Dillard: Count the Votes

By Bill McMorris (312) 624-3034

CHICAGO – The Republican primary for governor ain’t over til it’s over.

And that may not happen for another 10 days, according to state Sen. Kirk Dillard.

Dillard trails state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington by about 400 votes of the 75,000 cast in Tuesday’s primary election. The Hinsdale Republican held a press conference Friday to remind voters that election officials are still counting provisional and absentee ballots, which his campaign estimates at more than 5,000

“In a race this close, it is important that every vote count,” he said. “I wish I could resolve this today, but the reality is that it takes time for the election authorities to do their job and for all of the votes to be counted.”

Dillard had originally said he hoped to be out in front by sundown Wednesday. He said he hasn’t ruled out a recount, saying his decision “depends on what the margin is.”

An official recount would take place in March.

Brady says he “respect’s Dillard’s decision…and is patient enough to wait until the 16th.” He said he thinks his margin of victory is deceptively small and is confident he will win.

“Our victory margin will hold, we’ll probably pick up a few because the way absentees and provisionals go will break the same way the general election goes,” he said. “In a five-way race, to move that much with that few votes will be very difficult.”

As the primary’s only downstate candidate, Brady received more than 90 percent of his votes from southern and central Illinois. Brady could not be reached for comment.

Dillard, however, received half of his support from Cook County, and said he’s confident that uncounted votes from his suburban home turf will put him over the top.

Although Republicans met for a Unity Breakfast Wednesday morning, Dillard said he believes he is the “stronger nominee” for the party. However, he stressed that he and Brady are united in opposing incumbent Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, despite their primary rivalry.

“If Bill Brady is the nominee, no one in this state is going to work harder for Bill Brady than I am,” he said.

Dillard said his decision not to concede won’t hurt Republican chances in the general election because “there is plenty of time left” to campaign before November.

He also noted the current scandal surrounding the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor doesn’t make for a free ride for Republicans. Gov. Pat Quinn has asked Scott Lee Cohen to step down from the ticket amid domestic abuse allegations in Cohen’s past.

“The Cohen fiasco opens the door [to GOP success] a little wider, but Republicans still have to have the right nominees and still have to have ideas and positions of their own,” he said. “This is a Democrat leaning state.”