The Chicago Sun-Times reports a victory for Congressman Mark Kirk in the Republican Primary in the Senate race to replace Roland Burris as junior Senator from Illinois. With 75 percent of precincts reporting, Kirk has 58 percent, Patrick Hughes has 19 percent. Kirk had been criticized for his votes on Cap and Trade, and positions on social issues and gun rights. National conservatives Mark Levin and Laura Ingraham had thrown some support behind Hughes, but the results indicate the political novice came up short tonight.

This leaves a faceoff between Kirk and State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. With the Rod Blagojevich trial looming, there might be some extra positive momentum for Republicans in addition to national momentum. That said, Kirk is not the type of Republican that many on the right would have liked to have run.