Saturday, November 10, 2012
Precinct by precinct, see how many of your neighbors supported the congressman by sending him their vote.
Despite his absence from the district, Jesse Jackson Jr. won 15 out of 19 voting precincts that cover the City of Chicago Heights in Tuesday's election, according to data released Wednesday from the county clerk's office. Jackson won many of the precincts by 200 or more votes, with Republican candidate Brian Woodworth coming in second in most cases. The few exceptions were the polling locations at Greenbriar School, Highland School, Marian Catholic High School and St. Paul's Lutheran Church, where Woodworth beat out Jackson. Lewis' best showing in Chicago Heights was at Bloom Township Hall, where he got more than 100 votes. READ: Election 2012 Results for Local and State Races The following is a break down of voting by Bloom Township …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Unofficial results show the 17-year congressman took the race by a wide margin, even without making an appearance in his district since June.
Jesse Jackson Jr. will remain the 2nd District congressman after defeating his opponents in the general election. Jackson took more than 60 percent of the vote, with more than 60 percent of precincts reporting across Will, Cook, and Kankakee counties, as well as the City of Chicago, around 10 p.m. Wednesday. Jackson's Republican opponent Brian Woodworth was frank when it came to discussing the congressman's absence from the campaign trail. “I don’t really have anyone to concede to, do I?" Woodworth said. “From what I can find in my records, I’ve actually performed better than any Republican in the past against Jackson.“ Woodworth did take major leads in Will and Kankakee counties, leading Jackson by more than 10,000 votes in the latter …
Monday, November 5, 2012
A quick run-down of what issues are most important to the candidates.
A lawyer and college professor from Bourbonnais, Woodworth has trailed far behind incumbent Jesse Jackson Jr. in the polls, but has maintained higher numbers than Republicans typically get in the Second District. Woodworth says he is "not a Washington insider." Here are some of his plans for the Second Congressional District, if elected: To learn more about these plans and more, visit Woodworth's campaign Website, Brian Woodworth: Republican for Congress. A longtime postal worker from Matteson, Lewis has been an active voice on Patch for months, responding articles and drawing attention to his campaign. Of all the candidates, Lewis has been the most openly critical of Jackson, most recently accusing him of secretly campaigning through …
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has no plans to celebrate on election night
While he has been absent from his congressional district for several months, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has somehow found time to vote. Jackson voted absentee and has no plans to hold an election-night event, political consultant Kevin Lampe told the Tribune. The congressman is seeking re-election despite a tumultuous year of federal investigations and time-spent at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Jackson has been on medical leave since June 10 and has mostly dodged the public eye all the way through October. Jackson was seen sitting with former Congressman Patrick Kennedy in August and more recently was seen drinking at a bar in Washington D.C. before returning to the Clinic, according to the Tribune. It was reported in August that …
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
With everything going on in Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.'s life, does he really have the time, energy or fortitude to make national legislative decisions?
Jesse Jackson Jr. has spent the second half of 2012 out of the public eye. Most of his constituency has not heard a word from him since June. But still, he remains on the ballot, and one has to wonder why. Now the subject of two federal-level investigations, Jackson is under the microscope in a way that transcends this election. Discussions about what to do in Peotone have gone by the wayside as talks of mental health and ethical character dominate the Second District Congressional election. Republican Brian Woodworth, a former professor at Olivet Nazarene University with a background in law, has a fighting chance now. Independent Marcus Lewis, a passionate longtime postal worker, has Jackson's seat in his cross-hairs. Regardless of his …
Monday, October 15, 2012
The Wall Street Journal says the federal government is investigating the congressman's campaign spending.
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is getting FBI attention for his campaign spending, according to the Wall Street Journal. The congressman is reportedly under federal investigation for accusations of misusing campaign money to decorate his $1.3 million Washington D.C. home. The WSJ cites sources "familiar with the matter" and says the U.S. attorney's office and the FBI are "in the final stages" of the investigation. Read the story "Jackson Is Subject of Criminal Probe" in the Wall Street Journal Jackson's opponents, Brian Woodworth and Marcus Lewis, have both questioned the congressman's ability to lead after he was absent for several months and diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder. Jackson's office announced he was home from the Mayo Clinic in …
Monday, September 17, 2012
We've had enough of the election year run around. Post a question and we'll seek an answer. We're planning to ask the 2nd District candidates questions from their potential constituents.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
In much the same way we executed the Minutes with the Mayor series on Chicago Heights Patch and Homewood-Flossmoor Patch, we're planning to ask the candidates questions from their potential constituents.
The race for the Illinois Second District Congressional seat is arguably one of the most important races of the year for those of us who live in the district. With Election Day just two months away (sooner for you early voters) it's becoming increasingly important to know more about these candidates and their plans. Incumbent Jesse Jackson Jr. has had a rough year to say the least, and his opponents, Brian Woodworth and Marcus Lewis, are looking to unseat a man who has held the same spot for nearly 18 years. Over the past two months we've heard plenty of comments on Jackson's health, but we have not heard much about the candidates' platforms and plans. What makes these three so different from each other? Are any of them deserving of …
Saturday, August 25, 2012
The Second District congressman has been absent from the campaign trail for two months and is having possibly the most difficult year of his career. Can he still win?
Saturday, August 18, 2012
The Second District congressman has been absent from the campaign trail for two months and is having possibly the most difficult year of his career. Can he still win?
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. seems to have everything going against him this election year. He is at the center of a Congressional Ethic Committee investigation, his former fundraiser has been arrested and charged with bribery and he's been a ghost for the past two months. To top it all off, Jackson was diagnosed with bipolar II last week. Regardless, one of Chicago's top political analysts, Dick Simpson, has Jackson getting 50 to 60 percent of the vote this November. The 17-year United States representative is expected to keep his seat. The reason? Simpson pointed to weak opposition. Jackson's opponents, Republican Brian Woodworth and Independent Marcus Lewis have both commented on Simpson's prediction and neither seems to be shaken in…
Marcus Lewis
10:05 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The time is right now for my candidacy. 38,733 voters thought so and believed as I do. Clearly, if you want real change to come to this blighted district run by crooks, thieves & sex addicts you MUST choose someone different... And that person whether you like me or not is Marcus Lewis.   more ›