Rep. Bobby Rush, a leading black lawmaker from Chicago, said Tuesday he opposed a special election to fill the Illinois Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama, saying the process would take too long and would leave minority candidates at a disadvantage in the race to replace the Senate’s only African-American.
The arrest of Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday morning has left Illinois politicians scrambling to determine how Mr. Obama’s seat will be filled. State law gave the governor sole authority to name a successor.
Mr. Rush said he would fight to block a special election, supported by Illinois Democratic Sen. Richard J. Durbin. Mr. Rush said such an election would take months to organize and would give one or two candidates “an enormous advantage.”
The eight-term South Side congressman made his remarks just hours after the news that federal investigators have charged Mr. Blagojevich and his chief of staff with seeking money and other favors in return for the appointment to fill Mr. Obama’s seat.
Mr. Rush, who turned back Mr. Obama’s challenge to his seat in the 2000 Democratic primary, did not say how the vacant seat should be filled.
But he said Mr. Durbin’s suggestion of a special election would “make it difficult” for a minority candidate from the Chicago area to compete.
The state would be facing primaries and a new general election for the seat that might not take place until April or May, Mr. Rush added.
“We can’t wait that long,” he said.
Mr. Rush also opposed any suggestion that Mr. Blagojevich make the appointment while he is fighting the corruption charges.
Any person appointed by Mr. Blagojevich would be “as tainted as could be,” Mr. Rush said, and would be in danger of losing the seat in 2010, when Mr. Obama’s six-year term officially ends.
Speaking of Mr. Blagojevich, Mr. Rush added, “I don’t see how he can govern. We’re at an all-time low in our state.”
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