Mark Kirk Wins Illinois Senate Republican Primary, Will Face Alexi Giannoulias (VIDEO)

Mark Kirk Wins Illinois Senate Republican Primary, Will Face Alexi Giannoulias (VIDEO)

As expected, Mark Kirk handily won the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate from Illinois, defeating his closest challenger Patrick Hughes by a landslide.

With 98% of precincts reporting, Kirk led with 56% of the vote to Hughes's 19%.

"Tonight we begin a journey to right our ship of state, to reclaim our place as the honest Land of Lincoln," Kirk told supporters at the Westin Chicago North Shore hotel.

A popular fifth-term congressman representing Chicago's affluent North Shore suburbs, Kirk has maintained sizable leads in the polls throughout.

He will face Alexi Giannoulias in November, in a race to fill the Senate seat that was held by Barack Obama.

Watch Kirk speak to supporters after clinching the nomination:

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