* Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) has won the Democratic primary for Illinois comptroller according to the Associated Press…

* Rep. Margaret Croke…

Today, State Representative Margaret Croke released the following statement following her victory in the Democratic primary for Illinois Comptroller:

“Thank you to the voters across Illinois for putting their trust in me to serve as the Democratic nominee for State Comptroller. I am running for this office to be a fiscal watchdog who will protect taxpayer dollars, ensure transparency in how our state spends money, and pay bills on time. I am incredibly grateful that my message is resonating with so many people across our state.

“This victory would not have been possible without the support of my family and friends, my team, and the volunteers and supporters who believed in this campaign from the very beginning. I also want to thank my opponents for their commitment to public service and for the opportunity to engage in discussions across Illinois about the future of our state.

“This is an important moment, but it’s only the beginning. As we look ahead to November, I am committed to continuing to travel across the state, meet with voters, and share my vision for the office of Comptroller. There is more to be done, and I am ready to get to work.”

…Adding… Gov. Pritzker…

“Congratulations to Margaret Croke for securing the Democratic nomination for Illinois Comptroller. As Deputy Chief of Staff for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and as a member of the legislature, Margaret has always been committed to responsible fiscal management and improving the lives of hardworking Illinoisans. She knows how to get things done, and I know she will hit the ground running on day one fighting for Illinois families.”

…Adding… Sen. Karina Villa…

After reviewing the most updated vote by mail counts tonight with our team, State Senator Karina Villa called State Representative Margaret Croke to concede and congratulate her on winning the race to be the Democratic Nominee for IL State Comptroller.

Senator Villa released the following statement on the outcome of the race:

“As the proud daughter of working class immigrants and a former school social worker, it has been the honor of my life to run a statewide campaign rooted in the core belief that our government should work for working people. I am proud of the work we did to change the conversation about the impact the IL Comptroller has in shaping public policy.

I firmly believe that our Comptroller should not just manage the books but also be a vocal leader against austerity and an advocate for progressive revenue so that federal cuts do not hurt the investments Illinois must continue to make to protect working people. I sincerely hope Rep. Croke will carry on this mantle.

One of the driving factors for entering this race was because Latino and suburban leaders across our state urged me to run. In a Democratic primary with every statewide constitutional office and a U.S. Senate race on the ballot, we struggled with the thought of there being no Latino and suburban representation in statewide leadership in Illinois. Unfortunately, that will be the case next January. I am heartened by the fact that when given the choice, our Latino community showed up and overwhelmingly supported our campaign. To all of the Latino leaders and communities who supported me and saw yourselves in our campaign, thank you for joining me in firmly saying “Aqui estamos, y no nos vamos”.

To all of my supporters in organized labor, my senate colleagues, elected leaders, and Democratic party leaders across the state who stood with us, thank you for your trust and partnership. I am proud of the campaign we ran and the movement we have been able to build these last eight months. I want to thank every person who trusted our campaign with their vote. I will carry the lessons I learned and the stories you shared in my heart, and use them to fuel the work I will continue to do fighting for working people in the State Senate.