Mass Appeal

Since 1992, an African American Democrat has faced white opponents in an Illinois primary election seven times. Three won: Carol Moseley Braun, running for a U.S. Senate nomination in 1992; Earlean Collins, for comptroller in 1994; and Jesse White, for secretary of state in 1998. On average, they received a lower percentage of their total votes from black wards.



Notes: Figures are the average percentages for the three winning and four losing candidates. Wards are classified according to which racial or ethnic group made up at least 65 percent of the population.
Sources: Illinois State Board of Election; Metro Chicago Information Center; Board of Elections Commissioners for the City of Chicago; analyzed by The Chicago Reporter.