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Illinois senior United States Senator Dick Durbin announced today his endorsement for Anna Valencia in the 2022 race for Illinois Secretary of State.
“Anna Valencia is ready to make history as the first woman to be elected as Illinois Secretary of State,” said Senator Durbin. “She is part of the newest generation of Democrats who are critical to our future in this state. In 2014, she worked tirelessly to ensure my re-election by uniting our party faithful with Democrats who were new to the party and just emerging. Anna is an exceptional candidate, and I trust her to effectively lead an office which touches all of our lives.”
“I am proud to have the support of Senator Dick Durbin in my campaign for Illinois Secretary of State,” said Anna Valencia. “Senator Durbin has worked hard to invest in the next generation of Democratic leaders and has always gone to bat for working families like my own. I was honored when he trusted me to run his re- election campaign back in 2014, and I am thrilled that he has once again put his faith and trust in me by endorsing me in this race.”
With Senator Durbin’s endorsement, Valencia now has the support of both U.S. Senators in her bid for Illinois Secretary of State.
In addition to the endorsements of Senator Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth, Valencia has built a strong statewide coalition of support, including Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI), Illinois Nurses Association - The Nurses Union (INA), Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Administrative District Council 1, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 14 and Local 58, Illinois Association of Heat and Frost and Allied Workers Local 1, Unite Here Local 1, and other legislative, local elected, and community leaders from across the state.
More news on this open slot in a bit.
* Video…
* Sun-Times…
Durbin said in a campaign video he made, to be released Tuesday, that there are four “fine” Democrats running, but Valencia was “exceptional.”
Valencia managed Durbin’s reelection campaign in 2014, with Durbin entrusting his political future to a then-28-year-old.
Durbin said she worked “tirelessly” to ensure his win “by uniting our party faithful with Democrats who were new to the party and just emerging. Anna is an exceptional candidate, and I trust her to effectively lead an office which touches all of our lives.”
Duckworth already held two fundraisers for Valencia — August in Springfield and another in October in Chicago — and has called labor leaders on her behalf, Valencia’s spokesperson said.
Durbin will also be doing fundraising for Valencia.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 9:10 am:
Whoever is running Valencia’s campaign is doing a great job.
- Regular democrat - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 9:11 am:
I hope she can take this major news and create some real buzz.
- HonestAbeLives - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 9:13 am:
Some clarity today in the ILSecOfState race.
Rush retires allowing Dowell to succeed him.
Durbin immediately endorses Valencia as the first female ILSecOfState
Next up to endorse Valencia will be Jesse White and JB.
Crisis averted from Giannoulias losing to Brady.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 9:17 am:
It has to count, it has to matter, it must be more than words…
Jesse White, that WILL matter, whomever gets that endorsement.
===Next up to endorse Valencia will be Jesse White and JB.===
“Watch what does happen”.
Let this endorsement breathe a bit before there’s this idea everyone is coming “home”
- HonestAbeLives - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 9:22 am:
==Let this endorsement breathe a bit before there’s this idea everyone is coming “home”
Let’s not understate the importance of the Durbin endorsement. Sen. Durbin was a longtime Giannoulias backer. He also backed Kelly for ILDems, who is also a big Giannoulias backer. For him to endorse Valencia, there has to be a lot more going on.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 9:26 am:
===understate===
… and I haven’t, quite the contrary…
===It has to count, it has to matter, it must be more than words…===
If I was understating it, I wouldn’t be pushing for its wide, liberal use to help.
- David - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 9:28 am:
People in Illinois have short term memory and Alexi Giannoulias is indeed a flawed candidate (he reminds me of the likes of Rod Blagojevich). I will be voting for Anna Valencia and so happy Senator Durbin has endorsed her.
- HonestAbeLives - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 9:29 am:
===If I was understating it, I wouldn’t be pushing for its wide, liberal use to help.
Fair point. I stand corrected.
I do think the ad (especially the opening photo with Pres. Obama) is well done and am glad Sen. Durbin will also be fundraising for Valencia.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 9:47 am:
-For him to endorse Valencia, there has to be a lot more going on.-
“Valencia managed Durbin’s reelection campaign in 2014.”
Or not.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 9:47 am:
This definitely would’ve been helpful six months ago to help keep a bunch of folks on the sidelines. But Durbin let his former campaign manager twist in the wind while Alexi racked up endorsement after endorsement from labor and electeds. Still might be helpful but IMO it’s too little too late. Just another case of Durbin showing his deft political touch /s
- illini - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 9:58 am:
I first met Anna in 2014 when she was managing the Durbin campaign and was immediately impressed with her. She was extremely wise and experienced for someone as young as she was. I am not surprised at how quickly her ability has boosted her career. Nor am surprised at the endorsements she has received.
