* Sun-Times…

City Clerk Anna Valencia picked up the support Tuesday of the woman who is expected to lead the Democratic ticket next year, securing the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth in Valencia’s bid to succeed outgoing Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

Duckworth, who is seeking a second term herself, is the first statewide elected official to weigh in on the heated four-way Democratic primary race for secretary of state.

In a video announcing the endorsement, Duckworth said she “can’t think of a better person to represent us and, more importantly, to serve the people of Illinois.”

“She comes from Granite City, she knows what working families are going through, she knows what every single one of us has faced in terms of difficulties in our life, but she’s persevered, and she’s continued to work hard,” Illinois’ junior senator said in the video. “I hope someday young girls and boys say ‘I want to be just like Anna.’ I certainly do.”

The video…

Probably worth mentioning that Sen. Duckworth backed another state party chair candidate against US Rep. Robin Kelly. Rep./Chair Kelly is a longtime Giannoulias ally.

* Speaking of the SoS race…

Republican state Rep. Dan Brady hasn’t entered the race to lead the Secretary of State’s Office — he’s still considering it — but a poll he initiated shows him just five points behind Alexi Giannoulias, a frontrunner in the Democratic race.

The Ogden & Fry poll asked respondents: If the election for Secretary of State were held today, for whom would you vote, Giannoulias or Brady? Results showed 43.8 percent of respondents would vote for Giannoulias, the former state Treasurer, compared to 38.7 percent who said Brady. Nearly 18 percent were undecided. […]

Poll numbers show two-thirds of downstate respondents had never heard of Giannoulias or Brady.

Translation: Few actually know who either of those guys are and Giannoulias is performing at almost precisely the generic Democratic level for this poll while Brady is above the generic Republican level. Brady has more solid GOP support in this poll (90 percent) compared to Giannoulias among Dems (82 percent). But the Republican is also doing a bit better among independents (34-26), who often tend to lean more GOP.

* US Rep. Mike Bost on the “Big Lie”…

Some believe that lies about election laid the foundation for the insurrection. Bost voted to overturn the results of Pennsylvania and Arizona hours after the riots.

“I’m not worried about what history does with that,” Bost said. “Did they or did they not run their elections according to the Constitution? And the answer again is they did not.”

Narrator: They did.

* A silly story that produced an even sillier reaction last week…

Has anyone told him that he can't be appointed to this position by local committeemen? https://t.co/iRbZpiRyON

— Team Lightfoot (@Team_Lightfoot) July 2, 2021

Martwick ain’t running for mayor. No way, no how. Anyone who has talked to him should know this. Just ridic.

Also, the mayor really needs to just let it go, already. Sheesh.

* Related…

* Labor seems to be liking Alexi Giannoulias’ secretary of state bid