By Sam Hudzik, WBEZ
Chicago – There will not be an end to the Republican primary for Illinois governor until at least next Tuesday. State Senator Kirk Dillard says late-counted ballots have almost cut in half the 420-vote lead previously held by his opponent, Bill Brady.
Tuesday was the last day for local election officials to count provisional and absentee ballots, but they have until next Tuesday to report final results to the state.
Dillard said he'll wait until then to make a final decision about what to do next.
"Everybody needs to be patient and let the safeguards of the election authority take [their] course," Dillard said.
Brady, for his part, remains publicly patient.
"We're confident that our numbers will hold up," Brady said. "Our people have looked into the field, and we're just confident the numbers will hold up. But we want to be respectful of Senator Dillard."
Brady said his patience would even extend to a partial recount, should Dillard decide to do that.
Dillard said for him to consider putting his party and the state through that kind of ordeal, the margin of loss would have to be "very very very small."