* Subscribers were told earlier this morning. After narrowly losing the Cook County Democratic Party’s slating vote last month, Sen. Karina Villa officially announced her bid for Illinois Comptroller today. Press release…
Today, Illinois State Senator Karina Villa (D–25th District) officially launched her campaign for Illinois State Comptroller. Speaking at a press conference in Chicago’s Little Village, Karina was joined by U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (D–3rd District), Chuy García (D–4th District), as well as state and local officials.
Karina, who has built winning coalitions in the Chicago suburbs to flip Republican districts, enters the race as a proven leader with experience leading state budgets and fighting for Illinois families.
“I’m running for State Comptroller because Illinois families deserve a government that works just as hard as they do,” said State Senator Karina Villa. “I’ve flipped tough districts, delivered middle-class tax relief, and led state budgets that invest in our public schools, affordable housing, and health care. I’ll put that same proven record to work in the State Comptroller’s office, ensuring every dollar is accounted for, every decision is transparent, and Illinoisans get real results from their government.”
Rep. Margaret Croke, Rep. Stephanie Kifowit and Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim are already in the race for Comptroller. Champaign County Auditor George Danos and former State Sen. Rickey Hendon have also expressed interest in the office.
* Villa’s campaign also announced three endorsements…
Today, State Senator Karina Villa announced the endorsements of U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez and Chuy García, along with Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, in her campaign for Illinois State Comptroller.
The three leaders praised Karina’s record of delivering results for Illinois families, her leadership in Springfield, and her proven ability to win tough races.
“Karina Villa has been a long-time champion for working families. From her years as a school social worker to her service in Springfield, she has never lost sight of who she’s fighting for,” said U.S. Congressman Chuy García. “As Comptroller, Karina will be the watchdog Illinois families deserve – protecting our taxpayer dollars and making sure our government works for the people, not the powerful.”
“Karina Villa fights for Illinois families and she wins,” said U.S. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez. “From flipping Republican-held seats to championing budgets that put working Illinoisans first, she’s delivered real, measurable results. In this race, Karina stands alone with the experience and track record to be the State Comptroller Illinois needs.”
“Karina Villa has proven herself to be an effective and trusted legislator in Springfield. She knows how to navigate tough negotiations, stand firm on her values, and still deliver results for Illinois families,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon. “Her experience on appropriations and shaping state budgets give her the financial expertise we need in our next State Comptroller.”
“I’m thrilled to have the support of my colleague in the State Senate, Don Harmon — one of Illinois’ most progressive Senators and a leader who has fought to protect a woman’s right to choose, propelled Illinois into a clean energy future, and injected billions of dollars more into our schools,” said State Senator Karina Villa. “I’m also deeply grateful to Congressman Chuy García and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, two fearless champions for working families who inspire me every day. Having their support in this race is a true honor.”
Thoughts?
- Dirty Red - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 9:35 am:
Getting pretty crowded. A shame the Republicans do not have a viable statewide candidate who could start their general election campaign today while the Democrats are shootin’ at each other.
But, hey, it’s all about what POTUS wants, so they do not have that bench.
- Chicago voter - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 9:37 am:
Sen. Villa is the only candidate who seems to be able to unite people in this race and to put working families first over being a career politician.
Croke seems to be crashing and burning outside the establishment and a lot of her House colleagues can’t stand her.
Kim blew $8,300 in campaign money on crypto and supposedly has other oppo, and has built a team that is not well regarded (to be diplomatic).
Kifowit just isn’t viable and is too conservative.
I’ll be voting for Villa enthusiastically.
- Remember the Alamo II - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 9:39 am:
I understand the Statehouse dynamics that give rise to Harmon’s endorsement of Sen. Villa in the Comptrollers race, but what I am more interested in is how this affects him as the Oak Park Township Democratic Committeeperson. Usually Committeepeople that go against the party’s endorsement are punished in some kind of way. Will Preckwinkle and others punish Harmon for working against the party’s endorsed candidate for Comptroller?
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 10:53 am:
===have also expressed interest in the office.====
Being interested in serving as a statewide elected official is very different than having a plausible route to becoming a state wide elected official.
If one’s campaign plan has the political/electioneering equivalent of “working together to get things done” one should just not run for office when there are already serious candidates in the race that are circulating petitions.
If one’s campaign plan also doesn’t include a viable way of getting petitions signed to get on the ballot, also don’t run.
