Halvorson to decide on run by end of week

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Debbie Halvorson

Updated: January 23, 2012 4:08AM

Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson said she will decide by the end of the week whether she launches a primary election challenge against U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd).

“My phone has been ringing off the hook with people saying they want to help,” Halvorson said. “We’re testing the water.”

Halvorson, of Crete, said supporters are gathering signatures. Lobbying and consulting since she left office, she would have little to lose by entering the race.

Halvorson and Jackson had a running feud over Jackson’s pet project of a third airport near Peotone. The airport site was in Halvorson’s 11th Congressional District, but Jackson wanted a major say in its development to ensure economic benefits for his South Side and south suburban constituents.

Republican Adam Kinzinger defeated Halvorson last year, and state Democratic leaders drew a new 2nd District this year to aid Jackson — stretching from Chicago’s Hyde Park community all the way to Kankakee, including the proposed airport site.

The new 2nd District is slightly more than 50 percent black, but Halvorson sees it as winnable for her. Including her time in the state Senate, “I represented every part of this district except the little bit in the city,” she said.

Jackson has had a tumultuous few years, having to admit an extramarital affair and testifying at the corruption trial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich — though Jackson was never charged with any wrongdoing in the Blagojevich investigation. Blagojevich was convicted of illegally trying to profit from his appointment to Barack Obama’s Senate seat, which Jackson was jockeying to get.

The controversies took Jackson off the short list of likely contenders to replace Mayor Richard Daley when he retired last year.

More recently, Gov. Pat Quinn floated Halvorson’s name for state transportation chief, and Jackson issued a news release slamming the idea.

Republicans have sued to challenged the Democrats’ congressional remap, and Jackson said the GOP might be right that the federal voting rights law requires two Hispanic congressional seats in Illinois.

So far, no other candidates have announced a challenge to Jackson. Chicago Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) said he’s focused on getting re-elected Democratic ward committeeman. Former state Sen. David Miller said he is not running.

Kinzinger is likely to run for re-election in the neighboring, more-Republican district now represented by U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-16th).

Contributing: Dave McKinney