Update: Republican race too close to call - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Update: Republican race too close to call

By: CBS4 News, newsroom@cbs4qc.com

Update:

(AP) _ The race among Republicans to replace former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is too close to call.

Chicago resident Paul McKinley was leading fellow Republican Eric Wallace by about two dozen votes as of late Tuesday night. But with a handful of precincts outstanding, no winner was declared.

But regardless of the outcome, the winner will enter the April 9 general election with a huge disadvantage. The 2nd Congressional District is heavily Democratic, and no Republican has won the Chicago-area seat in more than 50 years. McKinley is a political newcomer. Wallace founded a Christian publishing company and ran an unsuccessful campaign for Illinois Senate in 2006.

Jackson resigned in November. He pleaded guilty earlier this month to spending about $750,000 in campaign funds on personal items.

Preview: (AP) _ Former Illinois legislator Robin Kelly has won the Democratic primary to replace disgraced former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

Kelly, from the southern Chicago suburb of Matteson, won Tuesday's special election.

That means the former Illinois House member will face the winner of the Republican primary in the April 9 special election.  She's entering the race with a big advantage because the Chicago-area 2nd Congressional District is heavily Democratic.

Kelly is a strong supporter of gun control. Her campaign benefited from a $2 million ad campaign funded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's super PAC.  The ads targeted one of her two opponents, former Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson, for her position on guns.

Jackson resigned in November.  He pleaded guilty this month to spending about $750,000 in campaign funds on personal items