Advocacy

Agudath Israel congratulates Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke

Agudath Israel congratulates Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke on her victorious primary campaign for Cook County State’s Attorney.

Burke met with community leaders and Alderman Debra Silverstein at Agudath Israel’s headquarters during the campaign and addressed concerns unique to the Orthodox Jewish community. As one of the closest local primary elections in modern times, the race’s outcome took nearly two weeks to be called while mail and provisional ballots were counted under the supervision of observers from both campaigns. Burke beat Clayton Harris III by only 0.3 percentage points, or approximately 1,500 votes.

Turnout was abysmally low throughout the Chicago area: only 18% in the suburbs and 25% in the city. Preliminary data indicate that turnout in the frum community was approximately 28%, slightly higher than the city average but still well below the record-setting Orthodox turnout in the last few elections. Nevertheless, it does seem that the Orthodox Jewish community, which casted thousands of votes in the city and suburbs, far exceeded the margin of victory in this contest. Burke, who will face Republican Bob Fioretti in November, is expected to win handily in the general election.