Question of the day
Friday, Sep 15, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Democrats are already announcing their interest in the high-profile role, including State Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, who has been eying a race for attorney general for years.
On Friday, he said he’s likely to fill the void created by Madigan’s bombshell retirement from politics.
“I’m very interested. It’s an office of extreme potential for great advocacy. My record speaks to being able to serve in that office in terms of my chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee, my work on criminal justice reform and other legal matters. It’s something I have to take a serious look at—and very quickly,” Raoul said.
“I considered running four years ago under the assumption she was gonna run for governor. If she’s not running, there’s a high likelihood that I would do so.”
The timing of her decision, after petition filing opened, could favor officeholders with big bank accounts and/or organizations, but one never truly knows these things.
…Adding… We’ll probably see a lot more of these trial balloons today…
* They’re coming out of the woodwork. Text from a PR flack…
Andrew Schapiro. Recently returned US Ambassador to Czech. Close friend of Obama’s (law school buds.). Will get in AG race. Schapiro also raised millions for Obama so has shown he can fundraise.
* The Question: Who else will run and what are their chances? Try to talk about both parties if you can, please.
- Filene - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
Rob Martwick
Pedro Dejesus
Jesse Ruiz
- anon2 - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
Sen. Don Harmon would be well qualified, though I’m not sure if he’d want to take on Kuame in a primary.
On the GOP side, if Rauner sticks with Miss America, that would deter serious competition.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:20 pm:
Explain their chances, please. I don’t care about your list unless it has something behind it.
- Deft Wing - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:23 pm:
Two County Chairmen who both had significant legislative experience: Dan Cronin and Jack Franks.
- Oddsmakers - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:25 pm:
Democrats: Kelly Burke, she is a sharp legislator who can appeal to a wide range of voters in the city and suburbs.
Republicans: Jim Durkin, he is the ranking GOP a legal mind and has statewide experience and can say he helped root out corruption and impeach Guv Blago
- DuPage Bard - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:25 pm:
Scott Drury bailing out of the Gov race to do this would actually be his smartest move and one he could easily justify to all of his supporters.
Personally I think this opens up a big option for the GOP as well. Sone if not two more GOP jump in at this point since it’s not Lisa. Many GOP have passed up that deal because it was a losing proposition now it’s an actual chance to win in a low turnout off year.
Durkin has built his name statewide and I’m thinking would have middle ground GOP backing him up, similar to Cross.
Barickman is young and could balance out a statewide ticket that’s bound to be heavy on Cook and the Collars.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:28 pm:
John Bradley? No chance.
- Greatplainser - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:29 pm:
Dem: Drury moves over…only thing that makes sense and can carry on the Madigan bashinging theme. He has about a 30% chance of winning the primary vs. someone like Raoul.
GOP: Barickman is young, ambitious, and a very organized campaigner. If he jumps in has a 60% chance in primary. Would be difficult seeing him challenge another “Champaign GOP” person but not impossible.
- Anon - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:31 pm:
on the GOP Side you have 3 State’s Attorneys from the GOP Collar counties who are not up this cycle in Mike Nerheim (Lake), Bob Berlin (Du Page) and Joe McMahon (Kane) possibly even former Lake Co Sheriff Mark Curran.
On the D side Jim Glasgow the Will Co. Prosecutor, Sheila Simon (came close to beating Judy Barr) Ann Williams (Fmr. Asst AG) Kim Foxx (Why not, it her midterm) Appellate Justice Judy Cates (Only woman president of ITLA, could throw in $1 million of her own money)
- Gooner - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:32 pm:
Drury seems like an obvious choice. This is the one time when he can consistently bring up “former federal prosecutor” and not sound ridiculous. In addition, somebody on the ballot not from Chicago might have some attraction for many in the party.
Drury’s downside, of course, is that many think he’s nuts.
Zachary Fardon would make an interesting choice. He had a pretty solid record, although you have to wonder if the office would be considered a step down from the last one. Also, after years of public service, he may just want to make money.
Kwame likely will be the choice of the party regulars, but I question who well known he is outside Chicago political pros. I’m not convinced he’s got the name recognition people think he has.
- Keyrock - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:32 pm:
Please not Pat Quinn.
(I don’t care if he’s tan, rested, and ready.)
- JoeMaddon - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:34 pm:
Gooner - other than Pat Quinn, no one who gets into this race will have much/any name recognition.
- Anon - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:34 pm:
Keep in mind, Barickman and Harold are not just in Champaign, they are at the same law firm. I can’t believe he would run now. I also think she’s a better candidate than most think and will deter most republican challengers. Unless Rauner supports someone else.
