ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 13, 1995 TAG: 9512130068
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
Jesse Jackson Jr. overwhelmingly defeated his Republican opponent in Tuesday's special congressional election in Chicago, while Willie Brown was favored to oust Frank Jordan in San Francisco's lively mayoral contest.
The 30-year-old son of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson had been heavily favored to beat Republican lawyer Thomas Somer in the predominantly Democratic district on Chicago's South Side and southern suburbs.
With 93 percent of precincts reporting, Jackson had 43,333 votes, or 74 percent, and Somer had 15,076, or 26 percent.
South of San Francisco in the Silicon Valley, Republican Tom Campbell was considered the front-runner in a special election to succeed Democrat Norm Mineta, who resigned his House seat to work for a defense contractor.
The San Jose, Calif., race was seen as a preview of next year's campaigns - including President Clinton's re-election bid - as underdog Democrat Jerry Estruth tried to link his better-funded GOP opponent to House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
In Chicago, the results were practically a foregone conclusion in the contest to succeed former Democratic Rep. Mel Reynolds, who resigned Oct. 1 after being convicted of having sex with a teen-age
Jackson planned to fly to Washington to take his oath of office on Capitol Hill on Thursday morning and be ready for House floor action as early as that afternoon.
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines KEYWORDS: ELECTIONby CNB