Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller fended off Jesse Jackson Jr.’s attempt at a political comeback and came out on top of a crowded primary race Tuesday to represent Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District.
Miller, who led the race in fundraising, had roughly 40% of the vote with over 95% of precincts reporting at about 10:00 p.m. She beat nine other Democratic candidates to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly.
Jackson Jr., who represented the seat for 17 years, was in 2nd place with about 29% of the vote.
Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, who won the primary for Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District, greets a poll worker before casting her ballot at Living Grace Church in Lynwood.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Rounding out the rest of the primary field in the the heavily Democratic district was State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, (11.9%); state Sen. Willie Preston (3%); Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board member Yumeka Brown (10.4%); attorney Patrick “PJK” Keating (1.3%); Toni C. Brown (1.2%); Sidney Moore (1%); management consultant Eric France (1%); and Adal Regis, who worked in U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly’s district office (0.8%).
The only candidate on the Republican primary ballot was Mike Noack.
“I’m so proud of our campaign,” Miller said to a cheering crowd of supporters, at her election party in Chicago Heights. “Our campaign was run with honor and integrity every step of the way. … We talked about me and the plan for the 2nd Congressional District, and no one else. We won this race the old fashioned way by earning it.”
The sprawling district includes South Side neighborhoods, several south suburbs — including Chicago Heights, Dolton and South Holland — and parts of central Illinois, including Kankakee and Danville.
An hour after the Associated Press named Miller the winner, dozens of supporters from preteens to seniors still milled about. A group started an impromptu celebratory line dance, as songs like “I Am Blessed” by Reed’s Temple Choir reverberated through the space. It gave off the spirit of a church basement gathering, mixed with a family reunion.
The crowd at Donna Miller’s campaign party started dancing to V.I.C’s “Wobble.”
Soon, a crowd favorite — “Wobble” by V.I.C. — drew the remaining reluctant dancers to the carpeted floor in celebration.
Meanwhile, the victorious Miller, 60, stayed busy, posing for photos, after delivering her speech.
Miller is currently serving her second term as 6th District commissioner on the Cook County Board.
Her platform included pushing for Medicare for All, maternal health and reproductive justice, as well as good jobs and lower costs for working families. She served on the board of Planned Parenthood of Illinois and said she would push for Congress to codify Roe v. Wade.
Miller’s campaign fundraising came under scrutiny during the primary race. She reported at least $875,000 from donors who have given to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee or its affiliated super PAC, the United Democracy Project, since 2023, according to figures from the Federal Election Commission.
Miller has received a total of $2.4 million from AIPAC, Axios reported. Peters’ campaign has also claimed she received funds from Trump donors.
Miller told the Sun-Times last month that she doesn’t have any “MAGA donors.” When asked if she supported “unconditional military aid for Israel,” Miller said, “Israel does have a right to exist.”
Jackson Jr. announced his run in October on the 84th birthday of his father, civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson. Four months later, he was thrust into the national and local spotlight when his father died last month.
Jackson Jr., 60, represented the 2nd district from 1995 to 2012 when he left Congress because of mental health issues. Not long after, he was charged and convicted for misusing his campaign funds and served 17 months in federal prison.
At his election party Tuesday night, Jackson Jr. took the stage for his concession speech as Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove” blared.
Jesse Jackson Jr. takes the stage ahead of his concession speech.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
“When I launched this campaign last October, on my father’s birthday, my father reminded me that my commitment to public service must also mean my commitment to reach out and to bring us together,” he said. “I want to thank Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, the Democratic nominee for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District of Illinois, for the robust contest that she has offered. I think she’s an extraordinary public servant.”
Jackson Jr.’s campaign received more than $1 million from pro-AI PACs, according to Axios. About a week before the election, his campaign used AI in an ad to replicate former U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush’s voice.
Noack, the sole Republican candidate, is a truck driver who has lived in Kankakee County for 32 years, according to his campaign website. His platform included lowering health care costs, investing in reliable renewable energy, reforming the immigration process, lowering the state’s property taxes and investing in veterans.