- Trinity - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 11:10 am:
After that Bernie rally, it’s clear Margaret has a stronger shot at the Latino vote than Villa. There was a STARK difference from who was on display on stage and in the SMALL crowd. Don’t give me that bull about doing it for “Working Families”. It’s a soapbox term used by Socialist who have NEVER EVER BEEN POOR THEMSELVES. It obviously doesn’t include Black or Latino voters. Also Chicago has the second largest Mexican population, and Mexicanos are not Democratic Socialists. Progressives are losing ground here because of Mayor Johnson’s failures. Voters also remember Maggie O’Keefe’s loss in the 30th Ward and the shady tactics that angered many Latinos.
Equal representation matters, but no seat belongs to anyone. Karina admitted she only ran because she “got the call.” That does not show leadership.
Let us not forget, Karina and Delia refused to campaign in Midwest States for Kamala Harris who was at the top of the ticket. Latino voters, who are under attack & Democratic leaders, will not forget their inaction & silence.
- Demoralized - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 11:16 am:
==and former State Sen. Rickey Hendon have also expressed interest in the office.==
Should Rickey Hendon really have access to the state’s checkbook? Just sayin . . .
- Chicago voter - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 11:28 am:
==Don’t give me that bull about doing it for “Working Families”. It’s a soapbox term used by Socialist who have NEVER EVER BEEN POOR THEMSELVES. It obviously doesn’t include Black or Latino voters. ==
Well I have been poor and I am not a socialist, lol.
But I do agree that the progressive movement has not been inclusive enough of people of color and working class people.
- Peoria Jack - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 11:40 am:
@trinity
Chuy Garcia history begs to differ. Most popular latino in Illinois history –staunch progressive
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 11:43 am:
Good luck on the North Shore, Karina..
- Chicago voter - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 11:45 am:
==Good luck on the North Shore, Karina.. ==
I’d argue that’s exactly where she will do best.
People like Maggie O’Keefe and Patrick Watson do not have experience up there.
Progressive organizers seem to do a lot on the north side of Chicago, which has many similarities.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 12:38 pm:
Did Villa really “flip” a tough House district in 2018, or did Trump and Rauner do that? It is an honest question. Villa v Khouri was not a race I paid attention to, it didnt seem like the outcome was ever in doubt.
Villa cannot win if she gets pigeonholed as “The Latina candidate” obviously, she needs to be positioned as “the progressive choice,” but if she has money she can do that and has a chance.
These races will all come down to “Who is the most anti-Trump?” I believe. Getting AOC’s endorsement is just as important to Villa as getting Trump’s endorsement was to Darren Bailey.
- JP Altgeld - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:10 pm:
==Progressive organizers seem to do a lot on the north side of Chicago, which has many similarities.==
The 47th Ward =/= Lincoln Park nor does it equal Winnetka, Wilmette, etc.
Those areas are not remotely interested in progressive organizing, whatever that means anyway.
- Trinity - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:44 pm:
===Chuy Garcia history begs to differ. Most popular latino in Illinois history –staunch progressive
Pipe down Peoria. You are out of your league on this one. Author Sandra Cisneros is international. Perfect example of Progressives trying to rewrite Latino history.
If your statement were true, Chuy would be Mayor.
- Chicago voter - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 2:09 pm:
== The 47th Ward =/= Lincoln Park nor does it equal Winnetka, Wilmette, etc. ==
47th Ward/Lincoln Park are very different from parts of 40th, small parts of 44th, and 46th, 48th, 49th wards, which is where I was referring to.
- Peoria Jack - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 2:28 pm:
@Trinity
Your claim was that Latino voters are not progressive. If that were true, Congressman Chuy García wouldn’t exist. He’s the most popular Latino leader in Illinois history—and a staunch progressive. That’s a fact
The real debate isn’t whether Latinos support progressives—they clearly have and continue to. The question is whether progressive campaigning can break beyond the base. That’s where the Democratic Party has failed. For too long, centrists abandoned working-class voters, creating the vacuum that allowed demagogues like Donald Trump to rise. Progressives are the ones trying to win those voters back with real solutions, not empty slogans.
And let’s be clear: Progressive in Illinois campaigned for Kamala Harris when she was at the top of the ticket. Suggesting otherwise is just false.
