Toi Hutchinson Announces Run for Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Congressional Seat

Illinois Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) announced Thursday that she will run for the 2nd Congressional District seat recently vacated by Jesse Jackson Jr. 

Hutchinson, who was appointed a state senator in 2009 after Debbie Halvorson was elected to Congress, was re-elected to the 40th district seat in November, winning over Tuck Marshall (R-Frankfort). The 40th district expanded this year to include the southern parts of New Lenox and Frankfort, and also represents Chicago Heights, Flossmoor and Homewood. 

"Families in the South Suburbs and the southside deserve a representative who understands their concerns and who will work alongside President Obama to create new jobs, rebuild our roads and schools, and protect the gains we’ve made on equal pay, health care and civil rights," Hutchinson said in a blog post on Patch. 

Hutchinson said in the blog post that she would "focus on creating jobs and long-term economic development, protecting Social Security and Medicare from Republican efforts to privatize them" if elected to Congress. 

"That's why today I've decided to run for Congress," she said. "I'm going to work hard every day to help the people of the Southland and I'm looking forward to earning your support over the coming months." 

Hutchinson’s south suburban Senate district covers the majority of the 2nd Congressional district. Prior to her state Senate appointment, she served two terms as village clerk for the Village of Olympia Fields, and was chief of staff for Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson.

According to CBS/Channel 2 in Chicago, former state representative Robin Kelly also plans to run for the 2nd Congressional District seat, as does former NFL running back Napolean Harris. CBS reports a number of other people considering a campaign. 

Former congressman Mel Reynolds has also announced a run. He lost his seat in 1995, after he was convicted of criminal sexual assault and solicitation of child pornography and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in state prison.

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