To get on the ballot in Illinois, U.S. Senate candidates must file nominating petitions with a minimum of 5,000 and maximum of 10,000 signatures. The filing period opened today — and the Kirk campaign filed petitions with the maximum 10,000 signatures. A sign of our grassroots support, we have 12,000 volunteers around the state willing to display yard signs, walk in parades and spread the word for Congressman Kirk.

A big ‘Thank You’ to everyone who circulated petitions and gathered signatures in 59 counties across the state. With your continued support, Mark Kirk will be the next U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois – and we will put our state and nation back on track.

“I want to thank the thousands of people across Illinois who helped us demonstrate the early strength of our statewide grassroots support,” said Kirk, who completed a 40-city statewide tour in August. “With growing deficits, corruption rampant and unemployment rising, the people of Illinois are looking for reform-minded leadership to rescue our economy, restore fiscal discipline and turn the page on Rod Blagojevich. In uniform and in Congress I dedicated my life to helping our fellow citizens and I will bring this record of service and reform to the United States Senate.”

Tags: 2010, 2010 election, 2010 elections, 2010 Illinois, Alexi, Alexi Giannoulias, campaign, Chicago, election, Giannoulias, il-sen, Illinois, ilsen, Kirk, Mark, Mark Kirk, politics, race, senate, senate 2010, senate election, senate race