Durbin Calls For Special Election

In light of the federal corruption charges against IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for a special election to determine who will fill the Senate seat vacated by Pres.-elect Barack Obama.

“This is a sad day for Illinois," Durbin said in a statement. "Our system of justice gives anyone accused of a crime the right to defend himself in court. The Governor will have that opportunity. But if the allegations in the criminal complaint against Governor Blagojevich are proven true, he has clearly abused the public trust.”

Durbin called on the IL General Assembly to enact a law "as soon as possible" calling for a special election. “No appointment by this governor could produce a credible replacement,” said Durbin, the state's senior senator and a close confidant of Obama.

The transition has not issued a statement responding to the 76-page criminal complaint against Blagojevich, nor has Obama made any public remarks. Requests to the transition office for comment have repeatedly been turned down.

Some IL Dem sources are suggesting that a statewide special election could be held in conjunction with the special election to replace Rep. Rahm Emanuel in the Fifth District. Emanuel is, of course, signing on as Obama's chief of staff. He has not yet resigned his seat, however, so an election date hasn't been scheduled.

Ken Menzel, an elections specialist with the Illinois Board of Elections, said that the state does not have a statutory provision on the books sanctioning a special election for U.S. Senate as it does for U.S. House vacancies. The March 2008 contest to replace Rep. J. Dennis Hastert in IL-14 was the last special election for the House held in the state.

(JENNIFER SKALKA)