The Democratic nominee to take over former Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr.’s House seat vowed in her Tuesday evening victory speech to tackle gun-related violence and take a leadership role in the national debate over gun control.
Robin Kelly, a former Illinois state representative, also suggested a head-on war against the National Rifle Association, according to a report from The Associated Press.
“Their days of holding our country hostage are coming to an end,” she said, according to AP.
Ms. Kelly was heavily backed by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s super PAC, the AP reports.
Her campaign ads, fueled in party by $2 million of Mr. Bloomberg’s super PAC money, were anti-gun hits that distinguished her from her more NRA-friendly Democratic opponent, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, AP reported.
“We were on the right side of the [gun] issue and our message resonated,” Ms. Kelly said, according to the AP report. She promised to fight “until gun violence is no longer a nightly feature on the evening news.”
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She faces an April 9 general election, but predictions are she will win in the heavily favored Democratic district.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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