By Karen Cross, National Right to Life Political Director
Rick Santorum (left) and Mitt Romney
On Tuesday, with 54 delegates at stake former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney came in first with 47% of the vote, followed by former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum with 35%, Texas Rep. Ron Paul third with 9%, and former Speaker Newt Gingrich fourth with 8%. The victory came three days after a decisive win for Romney in Puerto Rico and a week after Santorum carried both Alabama and Mississippi.
According to CNN, the delegate count to date is:
Romney – 562
Santorum – 249
Gingrich – 137
Paul – 71
1,144 delegates are needed to secure the GOP nomination.
Due to changes brought about by the 2010 census, Illinois lost one congressional district. Redistricting pitted pro-life veteran Rep. Don Manzullo (R) against pro-life freshman Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R) in a member-versus- member race in the 16th congressional district. Kinzinger won with 56% of the tally.
In the 8th congressional district, pro-life Rep. Joe Walsh (R) will face pro-abortion former Veterans’ Affairs Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth (D) who defeated former Deputy Treasurer Raja Krishnamoorthi (D) in a highly publicized primary, 67% to 33%.
Pro-life Rep. Bobby Schilling (R) will face a challenge by pro-abortion Alderwoman Cheri Bustos (D) in the 17th congressional district.
Illinois’ primaries were the last of congressional primaries in March. In April, Maryland and Pennsylvania will hold congressional primaries. By the end of June, thirty states will have held their congressional contests.
The remaining twenty states will hold their contests between July 31 and September 11, with one final contest in Louisiana on November 6. This coming Saturday, March 24, Louisiana will hold their presidential primary with 46 delegates at stake.
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