O’Neill Burke speaks on primary win during celebration event in West Loop
CHICAGO — Eileen O’Neill Burke is one step closer to becoming Cook County’s next state’s attorney.
The Associated Press declared the former appellate court judge the winner of the Democratic primary for Cook County state’s attorney late Friday night, ten days after the election.
On Monday, she celebrated the victory with her supporters at the Plumbers Local 130 training center in the West Loop, where she kicked off her campaign.
“My dad was a union guy, it meant a lot to me that the unions stepped forward and said ‘This is who we want,'” O’Neill Burke said on Monday morning.
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During the event, she acknowledged how tight the race was and thanked those who helped in the success of a hard-fought campaign that came down to the wire.
“Democracy is messy, but it works, and this election showed that,” O’Neill Burke said.
It was a razor-tight race, but O’Neill Burke ultimately prevailed, narrowly beating opponent Clayton Harris III by fewer than 1,600 votes.
“This election showed our votes count, everyone has to vote, cause it matters,” O’Neill Burke said.
The past 10 days were agonizing for the former appellate court judge and her family as the democratic process played out.
“It was a roller coaster ride my husband rode that rollercoaster every day sometimes he was screaming sometimes I was…omg when is this going to be over,” O’Neill Burke said.
O’Neill Burke said if she wins the general election, she plans to focus on lowering crime rates and making sure those living in Cook County know that she is committed to fighting for them.
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“I want to be effective. That doesn’t mean we are going to lock everyone up, that means we are going to implement programs to get people turned around,” O’Neill Burke said.
On Monday, Clayton Harris III released a statement congratulating O’Neill Burke on her win.
“I am incredibly proud of the broad, diverse, grassroots coalition we built countywide with the vision of a criminal justice system that focuses on safety and justice. Where we keep every resident safe–no matter what neighborhood they live in, and where we do so in a just fashion. I said throughout this campaign that I would continue to push forward on the urgent work of criminal justice reform. That remains my commitment. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you, Cook County,” Harris III said.
In the November general election, O’Neill Burke will face off against Republican Bob Fioretti and Libertarian Andrew Kopinski.
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