- Keyrock - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:34 pm:
If somebody could get Pat Fitzgerald to run — on either ticket — he’d win in a walkover.
- Just Observing - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:38 pm:
Larry Rogers, Jr. possibly on the Dem side. He probably has a lot of money in his political fund, and has a lot of personal wealth you can throw in (if he wants). He would be a strong candidate. The negative is that he doesn’t really have a political background in advocacy — there is no story to tell.
- Amalia - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:38 pm:
Jim Durkin would make a great candidate for the Rs. bob berlin is old school, former Cook County prosecutor and he might have baggage where is Joe Birkett? paging George Wendt for another fundraiser.
love the Kim Foxx idea because that would get her out of a job that involves heavy prosecution of actual dangerous people and she would probably have a good chance given the fawning that occurred the last time. .
but Jim Glasgow has a great record and was involved in interesting cases with legal issues beyond straight up prosecution, so he has much to tap. don’t know if he would beat a Jim Durkin, but he sure would make a good AG.
- Gooner - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
One more name to toss out is Kelly Cassidy. She’s another one who worked for the S.A. although I don’t believe she prosecuted any cases.
If she was willing to take on the race, I suspect she could win. However, I’ve long had the impression that the Madigan office she would excel at would be Mike’s so i suspect she sticks around.
- Grand Avenue - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:41 pm:
Both Larry Rogers & Mike Cabonargi from the Cook County Board of Review likely are interested - but they are both up in 2018 so they’d have to give up their seats just for a shot.
The advantage they have is that they are both running for seats that require over 5000 signatures, so they could dual circulate for Board of Review and AG (same people ask for voters to sign both sheets) then make the decision just before filing starts
- Lunchbox - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
I want to see how many Republican possibilities come out of DuPage. Who knows, a Dan Cronin run could be on the horizon. He’d get a decent block of votes out of DuPage and seems to be jockeying for more media attention with his government consolidation effort (although to be fair jockeying for media attention is in most politicians’ DNA.) His term is up in 2018 though and he’d have a cake walk just staying where he is. Robert Berlin, the state’s attorney, could follow the Joe Birkett route, he gave Lisa Mads the closest race she ever had on her first go in 2002.
I hope Pat Quinn runs just for the laughs.
- You could say that, I couldn't - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
@Gooner, while Cassidy did have a policy job with the State’s Attorney, she is not a lawyer.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
People, if you just post names and nothing else, you’re gonna get deleted.
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
Tom Dart has big name ID and a great record.
- Chicago Cynic - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
Drury for the reasons stated above. Far more logical race for him. Would still lose but at least it makes sense. he could sell it as an anti-corruption platform (though it really isn’t).
Dart: Has always wanted the job and has a decent bank account. But he hasn’t been willing to take on the really hard race and this will be really hard.
Toi - Would be a good fit and good advocate but only has 22k in bank compared to 300k for Kwame or 469k for Dart.
Mike Cabonargi - Has more than 600k in bank, interested in statewide office.
- pundemonium - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:50 pm:
I agree with the Drury sentiments above - I think he’d have a tough primary and general though. He’s a former federal prosecutor….
On the republican side, I think its Harold all the way. But if someone were to run against erika in the primary I think Dold would be a great candidate.
- Gooner - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:51 pm:
You Could Say That, I Didn’t,
Thanks. I’ve always assumed based on her time in that office that she was an attorney.
Thanks.
- Come on Man! - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:52 pm:
President of the MWRD Maryianna Spryopolous. She has county wide name ID in Cook County which matters in the primary. She was a former prosecutor, worked for the state, and manages one of the few agencies controlled by Democrats with a AAA bond rating and a billion dollar budget. Furthermore many of the legal issue an agency like MWRD faces are similar consumer and environmental advocate stuff that AG Madigan was all about which would dovetail nicely.
She does not have the stink of Springfield nor does she have to worry about fundraising she could self fund the race. Admittedly she is a dark horse but she could very easily in a crowded field get through and be a solid contender in the general.
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:52 pm:
Kwame Raoul and Tom Dart could both galvanize Cook County voters and appeal beyond with records on reform and clean government. I wonder if there are backchannel conversations between them this week on the race.
If I ran the IL GOP, a whole lot of things would be different, and I would also beg Patrick Fitzgerald to run for this office. He would be a stark contrast in ethics with the state party’s current figurehead.
- Amalia - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
Appellate Court Justice from the first district for the Dems….
