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Schakowsky scores eighth term in Congress
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky shares a few words after winning re-election to her congresional seat with a crowd of supporters at Prairie Moon in Evanston just before having to leave for McCormick Place. | Dave Kraus ~ For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: December 9, 2012 6:21AM
EVANSTON
Democrat Jan Schakowsky will return for an eighth term as Illinois’ 9th District congresswoman after defeating Republican challenger Tim Wolfe by a wide margin in Tuesday’s election.
With all 538 precincts reporting, Schakowsky had 186,594 votes to Wolfe’s 95,289.
Speaking briefly to supporters at Prairie Moon Restaurant Tuesday night in Evanston, Schakowsky said early voting totals showed local voters still support the existing administration in Washington.
“They’re showing support of President Obama’s agenda and the agenda of the Democratic party, which are very different from the Republican agenda,” Schakowsky said before heading to McCormick Place for President Obama’s election night rally in Chicago.
On Wednesday morning, Schakowsky echoed the issues brought up in the president’s victory speech, showing her support for the middle class, women’s rights, worker’s rights, the environment and implementing Obamacare.
“We really are all in this together,” Schakowsky said. “I look forward to continuing a leadership position in the Democratic caucus and working on all those issues.”
With the election now over, the congresswoman plans to study the results of her election area to better reach out to her constituents.
Additionally, she hopes both parties can begin working together to restore America’s faith in Congress.
“Hopefully my Republican colleagues will take lessons from this election that the American people are really tired of this gridlock,” Schakowsky said. “(The people) want to move forward and hope that we’ll be able to sit down as we did in the past prior to 2010 and work together to solve these problems. I’m really hopeful there will be a different atmosphere and this gridlock will end.”
Schakowsky was first elected to the 9th District Congressional seat in 1998 and has been one of the top Democrats in Washington. In 2010 she was appointed by then Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve on an 18-member National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
Schakowsky has said on numerous occasions her number one priority on Capitol Hill is to create jobs and restore a vibrant middle class.
Tuesday’s election was Wolfe’s first attempt at running for public office. He had said he was persuaded to run after seeing Congress struggle to agree to raise the country’s debt ceiling, saying, “the people in Washington are not serious enough to make tough financial decisions.”
Wolfe, a certified financial planner and accountant, believed his financial background could have benefited Washington by cutting the budget, simplifying tax codes and lowering the business tax rate to create jobs and improve the nation’s economy. ~.
