CHICAGO–Gov. Pat Quinn supporters are gathered at a downtown hotel celebrating what they hope will be the reelection of the governor. It would be a close race. So far the governor is in the lead with 54 percent and Rauner behind by 10 percent.
Many elected officials as well as others are in attendance. Everyone who spoke with the Chicago Defender says they are hopeful that Quinn will win.
“I am encouraged by the early voting numbers,” Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-16) said.
“I think the African American community was very responsive to the message of minimum wage, the ban on assault weapons and basically just keeping President Barack  Obama’s back,” she said.
Collins said that African Americans have the reputation of not voting, but she said that they have already proved those people wrong. She said Black people know what’s at stake if Quinn doesn’t win so they did their best to prevent his opponent from taking office.
Rev. Jesse Jackson from Rainbow PUSH said that his coalition pushed hard to encourage voters to hit the polls early. If Republican candidate Bruce Rauner wins, then Illinois residents will feel the affect.
“Many of the programs that have helped sustain the unemployed will be threatened, ” he said. Other areas include minimum wage student loan forgiveness and women’s rights, he said.
State Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-IL) said she is hopeful that Quinn will win again.
“We are hopeful that people will see elections have consequences and that people will recognize that there is a stark difference between the candidates, it is always interesting to see  when it is neck and neck like this so we are just going to have to wait and see,” she said.
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