Democratic primary race for Cook County State’s Attorney remains too close to call; vote-by-mail ballots still being processed
CHICAGO — The gap is narrowing in the Democratic primary for Cook County State’s Attorney, but the race was still too close to call as of Monday morning, as Chicago Board of Elections officials continue to process vote-by-mail ballots.
Clayton Harris III had cut Eileen O’Neill Burke’s lead to just 1,643 votes, closing the gap in recent updates after a miscalculation in votes was discovered over the weekend.
(Editor’s note: Even though the above graphic says 100% of votes are reported, the election has not been called. Vote-by-mail ballots are still being tabulated.)
According to the spokesperson for the Board of Elections, the number of mail-in ballots received last week Monday night — the night before Election Day — was incorrectly reported. The Board of Elections says approximately 9,000 additional vote-by-mail ballots received the night of March 18 should’ve been included in the received-by-Election Day number.
Mail-in ballots still being counted in razor-tight primary race for Cook County State’s Attorney
Those votes were supposed to be processed and counted just after Election Day. They were inspected, processed and counted over the weekend instead.
The Board of Elections says that on Sunday, election judges processed approximately 13,000 vote-by-mail ballots.
Additional ballots postmarked by Election Day may still arrive and be counted through April 2.
On Monday, March 25, the Chicago Board of Elections said there are 53, 768 outstanding vote by mail ballots that are still unreturned or unrejected.
Max Bever, Director of Public Information for the Board of Elections, said “human error” was responsible for the initial incorrect reporting of vote-by-mail numbers and shouldered the blame for any confusion.
“He did not add two-and-two together in the rush,” Bever said, referring to himself.
“There will be additional updates from the Board, from vote-by-mail ballots that are added to the unofficial count, as well as from the Clerk’s Office at the county. So we do tell voters, ‘Have patience.'”
Race for Cook County State’s Attorney underway ahead of elections
Harris is an attorney with party backing. O’Neill Burke is a former appellate judge. O’Neill Burke led in fundraising, in part with money from top Republican donors, but Harris had numerous endorsements, including from labor unions and progressive and establishment Democrats.
The race is open because State’s Attorney Kim Foxx decided not to seek a third term. It was among the most spirited and competitive contests in Tuesday’s Illinois primary.
The winner of the primary in the Democratic stronghold is expected to win outright in November. Republican Bob Fioretti, a former Chicago alderman and perennial candidate, and Libertarian Andrew Charles Kopinski are also running.
It is the latest example of how the legacy of progressive Democrats who swept into big-city prosecutor offices over the past decade has fractured. In other cities, progressive Democrats have faced tough reelection bids, with blame on progressive policies for perceptions that cities are less safe.
Candidates in the Chicago area both praised and criticized Foxx’s leadership.
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