Eileen O’Neill Burke. Spectacularly smart, neighborhood kind of gal from Chicago originally, U. of I UC undergrad, lives in the NW suburbs, great campaigner, lots of billboards for her last campaign with that name that is gold, looks made for TV, a husband whose own family history is deep in the legal community and who is a sharp lawyer himself. One thing that impressed me when she ran for judge is the profile she wrote about why she would make a good judge. None of it was anything detailed above. She wrote a deep statement on what it takes to be a good judge, the importance of the law, unlike another candidate’s statement I read that went on and on about her family, the American Legion, and nothing about the law. Eileen O’Neill Burke is the real deal. Think she would be shocked to read this, and have not talked with her since she got the Appellate spot, but someone should say it, so there it is.
- pundemonium - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:54 pm:
–If somebody could get Pat Fitzgerald to run — on either ticket — he’d win in a walkover. –
Agreed, but thats a big IF
- Noodle - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:56 pm:
Andrea Zopp will have Daley support. Dart won’t run unless the field is cleared which is unlikely. More jobs in Sheriff’s office. Durkin clears the GOP field. Illinois has history of electing split tickets so Rauner negativity shouldn’t concern him. Will Jesse White step aside now?
- MisterM - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 12:58 pm:
I like that Pat Fitzgerald idea. The state could use an AG that is willing to tackle the endemic political corruption in this state.
- Grand Avenue - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:00 pm:
I wonder if the Cook County Democratic Party will reconvene to make an endorsement.
If so - does Pritzker try to pull any strings for anyone? Might he try to throw his weight around to get someone slated who he thinks is good for ticket balancing purposes - after all, he has pledged to belly up for downballot races.
- OneMan - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:06 pm:
Does Alexi have a law degree?
Also guessing that Dan Webb will not want to step away from that sweet Winston and Strawn gig….
- Chris Welsh for AG - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:09 pm:
Chris Welsh should be thinking about it. Smart, young, Northwestern law school and a bit of an out of the box pick. Great guy too.
- OneMan - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:12 pm:
The phrase ‘name ID’ and MWRD are two things I never thought would appear in a sentence.
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:25 pm:
Hastings has an off year, has a solid organization. Dad controls the south suburbs. West Point grad and combat vet. Ran the PAC with Lang and Carrigan attacking Rauner.
- Fax Machine - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
Howard Brookins will run because he’s tired of being an Alderman but he will fail miserably like he did when he ran for Congress and State’s Attorney.
- Power to the People - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
“She does not have the stink of Springfield nor does she have to worry about fundraising she could self fund the race. Admittedly she is a dark horse but she could very easily in a crowded field get through and be a solid contender in the general.” I like Mrs. Spyropolous, and she has decent name recognition in the black community due to her fathers work with Jesse White. Could gain some traction after the big names lose their early luster
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
Democrats should be looking for a candidate that brings to the table a demographic that the other statewide candidates do not. Period. Run the table.
- The Historian - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:34 pm:
Won’t Kwame get LOTS of endorsements from Springfield folks who have good local footprints at home? I find it hard to imagine him & Dart going up against each other. Andy Schapiro’s great, but he’d be starting from absolute *zilch*….
- 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:40 pm:
It’s a much shorter exercise to name the Democrats that aren’t interested in running. I just want to add John Fritchey, Bridget Gainer, Scott Waguespack, Anna Valencia and every other elected official who is also an attorney to the list, just so their feelings aren’t hurt raiding this post.
- Downstate43 - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:48 pm:
Said it in the earlier thread, so I’ll say it here - Brendan Kelly (St. Clair SA). Already announced he was running against Bost, but a Metro-East Dem with his service record could be a pretty formidable candidate. In a pack loaded with Chicago-area legislators, a downstate Dem like him could have an advantage.
This would be a step down for Fardon and Webb, so I would eliminate them and they have no name recognition with any electorate.
- Regular democrat - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 1:52 pm:
I belueve they will clear the field for Raoul. He can help the whole ticket
- Just Observing - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:08 pm:
=== On the republican side, I think its Harold all the way. But if someone were to run against erika in the primary I think Dold would be a great candidate. ===
I don’t think Dold is an attorney.
=== Scott Waguespack ===
I believe Waguespack went to law school, but is not and was never licensed.
- heres one - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:15 pm:
Cook County Commissioner Larry Sufredin. Why? He has a very successful Lobbing firm. Well on paper his son but me thinks Larry is the rain maker. He also voted for the sweetened beverage tax so maybe Bloomberg may help too.
