Illinois governor sets special election dates for Jackson Jr. seat

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) set the dates for the special election to replace former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.).

On Monday Quinn ordered the primary election be held on Feb. 26 and the general election on March 19.

State law requires that a special general election be held within 115 days after a member of the House of Representatives steps down, so Quinn was not able to change the election to April 9, the day of Illinois's municipal elections.

According to The Chicago Tribune, Quinn said with the help of the state legislature he would try and change law so the general election could be held on April 9.

On Sunday former Rep. Debbie Halvorson (D-Ill.) announced her candidacy for Jackson's seat. A large number of potential candidates have signaled interest in running, meaning that Halvorson could be competing with more than a dozen other candidates for the congressional seat, the Chicago newspaper noted.

---