Robin Kelly For Congress (IL-02)

This morning state Senator Toi Hutchinson, back in Chicago from working to get the marriage equality bill passed in Springfield, made an inevitable decision. She's pulling out of the race for Jesse Jackson's old seat (IL-02) and endorsing the other progressive candidate, Robin Kelly.

From the first, Blue America's position has always been that the key to preventing self-described "conservative Democrat" Debbie Halvorson from worming her way back into Congress was to keep the non-Halvorson vote from splintering. Toi looked best equipped to do that but over the course of the last two weeks, momentum has shifted to Robin Kelly. Respected Chicago congressmembers Danny Davis, Jan Schakowsky and Bobby Rush have all endorsed Kelly and it became apparent that she would be the strongest non-Halvorson. Toi is urging her supporters to rally around Robin and make sure that Halvorson doesn't get back into Congress to work for Wall Street and the NRA.

Toi, on announcing her withdrawal this morning: “I urge those who have been supporting me to now work hard for Robin over the next 9 days. I have said from Day One that this campaign is not about me or any one person; it’s about moving America forward and standing with President Obama to create new jobs and safer communities. Robin is a friend, and has captured momentum in pulling our community together. I am simply unwilling to risk playing a role going forward that could result in dividing our community at a time when we need unity more than ever.”