Schakowsky wins easily in 9th House District

Longtime U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky easily outpaced a trio of long shots Tuesday night to win her eighth term in Congress.

The Evanston Democrat faced two write-in candidates and a disavowed Republican challenger.

With 521 of 537 precincts in Chicago and northeastern suburban Cook County reporting, Schakowsky led GOP candidate Susanne Atanus with 66 percent of the vote.

It won't be known for several days how many votes write-in candidates Phil Collins and David Earl Williams III received, but Schakowsky's lead is virtually insurmountable.

"It will be a very challenging Congress in which to work, but I will be very happy to continue doing the kind of service and hope very much we'll be able to work with Republicans in the House and Senate to accomplish things like immigration reform and raising the minimum wage," she said.

There was little campaigning by any of the candidates and no debates. Atanus' controversial remarks about tornadoes and disease being created by God in response to gay rights and legalized abortion had local GOP leaders calling for her to drop out after she won the primary. She refused to answer reporters' questions after the primary.