1995 Illinois's 2nd congressional district special election

Jackson's candidacy

Jackson's wife Sandi envisioned Jackson running for the 2nd congressional district seat in the Spring 1996 primary election. Therefore, Jackson Sr. approached Alice J. Palmer with a deal where they supported her for Congress and she support Junior for her seat in the Illinois State Senate, but Jackson Jr. did not agree with that plan. He felt that if Patrick Kennedy was ready at age 26, then at age 30 he himself was ready. After seeking approval from former Democratic National Committee Chairman and Chicagoan David Wilhelm, he decided to run for the seat. Palmer ran and endorsed Barack Obama for her old seat.

When Mel Reynolds, who was later convicted on sex misconduct charges, announced his resignation from the Congress on September 1, 1995, Jackson's name was (along with Palmer) one of the first names to surface as a replacement. On September 10, 1995, Jackson officially announced his candidacy. Five Democrats, including Illinois State Senate minority leader Emil Jones, and four Republicans competed in the November 29, 1995 party primaries for the party nominations in the December 12, 1995 general election. Jones was endorsed by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. In addition to Jones, Jackson's toughest competitor, the Democratic field included Illinois State Senator Alice Palmer, Illinois State Representative Monique Davis and businessman John Morrow.

Jackson's campaign

As part of his campaign he was the only candidate to embrace the third Chicago airport proposal being championed by Jim Edgar at the time. Jackson estimates the airport could bring the region nearly a quarter million jobs and with the multiplier effect on the economy the region would benefit by a half million jobs.

One of Jackson's most lasting memories from his first election came during a bipartisan televised debate. During Jackson's positive campaign, he had emphasized that his district would be better off keeping Jones in office at the state capital in Springfield and sending Jackson to Washington. Jones said that being a politician took more than crowd pleasing and rhyming. At the time, the Chicago Bulls had just lost the popular B. J. Armstrong in the 1995 Expansion draft to the Toronto Raptors and Michael Jordan had recently returned to basketball from playing minor league baseball. Jackson memorably stated, "I am not running against Emil Jones. I am trying to build a stronger team. B.J. should have never been traded; M.J. should have stayed in basketball; E.J. should stay in Springfield; and J.J. should be sent to Congress."

Democratic primary

November 29, 1995 Democratic Primary

Jackson won the democratic party primary and since the district is overwhelmingly Democratic, he was the favorite for the special general election. The manner in which he won was interesting because although he lost two of the eleven city wards and three of the six townships, he won all the highest voter turnout regions (two largest townships and five largest wards) except the 34th ward, which was Jones' home base.

On the eve of the election, Gore attended a Jackson address. Jackson was campaigning in a district where his father was well known. During this campaign, his lone controversy was that his salary as field director the Rainbow Coalition had been subsidized by the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, which was accused by a Senate investigating committee of having ties to organized crime. Nothing ever came of those accusations.

The special general election

Jackson won the general election of December 12, 1995 against Republican Thomas Somer (76 percent to 24 percent). The victory had been widely anticipated. Upon his victory, Jackson made it known he would be a liberal voice in opposition to Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Jackson was perceived as less charismatic than his father and less credentialed than the Rhodes Scholar Reynolds, but his family pedigree was expected to help him open the doors that would enable him to serve the needs of his constituents effectively. As a result, Jackson received 94% of the vote in the general election.

After being elected in the special general election, Jackson was one of many congressional politicians who received a donation from John Huang although Jackson did not know Mr. Huang. Jackson's donation was unexplained. Many recipients felt compelled to return the donations as a scandal erupted involving the true source of the funds. Eventually there was a Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Department of Justice interrogation of Mr. Huang concerning irregularities which seemed to relate to Jackson and Bill Clinton. Mr. Huang's $1,000 contribution to Jackson's campaign was within legal limits and Jackson attributed Mr. Huang's desire to contribute to the national media attention his campaign's positive message received.

References

References

1. His father, however, felt he should obtain experience at the local level as an [[alderman]], [[Illinois State Senator]] or [[Illinois State Representative]].Jackson and Watkins, p. 38.
2. (1995-09-05). "Life After Mel". [[Time Inc.]].
3. Johnson, Dirk. (1995-08-24). "In Congressman's District, Conviction Evokes Regret". [[The New York Times]].
4. (1995-09-10). "Jesse Jackson's Son to Run for House Seat". [[The New York Times]].
5. (1995-11-28). "Filling Mel's Shoes". [[Time Inc.]].
6. Rhodes, Steve. (May 2005). "What Does Junior Want?". [[Chicago Magazine]].
7. (1999-10-30). "Riding the Airwaves to Prominence: Rhetorical Warriors". Congressional Quarterly.
8. Jackson and Watkins, p. 25.
9. Jackson and Watkins, p. 40.
10. Wise, Mike. (1995-06-25). "Pro Basketball; Anthony Is No. 2 Of the Secaucus 27". [[The New York Times]].
11. (1995-11-29). "Jesse Jackson Jr. Wins Primary in Chicago". [[The New York Times]].
12. Johnson, Dirk. (1995-12-14). "Victory His, Jesse Jackson Jr. Heads to Congress". [[The New York Times]].
13. (1995-12-11). "This Week". [[Time Inc.]].
14. (1995-12-13). "Junior Wins". [[Time Inc.]].
15. (1995-12-17). "Whitewater: Smoking Gun or Squirt Gun?; A Long Way from His Shoeshine Stand". U.S. News & World Report, L.P..
16. (1995-12-25). "This Week". [[Time Inc.]].
17. (1995-12-15). "Jesse Jackson Jr. Sworn In as House Member". [[The New York Times]].
18. (1996-11-04). "Illinois". [[Time Inc.]].
19. (1996-11-07). "Results of Contests For the U.S. House, District by District". [[The New York Times]].
20. Wayne, Leslie. (1997-03-02). "Fund-Raiser Helped Members of Congress". [[The New York Times]].
21. Lewis, Neil A.. (1999-11-01). "House Panel Says It Will Release F.B.I. Notes in Fund-Raising Case". [[The New York Times]].
22. (1997-03-03). "Jackson On John Huang Contribution". Jesse Jackson, Jr. for Congress.