* Press release…
Today, Comptroller Susana Mendoza endorsed JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton at a grassroots campaign event at IBEW Local 193 in Springfield. This marks JB’s second endorsement by a statewide officeholder after Secretary of State Jesse White endorsed the campaign in August.
“Comptroller Susana Mendoza is a force. She is strong, she is fearless, and she is a vital voice for the people of Illinois,” said JB Pritzker. “There is no one who has done more to hold this governor accountable than Susana Mendoza. Since day one, she has traveled this state, meeting families hurt by this governor and working towards solutions. Think about how much Susana could accomplish if instead of spending her time defending families from the governor of Illinois, she had a governor as a partner in Springfield who would stand up for working families. Now it won’t be easy to defeat Bruce Rauner and his right-wing allies in 2018. But we’ve got Susana Mendoza on our team, we’re going to win. Together, we’re going to defeat Bruce Rauner for good.”
“As your state Comptroller, I have seen firsthand the division and destruction Bruce Rauner has caused this state. Over the past three years, we’ve seen the longest budget impasse in the country’s history, our bill backlog triple to $16 billion, eight credit downgrades, and social service providers decimated,” said Comptroller Susana Mendoza. “We need a governor who looks out for all Illinoisans, who will join me in lending a voice to the voiceless, and unify our fractured state. That is why I’m proud to endorse JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton for governor and lieutenant governor. I believe JB and Juliana have a vision that will put an end to Rauner’s crisis and move our state forward.”
- AimtoMisbehave - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 11:23 am:
Well I was a big fan of Mendoza, and thought she should be running for Governor instead of this current lackluster crop.
Seeing her back the chosen insider candidate who is working on purchasing the nomination is really disappointing.
I thought she was more independent than that.Guess not.
- Anon0091 - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 11:37 am:
Or Aim, maybe she just thinks he’s the best candidate with the best chance to win. With respect, the rest of the field ain’t settin’ the world on fire.
Maybe everyone is coalescing around Pritzker because he’s better on the stump, better at building an organization, more likely to win and yes, there’s also that checkbook.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 11:42 am:
Certainly not unexpected, but Mendoza is such a good surrogate that this is still going to help Pritzker.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 11:44 am:
According to Susana Mendoza Speaker Madigan is a brilliant tactician, politician and public servant and great man and Illinois has benefitted from his 40 years of stewardship.
She is willing to overlook the decades of unbalanced budgets he passed and she voted for and thinks the Speaker has put Illinois first ahead of his personal and political interests
She only blames Governor Rauner for the budget impasse and not the legislature for not compromising
- Real - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 11:46 am:
AimtoMisbehave
===
In terms of policy what are some of the biggest differences between Mendoza and Pritzker they would promote if governor?
I think both would be great governors and a lot better than the current lackluster crop.
- Mr B - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 11:58 am:
Mendoza seems to have a loud voice, for what really shouldn’t be a job that gets much notice. But she’s in the middle of our backlogged bills…
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 12:37 pm:
Great statements by the Pritzker campaign and Comptroller Mendoza. Great endorsement. Rauner has been horrible for the state, in the worst possible ways, as Mendoza points out.
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 12:43 pm:
First, JB is right: Mendoza is the face of anti-Raunerism, anti-Trumpism in Illinois.
She and Gutierrez are without question the two most visible Latino/a faces in the Democratic Party. You can argue about the rankings. But the important thing is Pritzker has both nominations now.
It seems highly unlikely that Lisa Madigan or toni Preckwinkle will make an endorsement. That means Pritzker just secured the backing of the most visible woman in The Democratic primary.
The endorsements are great for JB, and it’s getting to the point where we can expect them to snowball.
But the really important thing is each endorsement he gets represents an endorsement his opponents won’t get. And they desperately need access to money, organization, earned media that endorsements mean in a primary.
The possible pathways to victory keeps getting narrower for Biss and Kennedy, and they keep expanding for JB.
- Periwinkle - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 1:14 pm:
And the establishment lines up behind Madigan’s pick…
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 1:18 pm:
==It seems highly unlikely that Lisa Madigan or toni Preckwinkle will make an endorsement.==
Indeed, right now, either endorsement could be more trouble than they’re worth, especially Lisa’s for JB.
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 1:19 pm:
Agree with first poster on this…Susanna is very ambitious to say the least and is a good soldier for the insiders…I am ambivalent about this race…
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 1:43 pm:
Mendoza: “Hey I could give a billion reasons why I support J.B”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 1:47 pm:
===Mendoza: “Hey I could give a billion reasons why I support J.B”===
… as Rauner owns lock, stock, and barrel of the ILGOP, holding hostage former Republican members absorbed by the corporate hostile takeover by Raunerism. “I don’t want any $&@#% problems” was the Rauner command as former thoughtful…
Meh.
- AimtoMisbehave - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 2:02 pm:
Anon0091 & Real - you’re both right. The current crop of D candidates is completely lackluster, but then again why would a real candidate want to go against JB?
He has the party bought and paid for. Just like Rauner did with the GOP, JB has wrapped up every insider and organization with the promise of all the money they won’t have to spend this cycle.
As for his policies being close to Mendoza? I don’t know. Which JB do I believe? The newly found pro labor guy, or the guy that contributed to promote unconstitutional pension “reform”?
I’m disappointed in Mendoza for lining up with every other party person and contributing to the selling out of the Democratic Party.
- JoeMaddon - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 4:01 pm:
**I thought she was more independent than that.Guess not.**
LOL. Mendoza isn’t independent. She hasn’t been independent. Speaker Madigan got her elected. He made direct calls to labor, twisted arms in the primary, and moved money to her for the General.
- Shytown - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 4:13 pm:
Susana has proven that she’s her own person and not owned by anyone. So what if she got some help from Madigan. Nearly every Dem has in some capacity. She’s a tenacious campaigner and works her tail off. She also can take most of the credit for turning the tables on Rauner. Once she entered the picture he was constantly on the defense and has been ever since. This is a all upside for JB’s campaign.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Sep 27, 17 @ 11:48 pm:
Bruce,Evelyn, and Erica against JB,Juliana, and Susana