/Chicago News Cooperative
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12:10 a.m. Lisa Madigan Won’t Rule Out Mayoral Bid
After winning an easy re-election contest Tuesday for her third term as Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan would not rule out a bid for mayor of Chicago in the February city election.
Asked if she would flatly state that she is not running for mayor, Madigan replied, “No, I am not saying that.”
Madigan’s entry into the mayor’s race could galvanize South Side ward bosses who have been hesitant to give their backing quickly to former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. Those power brokers include Madigan’s father, Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.
There has been widespread speculation that Madigan could enter the race to succeed retiring Mayor Richard M. Daley, and the rumors have persisted, even despite a recent on-air denial.
Some observers had wondered whether Madigan would wait to see if Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn wins re-election Tuesday, the theory being that his defeat would clear the way for her to run for governor as the Democrats’ clear favorite in four years. But Madigan said her decision on running for mayor would not hinge on the outcome of the gubernatorial race.
Supporters at Madigan’s election-night party at the Palmer House Hilton had mixed feelings about a potential mayoral run. Madigan turned down a White House entreaty to run for President Barack Obama‘s former Senate seat and has long been thought to be focused on reaching the governor’s mansion.
“I think she would make a great mayor,” said Gabriel Gousman, 27, of the West Side. But Gousman said he would prefer Madigan does not run for mayor, for fear of who could replace her as attorney general.
Rogers Park resident Ivan Fenster called mayor “a step down” from attorney general and said he wants Madigan to stay in her state post, where he believes she has more influence than she would in City Hall.
Neil MacDonald of DuPage County said Madigan “should finish out her cycle. She owes it to us voters.” His wife, Rita MacDonald disagreed.
“As a woman I think it’s very important that we have a strong woman in office,” she said.
Madigan cannot remain undecided on the mayor’s race much longer, because the deadline to file nominating petitions for the February election is Nov. 22.
For one night, though, she only wanted to talk about her current job.
“I’m happy the state of Illinois had the confidence in me as attorney general,” Madigan said. “I had an opportunity [to run for U.S. Senate] a little over a year ago. What I wanted to do was remain attorney general.” Rachel Cromidas
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12:00 a.m. Senator Kirk
Republican Mark Kirk will become Illinois’ junior Senator after Democrat Alexi Giannoulias conceded the bitter race for the seat formerly held by President Barack Obama around 11:30 Tuesday night.
“Let me begin by congratulating Congressman Mark Kirk,” Giannoulias said to assembled supporters at the Fairmont Hotel downtown. “I just spoke to the Congressman, and he made a promise to me that he will never forget who he is fighting for. I think he will make a good senator. I think he will make a strong senator.”
Kirk began his victory speech just before midnight with the opening line, “My name is Mark Kirk and I’m going to replace Roland Burris in the United States Senate. So How ’bout it Illinois?”
After mentioning the scandal surrounding former Governor Rod Blagojevich, Kirk said, “Tonight the sun set on a one party corrupt state. And this senate seat was just returned to its rightful owners: The people of Illinois.”
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11:15 Election Night Photos
CNC photographers were on hand for Toni Preckwinkle‘s victory celebration, Joe Berrios‘s victory, Forrest Claypool‘s concession and Lisa Madigan‘s landslide re-election party:
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10: 25 p.m. Giannoulias Waiting on Results
Illinois Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias watches early election returns in his hotel suite Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, in Chicago. Giannoulias is in a tight race with Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk for President Obama's former seat. AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, Pool
Illinois Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias watches early election returns in his hotel suite Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, in Chicago. Giannoulias is in a tight race with Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk for President Obama's former seat. AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, Pool
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10:15 p.m. Claypool Reflects On Loss
In an interview with the Chicago News Cooperative after conceding the race for Cook County Assessor, Forrest Claypool said he just didn’t get enough suburban support to top Joe Berrios‘s Democratic organization in Chicago.
“We couldn’t overcome the straight D city votes Joe had,” he said.
Running as an independent “was an experiment,” Claypool, a career Democrat, added. “We didn’t pick up enough Republican support to win.”
