Ram Villivalam Romps Incumbent State Sen. Ira Silverstein

State Sen. Ira Silverstein was resoundingly defeated in the 8th State Senate District primary Tuesday, losing the the first competitive primary he's faced for the seat he's held since 1999 to former union lobbyist Ram Villivalam. The March primary, and the November election for that matter, would have been a cakewalk for Silverstein, a senior senate Democrat, until he became embroiled in scandal last fall. A trio of challengers jumped into the race after a woman trying to pass a bill to protect crime victims accused Silverstein of harassing her.

The winner among them was Ram Villivalam, a former legislative coordinator for the Service Employees International Union. He was endorsed by every local member of Congress and both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune, which said it favored either of the other candidates – DePaul University staffer Caroline McAteer-Fournier or attorney David Zulkey – over the incumbent 8th District Senator. Villivalam said Tuesday he was proud and humbled by the coalition he'd constructed.

“This campaign was never about me. It has always been about working together to empower and raise the voices of the voters of the 8th State Senate District, one conversation at a time. Today, those voters spoke clearly: they’re ready for a new generation of effective progressive leadership," he told a group of supporters in Lincolnwood.

“I’m ready to head down to Springfield to take on the issues that I’ve heard about again and again as I knock doors: reducing gun violence, ensuring equitable education funding, and lowering taxes for middle class families."

RESULTS

• Ram Villivalam – 51.5% (14,181) — Winner
• Ira Silverstein – 29.8% (8,209)
• Caroline McAteer-Fournier – 13.5% (3,724)
• David Zulkey – 5.2% (1,440)

(164 of 165 precincts reporting)

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» MORE: Illinois Primary Election 2018 Races

Silverstein was the first – and so far only – sitting state lawmaker to be accused of sexual harassment by name when a victims rights advocate, Denise Rotheimer, said he had behaved inappropriately last October. In January, a special legislative inspector general found his conduct was not criminal but was "unbecoming of a legislator" in violation of the state ethics act. He qualified for the ballot with just two signatures above the minimum requirement.

Democratic Party leadership mostly stuck with Silverstein, with Senate President John Cullerton backing him financially. And another PAC linked to Silverstein's supporters has contributed more than $50,000 to McAteer-Fournier's campaign in an apparent effort to split the anti-Silverstein vote.

But after Silverstein distributed mailers touting the endorsement of Rep. Lou Lang, the House deputy majority leader said they invalided his pledge to remain neutral in the race. Lang subsequently endorsed Villivalam and campaigned with him Sunday.

"We saw great energy in this race," McAteer-Fournier said, conceding the race. "I look forward to working with Ram on issues that affect our neighbors and I hope that he addresses the deep cultural issues in Springfield that are standing in the way of empowering and supporting Illinois women."

Silverstein conceded the race in the West Ridge neighborhood, downplaying the importance of the harassment allegation on the race, according to the Chicago Tribune, he said it was down to “a lot of negative campaigning that was done.”

"It wasn't in the cards," he said. "It was God's plan, not mine."

The North Side and near suburban 8th Senate District includes all or parts of Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Park Ridge, as well as the West Ridge, North Park and Forest Glen areas of Chicago.

» MORE: Illinois Primary Election 2018 Races

Challenger Ram Villivalam greets supporters at 90 Miles Cuban Cafe in Lincolnwood, just after 20-year incumbent Sen. Ira Silverstein concedes the primary for the 8th District. pic.twitter.com/78elX1fsLq
— AngieLeventisLourgos (@angie_leventis) March 21, 2018