BREAKING: AP Calls IL Gov for Democrat Quinn

Guy Benson | November 04, 2010 4:57 PM

Quinn's lead has grown from 8,000 votes to roughly 20,000 since Election Night. Republican Bill Brady has yet to concede the race. The Republican Governors Association is

prepared for a recount, if necessary:

Democratic Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has narrowly defeated his Republican challenger.
An AP analysis of uncounted votes from absentee and other ballots shows state Sen. Bill Brady won't be able to overcome the just more than 19,400-vote lead Quinn holds with 100 percent of precincts reporting Thursday.

Brady has said he won't concede until all votes are counted, including absentee ballots from military members serving outside Illinois. State officials have until Dec. 3 to certify all results.

Quinn inherited the governor's mansion nearly two years ago when lawmakers ousted Rod Blagojevich after his arrest on federal corruption charges. He campaigned on a proposal to raise the state income tax by one-third as Illinois struggles with a deficit that could top $15 billion.

The voters of Illinois rejected a failed mob banker on Tuesday, but seem to have (barely) embraced a man who was Rod Blagojevich's Lt. Governor, and who promised to raise taxes. Go figure.