Ramirez tops Villegas, Jackson leads

Jonathan Jackson, son of civil rights icon the Rev. Jesse Jackson, emerged at the top of a pack of contenders Tuesday night to nab the nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush.

Jackson’s win over 16 other Democrats in the historic 1st Congressional District sets him up as the overwhelming favorite to continue nearly a century of Black representation in the seat that stretches from the South Loop deep into the south suburbs.

With 81% of precincts reporting, Jackson had 27.5% of the vote to 18.7% for Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell of the South Side, in unofficial totals.

In another closely watched primary fight in a heavily Democratic congressional seat, progressive state Rep. Delia Ramirez won handily over moderate Northwest Side Ald. Gilbert Villegas in the new Latino-leaning 3rd District that meanders from Chicago deep into DuPage County.

With 96% of precincts reporting, Ramirez had about 66% of the vote to 24% for Villegas, who said he called Ramirez to concede in the race.

Both Jackson and Ramirez were endorsed during their campaigns by progressive firebrand Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Ramirez also has long enjoyed the backing of progressive Southwest Side U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.

Ramirez, 39, also had the Chicago Teachers Union backing.

Also Tuesday, veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Danny Davis was trying to hold off young progressive challenger Kina Collins in the 7th District, which winds from the west suburbs through the West Side to the South Side.

With 87% of precincts reporting, Davis had 51.4% of the vote to 46.3% for Collins.

If Jackson holds on to win Tuesday and wins in November, he will follow his brother, Jesse Jackson Jr., to the House of Representatives.

Jesse Jackson Jr., represented the nearby 2nd Congressional District from 1995 to 2012 but resigned while he was under federal investigation for misusing campaign funds. He later pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud and was released from prison in March 2015.

Jonathan Jackson enjoyed great name recognition in the district, which helped him in the crowded field.

On the campaign trail, Jackson argued he was best positioned to get things done for the district, pointing to his past work nationally and with members of Congress locally on voter registration drives and other programs through his father’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

In his speech declaring victory, Jackson promised to take the concerns of South Siders to Washington.

“I want you to know the South Side matters,” he said. “The South Side of Chicago is going with me. When I win, you win.”

Contests in the three heavily blue, Chicago-based districts — the 1st, 3rd and 7th — will go a long way toward shaping the state’s Democratic caucus in Washington for the next two years and likely much longer.

The 1st District features a changing of the guard as several well-known Democrats fronted a field of 17 primary candidates vying to succeed retiring Rush in the seat that has historic political significance to African Americans.

[ [Live results] 2022 primary election in Illinois ]

The 3rd District that rambles from the Northwest Side through DuPage County will elect a new member of the U.S. House as well.

All three seats were…