The Chicago Board of Elections says it made an error in tabulating the results of the Democratic primary for Cook County state’s attorney.
The race to lead the nation’s second-largest prosecutor’s office could not be closer, with just 4,800 votes separating the candidates after a heated primary campaign in the Chicago area.
At last count, Eileen O’Neill Burke leads Clayton Harris III by 4.7771 votes. O’Neill Burke has 255,010 votes while Harris has 250,239 votes.
But the elections board has said it is looking to add an additional 10,000 votes to the tally total after some mail-in ballots were “mistakenly omitted.”
Eileen O’Neill Burke, former appeals judge, currently leads Clayton Harris III by 4,771 votes
The Chicago Board of Elections admitted it made a mistake in tabulating the results of the Democratic primary for Cook County state’s attorney.
‘I traded speed for accuracy by reporting the numbers this week as quickly as I could. I am truly sorry for this mistake on my part and the confusion it has caused Chicago voters. I will share updated numbers only when they are accurate and verified,” Chicago Board of Elections Public Information Officer Max Bever said in a statement.
“There will be additional results, both large and small, over the next week,” Bever said Sunday afternoon. “We continue to ask voters for patience as the process unfolds and, by law, all votes are counted.”
Mail-in ballots were delivered on Monday, March 18. It is unclear why they were not included during the original count.
Harris has slowly closed the gap on Burke as election officials in Chicago and suburban Cook County counted ballots.
Bever continued: ‘I made a mistake that should have been included in the ‘received on election day’ numbers.
O’Neill Burke is a former appeals judge with a large campaign fund, while Harris is a professor and lawyer who has held government positions.
Neither candidate has conceded or declared victory, nor has the Associated Press called the race.
The winner of the primary in the Democratic stronghold is expected to win outright in November.
Clayton Harris III is an attorney with union and establishment backing.
Eileen O’Neill Burke, former tough-on-crime appeals judge, leads by narrow margin
“We are cautiously optimistic, but we have to make sure every vote is counted,” O’Neill Burke told supporters.
Harris, meanwhile, has asked her supporters for patience, saying that every part of the county matters: “So, we’re going to wait and we’re going to count the votes.”
The race is open because Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx did not seek a third term.
She was among several progressive prosecutors elected in the last decade in major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
Many have been criticized for being soft on crime, but in Chicago, both Democratic candidates have been more careful in their criticism of Foxx, saying they will continue his focus on some issues.
Harris says sentences for crimes should take into account racial disparities and communities.
When it comes to fundraising, O’Neill Burke leads with about double the amount of Harris.
Harriss III raised $750,000 and has garnered strong support from unions, progressive leaders and the Cook County Democratic Party.
He often speaks about his personal experiences as a black man raising children in Washington Park, a neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side.
He says the office needs to strengthen its special processing unit and improve communication with police.
“Sometimes we hear gunshots and no one wants to live like that,” he said. “I understand how safety and justice affect our communities.”
O’Neill Burke says harsher punishments should be implemented, particularly for those who contribute to the flow of illegal weapons.
“Our justice system is not working right now, but I don’t think anyone living in Chicago right now would disagree,” he said.
He has called for more attorney training and a unit to protect abortion rights, while continuing Foxx’s restorative justice efforts.
Harris has said she will continue Foxx’s controversial policy of not prosecuting retail theft as a felony unless the value of the stolen goods exceeds $1,000. State law sets a $300 threshold for felonies.
When it comes to fundraising, O’Neill Burke is ahead with about double Harris’ amount, just under $2 million compared to about $750,000. His sum includes money from major Republican donors.
But Harris has garnered strong endorsements from unions, progressive leaders and the Cook County Democratic Party.
The state attorney’s office has more than 700 attorneys and is the largest in the country after Los Angeles.