The polls are open today in Illinois' 5th District for a special election to fill Rahm Emanuel's former House seat. Here are the Democratic candidates:
- Frank Annunzio.
- Dr. Paul Bryar
- Cary Capparelli
- Jan Donatelli
- Sara Feigenholtz
- Dr. Victor Forys
- John Fritchey
- Tom Geoghegan
- Carlos Monteagudo
- Patrick O'Connor
- Mike Quigley
- Charles Wheelan
That's right, twelve Democratic candidates are vying for the seat that brownsox described as:
... a U.S. House seat in an influential district that’s virtually impossible for a Republican to win, a district that has historically served as a springboard to great political prominence. The last three Democrats to hold the seat wound up as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the Governor of Illinois, and the White House Chief of Staff. It’s a seat with a magnificent pedigree.
... and where:
With so many candidates, at least four of whom are quoted highly favorable odds to take the primary – Feigenholtz, Quigley, O’Connor, and State Rep. John Fritchey – the primary could be won with an exceptionally low percentage of the vote. Perhaps the winning number will be under 30%, possibly even under 20%. Maybe the winner will lap the field with 40%. No one can say.
All told, there are twenty-three candidates on the ballot: the twelve Democrats listed above, six Republicans, and five from the Green Party.
The polls close at 7:00 (CST) and we'll be following the results here, so stay tuned.