CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Tuesday night's elections brought shockers and tight races across the board, securing a seat for one of the most powerful politicians in Chicago despite his corruption charges and toppling other, long-time aldermen from their posts.
Beleagured Ald. Ed Burke swept 14th Ward elections Tuesday night despite federal corruption charges that dogged him during his campaign. He brought home more than 54 percent of the vote. Tanya Patino came in second, with more than 29 percent, while Jaime Guzman trailed with more than 16 percent of the ward's votes.
Alderman Ed Burke told reporters he feels especially fortunate, given the results from other aldermanic races in the city.
"It does make me feel even better," he said.
Burke, 75, was charged in January with trying to shake down a fast-food restaurant seeking city remodeling permits. He is charged with one count of attempted extortion for conveying to company executives in 2017 that they'd get the permits if they signed on as clients at Burke's private property-tax law firm in Chicago.
He is one of the last of the old Chicago machine politicians, and has been on the council for 50 years. Burke has chaired its finance committee for the past three decades.