ABSTRACT

Carol Moseley-Braun, the new Democratic nominee for Illinois's Senate seat, had given up the obscure, but politically consequential post of Cook County recorder of deeds to take on what was regarded as a hopeless challenge to Alan Dixon. Moseley-Braun's quick emergence as a credible challenger to Alan Dixon can be attributed, in part, to the fact that she held an important position in Chicago politics, and was regarded by insiders as a candidate with enormous potential. The surprise was even greater when, on primary election day, Moseley-Braun had polled 38 percent of the Democratic primary vote, compared to 35 percent for Senator Dixon and 27 percent for Hofeld. During the 1990 general election, Moseley-Braun maintained her regular Democratic credentials by campaigning actively for US Senate candidate Paul Simon. In part, Moseley-Braun owes her general election victory to the relatively low quality of the Richard Williamson campaign.