Politics

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley has bested a field of 11 other Democrats in a special primary election to fill the seat of former U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who left Congress to be President Barack Obama's chief of staff.

Quigley campaigned as a reformer and fiscal watchdog in the heavily Democratic district. A Cook County commissioner since 1998, Quigley's reputation for taking on establishment Democrats earned him the endorsements of both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.

With 92 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday, Quigley led the field with 11,258 or 22.1 percent of the vote.

The Democratic nominee is the immediate favorite in the April 7 special election to finish out the two-year term Emanuel won in November.

The primary pitted a dozen Democrats against each other, including politicians like Quigley, longtime Chicago Alderman Patrick O'Connor and state Reps. Sara Feigenholtz and John Fritchey.

Republican Rosanna Pulido is leading the pack of six GOP candidates seeking the party's nomination for a chance to replace Emanuel.

With 75 percent of precincts reporting, Pulido had 761 votes or 24.9 percent.

Pulido is director of the Illinois Minuteman Project, part of a national volunteer civilian border patrol group that wants to stem illegal immigration.

The Green Party leader was Mathew Reichel with 133 votes or 34.9 percent with 75 percent of precincts reporting.

Earlier, CBS station WBBM-TV in Chicago's Political Editor Mike Flannery reported with a look at the frontrunners in this crowded field.

Historically, the Democratic Primary's been where the action is in the 5th congressional district. Unless under indictment, the winning Democrat usually goes on to win the seat in the 5th district.

There were more campaign signs than voters at mid-afternoon, at polling places all across the 5th congressional district. Some, though, felt an obligation to democracy.

"Why am I voting? Because I think it's important to vote," said voter Margie Wohlfrom.

"There's only one person to vote for," said voter Kathy Edens. "One election, one person."

While 23 candidates are vying in three separate party primaries, election officials said the vast majority were pulling Democratic ballots.

A picture of the Democratic president from Chicago was being used by Sara Feigenholtz in a last-minute door-hanger. It angered other candidates who noted that State Rep. Feigenholtz had neither Barack Obama's endorsement nor his permission to use the photo, taken when both were in the General Assembly.

"He actually didn't pick up my call," Feigenholtz said. "I'm using a photograph that was taken before he got elected to the U.S. Senate."

"I think it's unethical just to do something because it might help you win," Mike Quigley said.

While Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley had strong newspaper endorsements from the Tribune and the Sun-Times, Feigenholtz had major union backing, providing a large force of Election Day campaign workers.

Still, remarkably low voter turnout left the outcome in doubt.

"Turnout's low, I think voters were a little burned out after the November election," said Rep. John Fritchey. "I think that voters are distracted by the Blagojevich/Burris fiasco, the economy. It's tough to get them to focus in."

If you're one of the nearly 400,000 voters in the 5th congressional district, the polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Observers fear that fewer than 20 percent of those registered will actually cast ballots, it's likely to be less than 100,000 total votes.

While more than 90 percent are voting in the Democratic Primary, with so many candidates, a Democrat could win Tuesday night with fewer than 20,000 votes.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)