A vocal gun-control advocate won the Democratic primary in Chicago to replace disgraced ex-Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. yesterday — with the help of $2.2 million in ads from Mayor Bloomberg’s political action committee.
The winner, former Illinois state legislator Robin Kelly, attracted the attention of Bloomberg when she emerged as a champion of gun-control initiatives.
“We were on the right side of the issue and our message resonated,” Kelly said.
She is virtually assured a general-election win in the overwhelmingly Democratic district.
“This is an important victory for common-sense leadership on gun violence, a problem that plagues the whole nation,” Bloomberg said.
Throughout the campaign, Kelly’s opponent, Debbie Halvorson, who opposed the proposed assault-weapons ban, decried Bloomberg’s involvement.
“It shows, unfortunately, you can’t go up against that big money,” said Halvorson, a former congresswoman.