NEW ERA: Eileen O’Neill Burke came out the winner Friday in the Cook County state’s attorney race against Clayton Harris III, signaling a shift in how the office will address criminal penalties after seeing a spike in recent years in carjackings and retail theft. It follows a pivot by big blue cities across the country, according to a recent POLITICO story. “I said throughout this campaign that I would continue to push forward on the urgent work of criminal justice reform. That remains my commitment,” Harris said in a statement after the race was called. With a contest so close, it’s hard to say it’s exactly a mandate for change. Still, O’Neill Burke enters the November general election in a strong position as she faces Republican Bob Fioretti and Libertarian Andrew Charles Kopinski in the final race to succeed outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. Happening today: O’Neill Burke hasn’t given interviews yet, but she’ll address supporters at a rally this morning at the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 hall. Toni Preckwinkle is already behind her: O’Neill Burke and the Cook County Board president and Democratic Party leader who endorsed Harris already exchanged support. Preckwinkle congratulated O’Neill Burke, saying she “looks forward” to working with her on “ensuring that our criminal justice system serves every resident.” And O’Neill Burke responded that she looks forward to working with Preckwinkle, too. Their posts are here. How the race wrapped up: Harris conceded Friday after The Associated Press had called the race for O’Neill Burke. She edged Harris out by a mere 1,556. It’s a slim margin, but still too large to try to challenge in an expensive recount. The small margin is surprising, too, given O’Neill Burke outspent Harris with the help of large donations from local business leaders. A big question: Did Republicans who crossed over in the election give O’Neill Burke the win? We’ll find out in the coming days. But some research shows more Republicans voted in Cook County in 2024 (69,408 ballots) than they did in 2020 ( 58,117 ballots cast). And in Chicago, 40,773 Republicans cast ballots for the March 19 primary, compared to 21,552 Republicans in 2020. That means Republicans voted for Republican candidates, not in the Democratic primary. The cool thing: O’Neill Burke and Harris both ran strong campaigns and were able to disagree in debates without debasing each other. Harris gave a classy concession. Campaign managers were gracious, too. Don Black, who ran O’Neill Burke’s campaign: “Clayton and his team are whip smart, tireless, badass & all the things you wish the opposing campaign wasn’t. They have a lot to be proud of today,” he posted on social media. And Alaina Hampton reminded that they’re all on the same Democratic team: “I’m proud to have worked w/ Clayton Harris on his campaign for State’s Attorney. I’m most proud of how both our campaigns supported the integrity of the ballot counting at @ChicagoElection for 10 days. Congrats to Eileen O’Neill Burke. Wishing her success in the Nov. election!,” she posted. RELATED — How Burke could take on Foxx's legacy as state's attorney: “On retail theft, O’Neill Burke has marked a stark departure from both Foxx and Clayton Harris. Foxx had raised the felony prosecution threshold for shoplifters from $300 to $1,000, a policy critics slammed as an incentive for smash-and-grabs. As state’s attorney, Burke said she would uphold the $300 threshold,” by Crain’s Leigh Giangreco.
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