- *ducks* - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 2:46 pm:
“campaigned for Kamala Harris when she was at the top of the ticket. Suggesting otherwise is just false.”
If that truth were as self evidence as you insist, Preckwinkle wouldn’t have felt the need to clear the air with Karina at slating. Just sayin.
- Yellow Dog Democra - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 2:49 pm:
Bernie landed 47% of the Lake County vote against Clinton in 2016.
Anyone spouting “conventional wisdom” about the Comptroller’s race had not dived into the numbers.
- JP Altgeld - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 3:05 pm:
To be clear, I didn’t mean 47th Ward = Lincoln Park. Mostly polar opposites, actually.
- Wepa - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 3:15 pm:
==If that truth were as self evidence as you insist==
If things were truly self-evident, no one in politics would ever have to “clear the air.” But that’s not how campaigns work. Even the strongest leaders have faced rumors or oppo dumps they had to address.
- Shytown - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 3:46 pm:
Peoria Jack, Chuy is congressman because he’s Chuy, not because his voters are hardcore progressives. And you’d be a fool not to read the tea leaves on changes in Latino voting patterns - they’re not getting more progressive, sorry to say. And relatively speaking, he might be the most popular right now, but there certainly are others who preceded him were pretty popular as well (not a fan, but Luis Gutierrez held that mantle for some time).
No one should be surprised that President Harmon is supporting a member of his own caucus. He is fiercely loyal to them and that plays well with his caucus politics. But even he won’t be able to save Karina‘s campaign. She’s burned way so many bridges and is too far to the left to shore up votes she’ll need in the primary.
- Lawtino - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 4:11 pm:
Chuy is a Congressman today because his mayoral runs made him a household name—and a hero to the Mexican-American community.
He didn’t run for mayor as a moderate; he ran as an unapologetic progressive. Latino voters never flinched. They backed him, twice, without hesitation. The reason he isn’t mayor is simple: he couldn’t break through with liberal white voters. In 2015, they stuck with Rahm; in 2023, they went with Johnson.
And here’s another fact worth remembering: Bernie Sanders only won one congressional district in Illinois in both 2016 and 2020—the 4th District, the state’s only Latino Voting Rights district at the time.
- Chicago voter - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 4:16 pm:
==To be clear, I didn’t mean 47th Ward = Lincoln Park. Mostly polar opposites, actually.==
Yup, they are. And neither are progressive. Lincoln Park is mostly in the 43rd Ward.
- Chicago voter - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 4:18 pm:
==No one should be surprised that President Harmon is supporting a member of his own caucus. He is fiercely loyal to them and that plays well with his caucus politics. But even he won’t be able to save Karina‘s campaign. She’s burned way so many bridges and is too far to the left to shore up votes she’ll need in the primary.==
Can’t say I agree. Villa is skilled at connecting with people and is kind and empathetic, a vast contrast from Margaret Croke. And any establishment pols who don’t like Villa are out of touch with the community, and those who vote based on what they think, were never in Villa’s universe of potential supporters anyway.
- JP Altgeld - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 4:29 pm:
==Yup, they are. And neither are progressive. Lincoln Park is mostly in the 43rd Ward.==
Pockets of progressivism in LP but rare. More in 47, to be sure. But agreed with you.
- Chicano en Chicago - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 4:52 pm:
So tired of non-Latino people speaking for who/what our community does and does not support, especially since we’ve yet to establish whether the rightward shift of our community is a lasting expression of political conservatism or an expression of the same political, social, and economic disaffection that drives support for both progressives and Trump. Based on my conversations with Trump-supporting Latinos, I suspect the latter. Let the primary happen, people.
- *ducks* - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 5:24 pm:
“And any establishment pols who don’t like Villa are out of touch with the community, and those who vote based on what they think, were never in Villa’s universe of potential supporters anyway”
Phew. Gonna be a long six months.
- Shytown - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 5:44 pm:
Chicago voter, do you know Don Harmon? If by establishment electeds you mean the Cook County Dems, in an open seat primary I’d add them to my team any day. I predict Croke is likely to have a clean sweep of some of the biggest vote rich wards in Chicago, which might end up being all she needs if the ballot is crowded enough. Not putting any money on Villa.
- Chicago voter - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 6:19 pm:
Or people who just do whatever the party says. And plenty of committeepeople don’t. Look at the support Eileen O’Neill Burke still got last time and that Fritz Kaegi will get now.