Elleson wins GOP nomination to challenge Schakowsky in 9th Congressional District

Arlington Heights pastor John Elleson won victory in a field of four Republican candidates in the 9th Congressional District primary to take on U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky in the fall.

With 90 percent of the precincts in, Elleson, a pastor at Lakewood Chapel in Arlington Heights, had 9,772 votes, or 40.6 percent, according to unofficial results.

Retired Army lieutenant colonel Sargis Sangari of Skokie had 7,340, or 30.5 percent; DePaul University professor D. Vincent Thomas Jr. of Evanston had 4,537, or 18.9 percent; and Max Rice of Glencoe had 2,417, or 10 percent.

"I know I'm a Republican, and I'm a conservative," Elleson said. "But I really want to be for all the people - rich, poor and everyone in between."

The winner will have a tough general election race against Schakowsky, who has been in office since 1999.