The Associated Press has projected incumbent Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn as the winner in Illinois, a major upset result as he apparently defeats Republican state Sen. Bill Brady:
An AP analysis of uncounted votes from absentee and other ballots shows state Sen. Bill Brady won’t be able to overcome the just more than 19,400-vote lead Quinn holds with 100 percent of precincts reporting Thursday.
Brady has not yet conceded the race, saying earlier that he wants all remaining votes, such as military absentee votes, to be counted.
[TPM SLIDESHOW: Meet Your New Governors]
Quinn previously served as lieutenant governor, and took office in January 2009 following the impeachment and removal of Dem Gov. Rod Blagojevich, as a result of a scandal involving allegations that Blagojevich conspired to sell the appointment to President Obama’s former Senate seat. Quinn barely survived a primary challenge earlier this year from state Comptroller Dan Hynes, and trailed in nearly all the general election polls.
Surveys from late in the race had shown Quinn making up ground. But even then his apparent victory is a big come-from-behind result, especially in a Republican year. In Illinois alone, the Republicans picked up the Senate seat, plus three or four House seats.
Check out this ad that Quinn ran against Brady, in which the Quinn campaign found an interesting wedge issue — that Brady supports the mass killing of shelter dogs and cats in gas chambers:
A lot of the media scoffed at this ad, with its melodrama and unseasonal beach setting used in one shot. But look at who won!
