Chicago Urban League head joins U.S. Senate race

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Andrea Zopp, the head of the Chicago Urban League, announced Friday that she plans to challenge Congreswoman Tammy Duckworth for the Democratic nomination in next year's U.S. Senate race.

The winner of the nomination would unseat Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk in the November 2016 general election. The primary election is next spring.

Zopp, 58, is a member of the Chicago Board of Education and a political newcomer. Zopp confirmed her candidacy to ABC News, but declined further comment as she was out of town for her daughter's college graduation.

A Harvard Law School graduate, Zopp has been the chief executive officer of the Chicago Urban League since 2010. She has held executive positions at Sears, Exelon and Sara Lee. Zopp started her career as an assistant Cook County State's Attorney. In 1995, Zopp led the successful sexual abuse prosecution of then-Congressman Mel Reynolds.

Duckworth's campaign office would not comment on Zopp.

Kirk, who is still unchallenged, said he'd rather face Zopp in the general election, instead of Duckworth, a war hero.

"I think Zopp is an easier candidate for me to defeat ...because she's not as well known as Tammy," said Kirk, whose re-election campaign released its first TV ad this week.

As an African-American candidate, Zopp would have a strong base of support in the state's Democratic primary, but her CPS - which faces budget deficits and blooming scandals -- affiliation could hurt her.

"I think she's going to be tainted by CPS because any good campaign consultant is going to make sure that she's tainted by CPS," said Delmarie Cobb, a political consultant.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, a longtime Duckworth political ally, would not take sides Friday in next year's Senate primary race.

"Call me the last day for withdrawing your petitions for filing for office and ask me about primaries," Durbin said. "Things change a lot."