By STEVEN YACCINO, New York Times – CHICAGO — Robin Kelly, whose stance on stricter federal gun laws brought a cascade of “super PAC” support to her campaign earlier this year, easily won the Congressional seat resigned by Jesse L. Jackson Jr. in a special election here Tuesday.

Facing a lesser-known Republican opponent, Paul McKinley, and a handful of third-party candidates, Ms. Kelly had been widely expected to win in the Democrat-leaning district, which includes the South Side of Chicago and its suburbs. She was expected to be sworn in by the end of the week to represent a community that has been without a voice in the House for nearly a year.

“We not only won an election,” Ms. Kelly, 56, said in her victory speech. “We took on the N.R.A., we gave a voice to the voiceless, and we put our communities on a brand new path to a brighter day.” She was joined on a stage by the parents of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl who was killed in Chicago gun violence in January, a week after performing during President Obama’s inauguration festivities.

Ms. Kelly prevailed in a more competitive primary battle in February — aided by Michael R. Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City and a staunch gun control supporter — that thrust her unexpectedly into the spotlight amid a national debate over firearms. She now carries with her to Washington sizable public expectations.

via Robin Kelly Wins Jackson Seat in Illinois – NYTimes.com.