Question of the day
Monday, May 15, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says she’s seeking a fifth term next year.
Madigan recently revealed her 2018 plans during an unrelated news conference in Chicago. The Democrat is already the longest-serving attorney general in the state’s history.
* That little brief followed a deep-dive by the Tribune this morning entitled “Boxed in by father, Lisa Madigan seeks fifth term as Illinois attorney general”…
Madigan, now 50, has passed on a series of potential opportunities and once again will be staying put. And with that a central question resurfaces: perhaps the very thing that helped her first win election — being the daughter of veteran House Speaker Michael Madigan, who’s also the state Democratic chairman — is what’s now weighing down her political ambitions. […]
Rauner’s attacks also have carried over to include Lisa Madigan. In March, he contended she was “clearly part of a coordinated activity, coordinated pattern” with the speaker to shut down government by seeking a court order to stop state worker paychecks amid the budget stalemate.
The Rauner-subsidized state Republican Party also released an Internet ad contending the attorney general’s actions over state paychecks were designed to help her father raise taxes and “protect their power.” The attorney general’s office responded at the time by saying the governor “needs to stop the baseless finger-pointing and do his job.” […]
“Admittedly, I’m pretty close to Speaker Madigan and on his leadership team, so I would say the answer to that question (of whether the brand is tarnished) is no,” said [Rep. Lou Lang], a Skokie Democrat.
Well, of course Lou would say that.
But, then again, I waited all morning for a snarky ILGOP press release and never did see one. I suppose they have plenty of time, however.
* The Question: How do you see Lisa Madigan’s future? Explain.
- Arsenal - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:10 pm:
I think her hope is to win again, then a Dem wins the White House in ‘20 and appoints her something. There are worse plans, and worse case scenario, she’s probably AG as long as she wants it. But I think she’s maxed out in IL electoral politics.
- Bogey Golfer - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
Will Durbin run for another term for the U.S. Senate in 2020?
- T sowell - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
As long as MJM needs the legal cover she will be AG
- The Captain - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:18 pm:
It seems to be lacking ambition. She had a very tough race in 2002 and hasn’t seemed to want to face anything that difficult again. She could have challenged either Blagojevich or Quinn in a primary for Governor but chose not too, in the latter case she said that she wouldn’t while her father was still Speaker, a reasonable explanation and I take her at her word. However she also could have run for U.S. Senate in 2010 and she asked the White House to clear the field for her, when they didn’t she passed.
I’m guessing she enjoys the job of being Attorney General so you can’t blame her for doing what’s in her best interest but I think if she had big-time electoral politics in her blood we would have seen it by now.
- My New Handle - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
L. Madigan’s future is another 4 years as AG, maybe another 8. And why not? The AG’s office has power and influence and she has proven very electable to that office.
- 47th Ward - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
Her political future you mean?
Lots of state AGs are filling the vacuum in DC in terms of environmental and consumer advocacy. She’s been at the forefront of that. I think we’ll see more of it.
As long as the national GOP allows corporations to pollute and rip off customers, there will always be a path for someone to stand up to their greed. It’s thankless but necessary, and Lisa Madigan has been pretty good at it.
- Angry Republican - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:29 pm:
Lisa will probably be AG for another 20 years. IL-GOP still has no clue how to run against her.
- South of Sherman - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:30 pm:
Given her attempts to raise her profile on national issues like health care and Russian interference in elections, I assume she’s trying to position herself when Durbin’s seat come up.
But I’ve been wrong before…
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:31 pm:
There are still very significant avenues Lisa Madigan can travel.
Federal Judge, if the White House changes hands in 2020…
US Attorney General, if she decides to wade into a possibly very crowded 2020 Dem Presidential primary and work towards that.
Think-tank / Lobbyist / Activist within the scope of law and advocacy…
The real question might be who will be the next Mike Schimpf?
- Blue dog dem - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:32 pm:
One of the few Dems that Rauner could beat.
- Annonin' - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 12:51 pm:
Pearson, Yepsen et al talk about “opportunities” like these were good things and not a series of S*holes or service in minority caucuses. Now she can just continue to sue Trump and biz thieves and win.
- 39th Ward - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 1:05 pm:
The Illinois Attorney General’s job is not very challenging, and Lisa seems to like it that way. There are almost no criminal cases to worry about and the splashy consumer cases are dropped in her lap after the heavy lifting is done by AGs in other states.
Remember, Roland Burris was viewed as a competent Attorney General here.
- RNUG - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 1:06 pm:
I would say she can be IL AG as long as she wants to.
If she wants something different, multiple paths. IL Governor would probably be the hardest one, but she still has some years to try to run for it. If she is going to stay in government, I see her eventually as a judge, either high level State of Federal.
Or she could go into the private sector and cash in. I don’t really see her doing that unless it would be to advocate for a specific issue dear to her.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 1:06 pm:
===Lisa will probably be AG for another 20 years. IL-GOP still has no clue how to run against her.===
Agreed! I would love it if they dug up Stu Umholtz again. That was indeed a campaign that never left Tazwell County.
- @misterjayem - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 1:08 pm:
“Madigan, now 50…”
What?? That can’t be right.
‘Cause if Lisa Madigan is FIFTY, then that would make me… [borrows a one, subtracts from seven]
Craaaaaap!
“How do you see Lisa Madigan’s future?”
1) Rauner loses, MJM retires, Durbin retires, Lisa wins Durbin’s seat in ‘The Year of the Woman 2.0′ 2020, or
2) Lisa becomes the Jesse White of the AG’s office.
– MrJM
- northsider (the original) - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
Mayor, if she wants it.
- Amalia - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 1:34 pm:
Attorney General for life Lisa Madigan, wife of award winning cartoonist Pat Brynes (he deserves such praise for his work!)
- Mama - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 1:56 pm:
I think Lisa Madigan will continue the path she is on. I don’t see her running for Secretary of State when Secretary White retires. However, I could see her as a Supreme Court Judge in the future.
- A guy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:04 pm:
She prefers races where there’s little, if any competition. If there’s a step up down the road, and she’s polling as a shoo-in, she’ll jump. Until then, I honestly believe she likes what she does and has no particular yen to leave the job. And she’s as close to a shoo-in for this job as there ever is.
- Ms. Feasance - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:52 pm:
As Illinois’ lawyer, AG Madigan still has much work to do in her post defending state wrongdoing. It’s a popular bi-partisan generated need, and she seems to excel at it.
- VanillaMan - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 3:12 pm:
Lisa and I agree: Find what ylu’re good at and enjoy it.
Why would anyone want to be Mayor or Governor? Political ambition is overrated.
- Responsa - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 7:57 pm:
I don’t think Lisa wants to be in the circus that is DC regardless of which party is in power there. And I certainly don’t think she would ever consider running for Mayor of Chicago. She’ll be like SOS Jessie White and keep being re-elected to her current job until retirement age. She is comfortable there, knows the terrain and seems to do a nice job. Some people simply aren’t all crazy ambition and I suspect Lisa is one of those people.
- Flip357 - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 8:49 pm:
Rumor has been that AG Madigan will not run for bigger office until her children are older.
- sal-says - Tuesday, May 16, 17 @ 8:39 am:
Future? Jailing Raunner for his continuing refusal to obey the IL Constitution, State Law & his Oath of Office. Do that, Ms. AG & you can be Queen of IL. And end the hostage taking of 13,000,000 Illinoisans!