Two other facts make her a very attractive candidate are her downstate roots in Granite City and the fact that she is a fellow Illini.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 10:10 am:
although the 2010 Dem primary did not have any real alternative to AG, and he was the Treas then, Durbin did lead for him. Probably not just that Anna worked for Durbin and has a fantastic reputation. Durbin probably really knows things about AG. The flaws may be deeper than what we all know.
- DuPage - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 10:46 am:
What are the candidates’ positions on license plates for small trailers and giant truck-cranes?
As it is now, small trailers have to buy license plates, while the giant truck-cranes do not. How about reversing that situation? Abolish the plate requirement on the smallest trailers, and make the giant truck-cranes buy truck plates like any other trucks.
- Tombrady - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 11:35 am:
===I am not surprised at how quickly her ability has boosted her career.===
Don’t see any experience for running a large agency like the SoS except working for Durbin & Rahm. Oh, I forgot - Illinois - no experience necessary
- HonestAbeLives - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 11:53 am:
===Don’t see any experience for running a large agency like the SoS except working for Durbin & Rahm. Oh, I forgot - Illinois - no experience necessary
No experience is better than again electing the guy that cost Illinois families their tuition savings by appointing his finance bros to destroy the Brightstart program.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 12:03 pm:
We should be more worried about a candidate that has not been tested through an election. Appointed to her City Clerk position by Rahm Emmanual– never had a real race, and never run statewide. It definitely shows, she is barely outperforming the Aldermen in the race. Maybe that’s what took Sen Durbin so long.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 12:10 pm:
==No experience is better than again electing the guy that cost Illinois families their tuition savings by appointing his finance bros to destroy the Brightstart program.==
And running his family’s bank to the ground.
- Here we go - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 12:17 pm:
The Valencia Campaign infrastructure needs a boost as they’ve been outmanaged. But today’s endorsement is a big
boost.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 12:22 pm:
===never had a real race, and never run statewide.===
Alexi’s campaign should be slow to throw stones given his embarrassing performance in his state wide campaign for U.S. Senate and what all he’s done to advance the cause of Democratic candidates and the Democratic Party since that point.
Alexi failed that test. He failed that test bigly.
- HonestAbeLives - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 12:25 pm:
===And running his family’s bank to the ground.
He somehow even found a way to mismanage the Illinois Community College Board, according to audit reports. Alexi destroys everything he touches.
- City remap - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 12:38 pm:
That endorsement alone gives Anna some breathing room. And if -Honest Abe lives- is right about Jesse White endorsing Anna, then we have a race. I have always believed that JB. will sit out the primary as there is more to lose than win
- Leslie K - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 12:40 pm:
===Don’t see any experience for running a large agency like the SoS except working for Durbin & Rahm.===
No experience? The City Clerk’s office isn’t SoS, but it isn’t exactly a lemonade stand either.
Glad to see this endorsement. Maybe it will get more buzz going in the lead-up to White’s endorsement.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 12:42 pm:
===The City Clerk’s office isn’t SoS, but it isn’t exactly a lemonade stand either===
And Jesse White was the county recorder of deeds before elected SoS. The recorder office basically runs itself.
- HonestAbeLives - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 12:44 pm:
Worth mentioning that it was Frank Zuccarelli that really pushed Giannoulias for the Cook County Dems endorsement. That vote probably goes differently if it was held this week and, if anything, also puts the south burbs into play now for either Giannoulias or Valencia.
- Blue Dog - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 1:34 pm:
Anybody but gagmenouleous.
- Blue Dog - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 1:35 pm:
Darn autocorrect.
- Justin - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 2:02 pm:
A great get for Valencia. Hope she’s the Dem nominee.
- Bored Chairman - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 3:21 pm:
Shrewd move by Durbin. Democrats across the country are losing HIspanic voters in droves, and it seems only Durbin/Duckworth/Kelly are able to see this as an existential threat to their party’s power. Local organized labor and political hacks endorsements of Alexi demonstrate only their own myopia.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 3:24 pm:
@Blue Dog, but great new nickname for him. sometimes auto correct, or weird typos yield fun variations on a name or word.
- Hispanic Voter - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 4:32 pm:
@Bored Chairman
No Hispanic elected official has endorsed the Valencia campaign. Zero endorsements from Hispanic Committeemen. Don’t speak for us.
- HonestAbeLives - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 4:50 pm:
===No Hispanic elected official has endorsed the Valencia campaign. Zero endorsements from Hispanic Committeemen. Don’t speak for us.
@HispanicVoter - What about:
State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, 3rd District
Alderman Roberto Maldonado, 26th Ward, City of Chicago
If they are Hispanic, probably best not to speak for them.
- Viva Aurora - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 5:12 pm:
In fact, most of the Hispanic elected officials in the Aurora area have endorsed Alexi. He has had a couple events here too. Came to the Kane Dems golf outing. No sign of the other SoS candidates at all.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jan 4, 22 @ 5:38 pm:
@ Hispanic Voter and Viva Aurora, Bored Chairman said voters, not elected officials. See 2020 Presidential vote changes for then difference.