Casten Gets Democratic Nod, Newman Pledges Support: IL Primary 2022

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.

“While this is not the result we wanted, know that we have to unite in November to keep this seat blue and protect our Democratic majority,” the congresswoman said in a statement released after conceding to Casten. “I respect my colleague Congressman Casten for his proven commitment to the people of this district and I give him my full endorsement for re-election in November.”

The congresswoman thanked her supporters who “put their souls into this race.”

“I can't thank them enough for that. Thank you to every single person who helped us get to where we are today,” Newman said. “Win or lose, we have achieved something truly historic, and done so much good for this community."

>>> IL Election Results: 6th Congressional Race, Republican Primary 2022