Democrats have chosen a former meteorologist to be their nominee for Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Eric Sorensen beat five other candidates Tuesday, winning with 38 per cent of the vote, to replace retiring Congresswoman Cheri Bustos.
Sorensen says he won because he earned people's trust.
"As a meteorologist for so many years being invited into people's homes, into their living rooms, that doesn't just happen. People make that decision based on who they can trust and for 20 years I've spent my career in this district earning the trust by telling the people the truth."
And he realizes the campaign from now on will be about more than issues in the 17th District.
"There is so much at stake in this upcoming election and this is going to be the front line for what the voters here in our district do is really going to determine the shape of our government going forward."
He'll face Republican Esther Joy King in November, who came very close to beating Bustos two years ago.
Sorensen is proud that his primary campaign was "people powered" - that it was mainly funded by small, individual donations. He's not yet made any decisions about what other donations he might accept from now on.
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