- Former Downstater - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:15 pm:
Raoul doesn’t clear the field. No one does.
Dan Webb is 72 years old. I don’t see any way he runs for office.
- anon2 - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:25 pm:
I like Jack Franks. He could be a formidible general election candidate, but his conservative voting record in the House would hurt him in the Democratic primary.
- No so innocent bystander - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:29 pm:
Former Inspector General David Hoffman. He’s got the good government and former US Atty experience and he has all the GEICO money.
- 10th ward - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:37 pm:
Bob Dold is a graduate of Indiana University Law in Bloomington. He would be a great candidate
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:38 pm:
Tom Cross? He has to be considering a run. Solid name idea.
Oswego Willy? what say you
- 10th ward - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:39 pm:
anon at 238 was me
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:44 pm:
===Tom Cross===
He’d have to get his “band” back together then, when this is all going on, even if Cross could get them back, they’d have to roll back some of Harold’s support as Cross is with the Rauner Administration…
He would suprise me, but he’s like to be the AG…
- Amalia - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:50 pm:
that Bob Dold idea on the R side is a good one. smart and appealing. moderate.
Dems should take great care in blanket endorsements of Raoul. working legislatively on something is not the same as taking it wide (see Toni). the criminal justice reforms could actually be portrayed as unpopular when you actually look at the crimes and victims. what appeals to Cook County is not the same as the entire state of Illinois.
- JP Altgeld - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:53 pm:
47th Ward:
Valencia and Gainer are not attorneys. Wags failed the bar exam and didn’t try again.
- heres a funny - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:55 pm:
State Rep and double dip Bloom Township Supervisor AL Riley cause he is so experienced.
- Amalia - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 3:00 pm:
The watch on justice issues just got hotter, even if criminal justice cases aren’t as prevalent for the AG. Evans replaces all judges in Bond Court with the impending effective date of Monday for the requirement that judges not issue bonds unaffordable for felony defendants. This rule moves to misdemeanor cases in a few months. Cases will be watched. topics will be discussed. everyone running for office will be asked, especially those running for a legal office. soft on crime outside of cook county will be problematic. how we got here will be scrutinized and compared with what some have done in the legislature. Whose Springfield record will compare favorably with the editorial boards? Whose other political or judicial office record? and whose will represent all of Illinois?
- denisquared - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 3:17 pm:
Dan Cronin. DuPage county. Done. Whatever the office is he needs to run for something statewide. A valuable public servant. I wish he would go for Governor.
- Michael Westen - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 3:22 pm:
Kirk Dillard on the Republican side. He told me in 2004 that was the office he always wanted the most.
Jeremiah Joyce’s son Mike on the Democratic side. He could revive the 19th ward clout and he’s married to Muhammad Ali’s daughter so he could carry the African-American vote.
- Chicago Cynic - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 3:44 pm:
Nobody is clearing the field for anybody. Kwame, Dart and anyone else who wants it is going to have to work harder than they ever have to win given the short time frame and pistol start of this campaign.
- JoanP - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
Under other circumstances, I’d push Kwame to run. As a constituent of both his and Currie’s, I’d hate to lose BOTH of them at the same time.
- prairiestatedem - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
In a multi candidate primary I would have to put my money on Tom Dart in this race. Few would have the name ID across the Chicago media market and if you look close since he was a 2002 statewide candidate for treasurer he still has a little bit of a following among Dems around the state with a reputation for integrity. Not a prolific fundraiser but he could rack up some numbers quickly in a sprint for the nomination like this will be. All that being said he still has a young family and has shown multiple times in the past that comes first.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
===I would have to put my money on Tom Dart===
I like Tom - a lot. He’s always wanted the AG job. But, man, the oppo book on a Cook County sheriff makes War and Peace look like a tweet. So many events can be twisted against him (like, for instance, that recent school credit scandal). And he doesn’t have the best relationship with his jailers’ union. Could be really tough.
- SouthernIllinoisan - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 4:27 pm:
This is a great opportunity for a Southern Illinoisan. If I was going to support a democrat, it would be John Bradley who is certainly qualified to serve as Attorney General and left Springfield very respected.
- Mr. Morris - Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 4:35 pm:
On the Democrat side, I would say that James Glasgow the Will County State’s Attorney, will make a run. He will probably use some of the cases such as Drew Peterson as talking points. If he runs he will have some institutional support from both sides.
On the GOP side, my money is on Dillard to enter the race. Dillard will use his statewide support to enter the race and be competitive in a primary. I also would not rule out Cronin and one or two more candidates from DuPage to be named later.