9:28pm: With the races for tonight settled, SSP will be calling it a night. Expect plenty of analysis in the coming days...
9:08pm: With thanks to Johnny Longtorso for the link, Dems hold Missouri SD-09, a KC-based seat. With seemingly all precincts reporting, Sly James also pulls into first for Mayor, with incumbent Mark Funkhouser falling into 3rd.
8:58pm: Here's a shocker, and perhaps a sign of racial progress in an extremely segregated city: Rahm did better in wards represented by Black aldermen (59% to Chico's 11%) than in those by White aldermen (55% to Chico's 32%). CMB did better in the former - 20% - than the latter - 2%. Rahm also got 40% in wards represented by Hispanic aldermen, to Chico's 32% and Del Valle's 26%.
8:54pm: Backtracking on HD-99 in Connecticut. NBC is reporting that the Dem has held the East Haven-based seat.
8:44pm: Chicago wasn't the only Midwestern city to have an election. While some of you might be surprised that the Midwest has two cities, in Kansas City, incumbent Mark Funkhouser is barely in second at 22.5%, with challengers Mike Burke and Sly James in first at 27.5% and 22.1%, respectively. Funkhouser is an indie; Burke and James Democrats.
8:39pm: Looks like CT is over. Says the Courant:
In nine special elections Tuesday night, Republicans picked up a net gain of two seats - one in the House and one in the state Senate.
Both sides were happy as Republicans said they had made inroads on traditionally Democratic territory, and Democrats said they had largely held back a Republican onslaught that was part of a national trend that started last year.
8:37pm: Ghosts of the machine? Gery Chico's best ward tonight: 60% in the 14th, run by powerful ward boss - and prominent Chico supporter (and wife of IL Supreme Court justice Anna) - Ed Burke.
8:31pm: Dems also hold SD-6 in New Berlin, CT.
8:23pm: The Hartford Courant is reporting that Dems have lost another seat, HD-99, in "traditionally Republican-leaning Madison."
8:11pm: Some down in the weeds City Council stuff: Sandi Jackson at 52% in the 7th; incumbent Sharon Denise Dixon has a plurality in the 24th with 19% (yes, 19%. Fortunately, we have runoffs for this reason). West Ridge stalwart (and Council Wars veteran...and IMO noted ass) Bernie Stone at 38% with Ward Dem Committeeman (and wife of State Sen Ira) Debra Silverstein at 33%.
8:04pm: The Courant is also reporting that Dems hold the West Hartford-based HD-20.
7:58pm: We'll diversify into some non-Chicago news here - in Connecticut, with its slew of special elections for 9 Dem-held seats; Dems have lost the 13th SD. However, CT-02 loser Janet Peckinpaugh (R) loses again, as Dems hold the 36th HD.
7:53pm: Mayor Emanuel! Rahm's dominance today is stunning - 57% on the South Side; 59% on the West Side, and 70% in his former North Side stomping grounds. Chico did well on the Southwest Side, 50% to Rahm's 36%. Rahm just shy of 50% on the Northwest side, 49.1%.
7:47pm: We're calling this one for Rahm. He's over the 50% in 35 of 50 wards, including 75% in the Loop-based 42nd, Lincoln Park-based 43rd, and Lakeview-based 44th.
7:42pm: We're now at 75% of the vote reporting, and Rahm's at 54.44%. He's still got some North Side strongholds to report, which is behind the curve at 72% in.
7:40pm: Alternatively, going by "side" of city, 66% of the Southwest Side is in, 60% of the Northwest Side; 55% of the West Side; 52% of the South Side, and 51% of the North Side. The Northwest side, which has some heavily Hispanic pockets will be a mixed blessing for Emanuel, who did represent part of the area in Congress. The North Side should turn out heavily for Rahm.
7:31pm: These votes are pretty evenly distributed. Using the ever-so-rough approximation of aggregating by the race of the incumbent alderman, 59% of precincts in wards represented by white alderman are reporting; 53% of precincts represented by Black and Hispanic aldermen each.
7:28pm: And with 56% reporting, Rahm's up to 53.9%, Chico at 25.8%. Del Valle and CMB still in 3rd and 4th.
7:26pm: With 17% reporting, Rahm's at 51.4% with Chico at 29.8. Del Valle's in 3rd, and Carol "You were strung out on crack" Moseley Braun is in 4th. It will be interesting to see where these votes are coming from.
7:04pm: No results just yet, but there are quite a few downballot races for City Council, where many incumbent aldermen are not seeking re-election. Of particular interest to SSPers might be the 7th ward, where incumbent Ald. Sandi Jackson (wife of IL-02 Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.) is seeking re-election.
Let's get this party started...polls close at 7pm Central Time. As my form of rebellion against the tyranny of the East Coast powers that me, all posts tonight will be stamped with Central time!
