CHICAGO – Former Illinois legislator Robin Kelly captured the Democratic nomination Tuesday in the race to replace disgraced ex-U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., after a truncated campaign season where she got a boost from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s super PAC.

The nomination all but assures that Kelly will sail through the April 9 general election and head to Washington, because the Chicago-area district is overwhelmingly Democratic. The race among the lesser known Republican candidates was too close to call Tuesday night.

From a crowded field of Democratic contenders, Kelly emerged early as a leader on gun-control issues – a central theme during the race – which helped her win support from Bloomberg’s super PAC, Independence USA.