Though his campaign spent about $1 million on TV ads, Claypool said voters may have lost track of the assessor’s contest with fights for governor and senate underway this fall. “It’s always a challenge when you try to run a reform campaign in a down-ballot race.”
Claypool said he’s not sure what he’ll do next.
“Who knows,” he said. “I’m going to remain active in politics, but there’s a minimal chance of me being a candidate again.” Mick Dumke
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10:10 p.m. After Easy Win, Madigan Praises Her Father
Shortly after 9:30 p.m. Lisa Madigan claimed victory in her re-election bid in front of a loud crowd of supporters at the Palmer House Hilton on South Michigan.
Madigan, who coasted to her third term as Attorney General over three little-known and lightly-funded challengers, said she has made it her priority to stand up for children, women, consumers and homeowners who have been hurt by the economy.
Madigan, who was accompanied by her husband, Pat Byrnes, and sister and brother-in-law, thanked her father, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, in her speech. He was not in attendance at the party. Rachel Cromidas
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9:50 p.m. Victorious Berrios Pledges Transparency
Joe Berrios told supporters that he persevered despite an unrelenting onslaught from the press and his opponent for Cook County assessor, Forrest Claypool.
“To me it was all a bunch of bunk,” Berrios told the Chicago News Cooperative, when asked about the persistent allegations of cronyism that dogged his campaign. He vowed greater transparency, but set a vague standard for it, saying that from day one “you will see more information than you have in the past” out of the office.
He credited newly-elected Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle for her early support, which he termed, “crucial.”
In remarks to supporters gathered at Lazo’s Tacos after Claypool conceded, Berrios said the office “will be open and available to everyone.”
“I will make sure the assessor’s office is the taxpayer’s office and the homeowner’s office,” he said.
Of Claypool, Berrios said: “He fought a good fight. It got nasty at times but we took the high road.” Daniel Libit
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9:40 p.m. Forrest Claypool’s Concession Speech
In his concession speech, Forrest Claypool said he called to congratulate Joe Berrios and said “I know he will work hard as assessor for Cook County.”
Claypool said that “it’s never easy to lose, but sometimes there can be victory in defeat. We planted seeds in this campaign – seeds that will be harvested by others.”
He continued: “Throughout my career I’ve tried to plant seeds. Seeds of fairness for those who aren’t in the club.
“So I hope tonight you will join me and leave this room and plant your own seeds of liberty and fairness and decency.”
As Claypool finished, a supporter near the bar muttered “I thought this was supposed to be a throw the bums out election – in why did people vote for Berrios?” Mick Dumke
9:35 Toni Preckwinkle’s Victory Party
In a victory speech promising transparency and reform, Toni Preckwinkle declared “It’s a new day in Cook County.”
The Cook County board president-elect vowed vowed to cut taxes and clean up county government by ending patronage and rooting out waste and fraud that she said has cost taxpayers millions.
Preckwinkle said when she was running, she heard stories of county workers who worked hard, and others who read the paper or made personal phone calls all day.
“The party’s over,” someone in the crowd shouted.
Preckwinkle said she would a launch a transition website tomorrow in which any applicant could apply for a job. In a previous interview with the Chicago News Cooperative, she said Kurt Summers, chief of staff to former Chicago 2016 Olympic bid committee president and Mayor Richard Daley aide Lori Healey, will lead the transition effort.
Katie Fretland
9:11 p.m. Reports From Berrios and Claypool Headquarters
At 9:08, after receiving a concession call from Forrest Claypool, Joe Berrios held up a yellow pad in the air and pumped his fist in the air as supporters chant “Joe Joe Joe.” Berrios, the chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, will become the next county assessor.
Claypool had been sitting by himself at an empty table in a room above his election night party, writing down notes for what presumably will be his concession speech. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, his former Cook County Board ally, joined him there soon after. Mick Dumke and Daniel Libit
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9:05 p.m. Toni Preckwinkle’s Party
Addressing the crowd after her landslide victory, Toni Preckwinkle said she is “proud to be Cook County Board President.”
