Casten Gets Democratic Nod, Newman Pledges Support: IL Primary 2022
Politics & Government Casten Gets Democratic Nod, Newman Pledges Support: IL Primary 2022 Sean Casten beats Marie Newman in the incumbent vs. incumbent Democratic primary in the redrawn Illinois 6th Congressional District. Replies (34)
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten has been declared the winner of the IL-06 Democratic primary, according to AP. (Sean Casten Campaign)
ILLINOIS — Updated 11.40 p.m. U.S. Rep. Sean Casten has won the Democratic nomination in the redrawn Illinois 6th Congressional District. Casten won the incumbent vs. incumbent primary over the rookie congresswoman, U.S. Rep. Marie Newman. AP called the race for Casten around 9 p.m.
Casten was leading with 42,610 votes (68%) across the 6th District to Newman’s 19,005 (28%). Challenger Charles Hughes, of Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood, who posted a picture of himself earlier on election day, came in third with 1,795 votes (3.2%), according to unofficial tallies. The Downers Grove democrat saw much of his district disappear from DuPage County into suburban Cook and the city’s Southwest Side during last fall’s district remapping that happens every 10 years with the decennial census. The redrawn boundaries put Casten in a primary contest with fellow Democrat U.S. Rep. Marie Newman, serving her first term in the 3rd District.
Newman was dogged by a House ethics probe into an alleged quid pro quo offer to convince a potential rival not to run in exchange for a job on her congressional staff. The campaign was interrupted in the final weeks by the sudden death of Casten’s 17-year-old daughter. Casten proved that he could get the votes in a large segment of the 3rd District absorbed in the redrawn IL-06, when he became the first Democrat to serve the 6th District in over 50 years.
“We flipped the 6th District in 2018 because of the hard work of the thousands of volunteers who knocked on doors, made phone calls, and did everything they could to show the country what the values of the 6th District truly were,” Casten said in a victory statement. “Then, in 2020, we rejected racism and bigotry and chose science, compassion, decency, acceptance, and love. He thanked his volunteers who helped knock on doors, call on voters and put out yard signs, telling supporters “you have a lot to be proud of, and you deserve to celebrate.”
“Tonight, the people of the 6th District sent a resounding message,” Casten said. “We have been given a mandate to continue our fight against the climate crisis, to end gun violence, to lower costs for families, and to protect every woman’s right to make her own health care decisions.” Newman said released a statement after conceding to Casten.