Chicago City Wire

Rep. Robin Kelly has been elected new chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, in a tight race against Chicago’s 8th Ward Ald. Michelle Harris.

Kelly vowed to unify the party which was divided over election candidates.

"I look forward to working collaboratively with you as we strengthen our party and work together to build a bench across our 102 counties," she said in a statement according to NBC 5 Chicago.

Thirty-six Central Committee members cast their votes on Wednesday with Kelly winning by just over three percent. 

Commenting on the Jan. 6 insurrection, Kelly encouraged Democrats to fight back and be wary of what lies ahead.

"If we are going to preserve, protect and defend the government of the people, by the people and for the people, we must change. We must fight back," Kelly said after her victory as reported by NBC 5 Chicago. "We must take on the big lie, the insurrectionists, the Fox News, the QAnon head on. And with your help, the same Illinois party that elected the first African-American woman to the United States Senate, sent the first African American president to the White House, and had so many other firsts, will lead the way once again."

Kelly is the first black woman to be elected to lead the party, her office said. She will take up the role held for over 20 years by former Illinois State Rep. Michael Madigan, who also resigned his seat in the house after stepping down as Speaker earlier this year.

The vote took place after a memo from Perkins Coie LLP attorney Brian Svoboda circulated questioning Kelly's eligibility since she holds a federal office.

"Federal law prohibits a federal officeholder or candidate from directly or indirectly establishing, financing, maintaining or controlling an entity that raises and spends funds outside of federal limits and restrictions in connection with nonfederal elections" as the party does, the memo reads, according to NBC 5 Chicago.

To this Kelly responded in a separate memo sent to committee members from attorney Michael Dorf, who wrote, "there is no legal obstacle to Congresswoman Robin Kelly serving as Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois," the same publication reported.