GOP Moderate Kirk Wins Ill. Senate Primary

Moderate Mark Kirk has won Illinois’ Republican Senate primary, blowing away two conservative opponents backed by tea-party contingents. The congressman has 56% of the vote with more than 82% of precincts reporting—giving him a 37% edge over Patrick Hughes. Analysts predicted that a clear Kirk victory would take much of the steam out of the tea-party movement.

State treasurer Alexi Giannoulias scored the Democratic nomination, the Chicago Tribune reports, grabbing nearly 40% of the vote in a more even field. He'll face Kirk for the Senate seat vacated by President Obama, and given to Roland Burris by since-impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Burris decided not to run for a full term of his own.
(More Mark Kirk stories.)