Democrat Eric Sorensen declared victory over Republican Esther Pleasure King within the early hours of Wednesday morning, staking declare to Illinois’ seventeenth Congressional District.
The seat has been held by longtime Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos, of Moline, who congratulated Sorensen for his win Wednesday morning, saying the she is thrilled to have a consultant who will, “work to construct up our native financial system and proceed to uplift Heartland values and Midwestern voices.”
Having retired from the Home, Bustos mentioned, “I’m glad to know that these I’ve served shall be represented by an Illinoisan with deep roots in our neighborhood, who is able to step up and lead.”
The race was predicted by many to be a detailed one, and the seat is one the GOP hoped to flip from blue to pink to assist achieve management of the U.S. Home.
A primary-time candidate, Sorensen’s win is an historic one for the state, marking Illinois’ first LGBTQ+ elected to Congress.
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In a cellphone name Wednesday afternoon, Sorensen mentioned it did not go into his determination, nevertheless it occurred to him whereas speaking together with his mother that Illinois had not but elected its first LGBTQ+ congressman.
“We’re seeing states the place there is not that illustration,” Sorensen mentioned. “However right here we’ve got a possibility within the State of Illinois to succeed in out and to have the ability to say that we love our neighbors, and we are going to deal with one another.”
Throughout his victory speech within the early morning hours at Pour Bros. Craft Taproom in downtown Moline, Sorensen appeared to turn out to be emotional, saying he’s fortunate to be the “very first LGBTQ+ individual ever elected to Congress from Illinois.”
When requested in regards to the determination to run for workplace, Sorensen mentioned he started to ask himself whether or not there may very well be a spot for him when Bustos introduced she wasn’t working for reelection.
“For me, it was ensuring that I had gained and earned the respect and belief of the individuals,” he mentioned.
All through his marketing campaign, he ran on the significance of electing a consultant who has grown up within the district, somebody who is understood and trusted.
Sorensen was born and raised in Rockford.
He graduated from Northern Illinois College with a level in communications and a minor in meteorology. He was a meteorologist at WREX in Rockford for 11 years earlier than transferring to Moline the place he labored at WQAD for seven years.
Sorensen mentioned a part of his job is knowing individuals from massive and small communities, and he shall be an advocate for the individuals throughout the district, no matter political opinions.
“It is ensuring that we’ve got an advocate for our communities in Washington,” he mentioned.
Requested what constituents talked to him about most on the marketing campaign path, he mentioned, individuals regularly mentioned they’re are pissed off with politics at the moment; they need somebody who’s going to go to Congress who will do the work to assist decrease the price of items and assist make life extra inexpensive.
Going ahead, Sorensen mentioned, he’ll construct relationships and desires to deliver everybody to the desk and remedy issues that have an effect on all the district, regardless the place individuals reside or how they voted.
In accordance with a spokesperson from King’s marketing campaign, she known as Sorensen’s marketing campaign round 8 a.m. Wednesday to concede.
A name to King’s marketing campaign Wednesday afternoon was not returned.
As of late Wednesday afternoon, the Related Press had but to formally name the race. In accordance with the outcomes, 94% of precincts had been reporting with Sorensen main at 51.8% to King’s 48.2%.
She challenged Bustos within the 2020 election, shedding by 4% of the vote.