Report: State Sen.Trotter to drop bid for Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Ill. seat

Illinois state Sen. Donne Trotter will dropped his bid for former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s (D) seat on Friday, marking the end of the road for a candidate initially considered by many to be a front-runner for the seat.

According to NBC Chicago, Trotter will notify supporters of his decision to exit the race on Friday. His office declined to comment on the report.

Earlier this month, Trotter was charged with one count of trying to board an airplane with a weapon.

The gun was found by TSA agents in Trotter's carry-on bag at around 7 a.m. on Dec. 5 while the state senator was going through security at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Trotter said he forgot that he left the gun in his carry-on bag. 

Despite the charge, Trotter had initially said he would continue to run for the seat in Illinois's heavily Democratic 2nd District. He was considered by many to be one of the stronger contenders for the seat, but he faced a wide Democratic primary slate of at least six other local Democrats vying for the seat.

Trotter's exit still leaves former Rep. Debbie Halvorson, state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, Cook County Chief Administrative Officer Robin Kelly, former NFL linebacker Napoleon Harris, Alderman Anthony Beale and former Rep. Mel Reynolds in the running.

---