On last day of filing for Jesse Jackson Jr. seat, candidates announce fund-raising cred

Robin Kelly announced December 12 that she is running for Jesse Jackson Jr.’s 2nd Congressional District seat in a special election. | Al Podgorski~Chicago Sun-Times

*** Updated ***

With an increasingly crowded field of candidates vying for Jesse Jackson Jr.’s old 2nd Congressional District seat, candidates are betting fund-raising will set them apart.

Robin Kelly announced today that she raised $200,209 from 514 individuals in the month of December alone.

So far, she is the only candidate to report fund-raising totals. Kelly of Matteson, resigned from Cook County Commissioner Toni Preckwinkle’s staff last month.

Last week, state Sen. Toi Hutchinson announced raising more than $130,000

“While December is traditionally the most difficult fundraising month of the year, I’m so humbled by the outpouring of support I’ve received in the last four weeks,” Hutchinson said in a statement.

Today is the deadline for candidates to file for the open seat. The special election is scheduled for Feb. 26, after Jackson resigned in November amid a federal inquiry and health issues. At least a dozen candidates are expected to file in all.

“I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from my neighbors across Chicago and the Southland,” Kelly said in a statement today.