The gubernatorial race between Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican state Sen. Bill Brady remained undecided early Wednesday morning.
With 98 percent of precincts reporting, the Associated Press listed Quinn with 46.5 percent of the vote and Brady with 46.2 percent at 3:30 a.m.
“The people have won, and I believe we have won,” Quinn said in a speech shortly before 1 a.m. “We know there are more votes to be counted, but we are … ahead.”
The AP reported that Quinn held just more than 8,500 more votes than Brady. In Chicago alone, Quinn held 75.36 percent of votes compared to Brady’s 17.48 percent, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
According to the Chicago Tribune, election officials will begin cross-checking absentee ballots against in-person ballots Wednesday to prevent double counting votes.
“Some of you may have realized by now, I have a penchant for close elections,” Brady said in a speech to supporters. “It seems to be something that always ends up on the right side.”
Brady has served in the Illinois State Senate since 2002 and served in the Illinois House of Representatives for eight years.
Quinn was appointed governor in January 2009 after ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office. He had served as the lieutenant governor of Illinois for six years.
Recent polls preceding the election showed Brady in the lead by about three to five points, according to reports from Real Clear Politics.
