Eric Carlson ran in the Republican primary for the First Congressional district in Illinois in 2022 and won with 40% of the vote. He lost the general election by a 2 to 1 margin but it is a safely Democratic district.
Carlson was convicted of three counts of sexual assault in 1995 after raping a woman he had met at a bar. Unfortunately for him, her family were at the bar so when he dropped her off after the assault, they witnessed her distress and took her straight to the hospital.
He was sentenced to four years for each count, to be served consecutively. He was released after six years. He appealed his conviction and was denied. He claims he was wrongfully convicted. It should be shocking that a man who was sentenced to twelve years in prison for rape would win the Republican nomination. Yet, somehow it is not.
- Chicago Tribune: Suburban man running for Congress was convicted 27 years ago of sexually assaulting a woman
- Patch.com: Lemont Man Running For Congress Has 1995 Sexual Assault Conviction
- CaseText: People v. Carlson
Chicago, Illinois · Tuesday, June 21, 2022