O'Neill Burke wins Dem primary for Cook County state's attorney
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Eileen O'Neill Burke has declared victory over Clayton Harris III in the Democratic primary for Cook County state's attorney.
Why it matters: The race was one of the closest the county has seen in decades, and the Democratic candidate traditionally wins in blue Cook County.
State of play: The Associated Press called the race Friday night for O'Neill Burke, who prevailed by fewer than 1,600 votes.
Between the lines: A strong early showing for O'Neill Burke led many to predict an outcome signaling a rebuke of outgoing progressive State's Attorney Kim Foxx.
- O'Neill Burke's endorsers and donors included business groups, contributors linked to Ken Griffin's Citadel fund and the police union, leading many to associate her with tough-on-crime policies.
- Like Foxx, Harris was endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party.
- But far from a rebuke, the extremely close results indicate an almost even split between the two candidates, who advanced policies that stray little from Foxx's.
The intrigue: While Harris shared Foxx's stance on a higher threshold for charging someone with felony retail theft, O'Neill Burke's campaign promoted arguably even more progressive policies, including creating a newly fashioned Restorative Justice Bureau — an idea originally proposed by Foxx.
What they're saying: In a statement praising Harris, O'Neill Burke sought to unify Democrats, saying in part, "While we may have had our differences in this election, we share a love for our beautiful city and Cook County."
What's next: The Chicago Board of Elections is expected to certify the vote Tuesday.
- O'Neill Burke will face GOP challenger Bob Fioretti in the November election.