Preckwinkle continued:
“When I started the conventional wisdom was that I was a long shot. I was the least known candidate in the race. But the conventional wisdom failed to measure the depths of dissatisfaction in Cook County.
We’re going to cut taxes. We’re going to clean up county govt. by ending patronage and do everything in our power to root out the fraud that’s cost taxpayers millions of dollars.”
8:50 p.m. Toni Preckwinkle’s Party
Outside her suite at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, Toni Preckwinkle, who has garnered nearly 68 percent of the vote with over 65 percent of precincts in, said she has been “cautiously optimistic” about her race. Preckwinkle also reaffirmed her dedication to roll back current president Todd Stroger‘s controversial sales tax by no later than the end of her first term.
“What I’ve promised from the very beginning is that we’d do this,” Preckwinkle said, also noting that she believes a recent Civic Federation report estimating a $285 million budget shortfall is a low estimate. Katie Fretland
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8:40 p.m. Forrest Claypool’s Headquarters
Bob Dylan‘s “Shelter From the Storm” was just playing at the Claypool campaign event at the Ivy League Baseball Club in Wrigleyville. That’s pretty much the way the Claypool campaign has characterized its independent run for assessor against Joe Berrios, the chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party.
With 64 percent of the vote counted, Berrios had 46 percent of the vote over Claypool’s 33 percent.
Claypool says the race for this down ballot office is a measure of whether Cook County is ready for reform – or whether it will continue to be dominated by insiders. In addition to his party position, Berrios also serves on the county board of tax appeals and has taken thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from attorneys who appear before it. He’s also a lobbyist in Springfield. “It’s a righteous cause,” one Claypool worker said to me a minute ago.
Berrios, though, has slammed Claypool as an opportunist and elitist with little knowledge of the assessor’s office. He successfully courted the support of many of the area’s leading black and Latino pols while Claypool’s backing is centered on the North Side and in the suburbs.
The Claypool party is spirited but modest in size so far, with a few dozen supporters enjoying food, chatting, and watching national returns on TV. Mick Dumke
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8:25 p.m. Toni Preckwinkle’s Party
A small crowd has gathered at Toni Preckwinkle’s election party at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza across from the Merchandise Mart in River North. They’re listening to a live band play “My Girl” with the name of the Democratic nominee for Cook County Board president substituted in the lyrics. John Rogers, the chairman and CEO of Ariel Investments and key financial backer of President Barack Obama, is among those in attendance.
Preckwinkle is likely to address the crowd no later than 9 p.m., according to her communications director. Katie Fretland
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8:10 p.m. Joe Berrios’ Headquarters
Berrios, the Democratic nominee for Cook County Assessor, has arrived and is milling about the premises shaking hands. The TV is tuned to WMAQ-Ch. 5. So far, the media is being kept away and the stage is set up with his campaign sign as a backdrop.
Berrios’ daughter, State Rep. Toni Berrios (D-Chicago) , is on hand, along with Ald. Rey Suarez (31st), who is flanking Joe Berrios as he walks around. Also on hand are former State Reps. Sam Panayotovich and Robert Terzich. Berrios has hosted his election event at Lazo’s Tacos Restaurant since 1982. Daniel Libit
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7:47 p.m. Gov. Pat Quinn’s Headquarters
With Quinn supposedly upstairs at the Hotel Allegro enjoying an election night dinner with his family, the press corps passed the time downstairs with some good old fashioned turf wars.
Too few chairs and too many outsized egos turned the hotel’s chandeliered Walnut Room into a less civilized version of an overcrowded bus station. Some reporters, desperate for a bathroom break, left the room only after marking their territory with strips of masking tape, their names scrawled in black marker.
More than a few late arrivals have made the mistake of sitting in one of
those chairs, only to be snarled at by over-caffeinated colleagues. Jessica Reaves
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Chicago News Cooperative photographers have trailed gubernatorial candidates Pat Quinn and Bill Brady during the home stretch of the campaign. Below are photos from election day, when Quinn voted and Brady attended mass, as well as pictures of their appearances at the Rev. James Meeks‘ Salem Baptist Church.
