Kwame Raoul elected Illinois attorney general

Obliterating concerns from some Democrats that the race had tightened in the final days, Kwame Raoul cruised to an easy victory Tuesday over Republican Erika Harold to become Illinois’ first new attorney general in 16 years.

Raoul romped to a double-digit win over Harold, a result that tracked closely with major wins piled up by Pritzker and the rest of the party’s statewide candidates.

“All the way to the end, people were saying this was a nail-biter,” Raoul said with a laugh during his victory speech at a downtown hotel. “But numbers don’t lie.”

With 86 percent of the state’s precincts reporting, Raoul had won 54 percent of the vote to Harold’s 43 percent and 2 percent for Libertarian Bubba Harsy of Du Quoin, according to unofficial results.

Raoul’s sizable win left an enthusiastic crowd to greet him at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park hotel when he stepped on stage to accept a win that was boosted by a late infusion of campaign cash from Madigan, the state party and major unions.

“This campaign was the audition for the work that is yet to come,” Raoul said before repeating a familiar line from his TV ads. “It’s the work of my life, but I’m just getting started.”

[SOURCE: CHICAGO TRIBUNE]

HBCU graduate Mandela Barnes wins Lieutenant Governor seat in Wisconsin

An Alabama A&M University graduate was elected to the Lieutenant Governor seat in Wisconsin Tuesday night.

Democrat Mandela Barnes, who is actually a Milwaukee native, was named Lieutenant Governor after his running mate, Tony Evers, claimed victory in the early morning hours on Wednesday.

Evers was declared the winner of the governor’s race by the Associated Press at 1:24 a.m, defeating Republican incumbent Scott Walker.

Barnes now becomes Wisconsin’s first African-American Lieutenant Governor.

[SOURCE: WAFF]

It's not a blue wave that's coming in the midterm elections — it's a black wave

But besides the blue wave roiling America, there is a very real black wave. And both political parties need to pay attention.

In one of the most historic election years in memory — besides the year a young U.S. senator from Chicago became the first African-American president and the year a pompous reality TV star and coddled businessman became the 45th — the American political landscape may drastically change.

Democrat Ayanna Pressley could become the first black female elected to Congress from Massachusetts.

Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams could become the first black female governor America has ever had.

Democrat Andrew Gillum could become the first black governor of Florida.

Democrat Ben Jealous could become the first black governor of Maryland by besting a popular Republican opponent. It’s a long shot, but most voters in Maryland are Democrats.

So while much has been made of the blue wave making its way across America, we better pay attention to the black wave.

But besides the blue wave roiling America, there is a very real black wave. And both the Democratic and Republican parties, which have been tone-deaf to the disdain many Americans feel for traditional politics, better wake up.

SOURCE: USA TODAY]