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Report: Rush to run again

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Illinois

Congressman Bobby Rush called a news conference Friday to discuss his re-election plans and while most expect him to announce he’s running again, there is speculation he is considering retiring.

When asked if the event was Rush’s campaign kickoff, his press secretary said “you’ll have to come to the announcement.” Some speculate Rush wants to remain on the primary ballot, so that if he chooses to retire after the March primary, he can help hand pick his successor.

* But the Tribune obtained his statement…

Rush to run again: House Democrat Rep. Bobby Rush on Friday plans to announce he’s running for a 13th term in Congress. The Chicago lawmaker will make it official at a 10:30 a.m. news conference at the Gary Comer Youth Center, 7200 S. Ingleside Ave.

The 68-year-old Democrat is declaring his candidacy for re-election as the deadline looms for potential challengers to file nomination petitions to run for his seat. A cancer survivor, Rush missed several House votes this year and last because of his wife’s poor health and has been the subject of retirement rumors for some time.

I think both outlets might turn out to be right. Time will tell.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 8:58 am

Comments

Meh, if you’re a Congressman in a safe seat, you can work as little or as much as you want.

Mel Price never “retired,” but no one saw him for years on end, either.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:05 am
Guess Flynn Rush’s campaign didn’t shake loose whatever it was supposed to shake loose so we’re taking it up a notch!

Yes, Speaker, two solariums. Quite a find…. And, I… have horses, too.

Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:10 am
Not a surprised - why retire?

The benefits are not nearly as good.

Comment by Cannon649 Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:21 am
I’m sure the people of his district will continue to enjoy the quality representation he has provided in the next term.

Comment by DuPage Dave Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:22 am
Maybe he is announcing where the $1 million missing for the Bobby Rush Technology Center went? lol

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:45 am
Another 2 years of non-representation for his suburban constituents.

Comment by nyny Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:51 am
Are the first and third comments meant purely as observations or as approval of that behavior? It’s not clear from their tone.

Comment by Please Retire Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 10:00 am
Has Bobby located Mokena yet?

Comment by nixit71 Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 10:16 am
- nyny do you mean:

Another 2 years of non-representation for his constituents?

Comment by Tone Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 10:53 am
@ Tone
Yes, you are probably correct. It won’t matter where you are in the district because Bobby will barely be going thru the motions and increasing his pension.

Comment by nyny Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:03 am
An post-primary appointment onto the ballot for a safe-for-life Congressional seat? Man, there’s got to be a lot of horse trading going on in the South Side right now.

Comment by Century Club Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:09 am
@tonyjarnold:

Rush: there’s no way I’d be involved of political gamesmanship of dropping out after the primary. That’s beneath me.

https://twitter.com/tonyjarnold/status/667751990286376961

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:14 am
Mr.JM - Translation: Lipinski got to appoint his son. I expect the same.

Comment by Century Club Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:21 am
and folks want to know why we need a better method of map making when we get 6 reps of 18 from chicago that has about 15% of the population in the state.

Comment by scott aster Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:21 am
Scott, there are 4 Chicago US Reps: Rush, Davis, Guiterrez and Quigley. Even if you take Lipinksi (who doesn’t live in Chicago, but is from the Southwest Side), that’s 5 of 18, or 27%. Chicago has 22% of the population of Illinois.

Comment by Century Club Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:28 am
A great example of the need for term limits nationwide.

Comment by Very Fed Up Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:40 am
Century, let’s look at my county’s influence in this state. 9 of 18 congressmen live in Cook County, which is about 40% of the state’s population, which translates into about 7 of 18 congressmen. The Governor, AG, SOS, Speaker, Senate Majority Leader, and both Minority Leaders are all from Cook. No wonder why people are calling for term limits and a sane redistricting process.

Comment by Southwest Cook Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:17 pm
Southwest- Redistricting won’t help much with the Governor, SOS and AG elections.

Comment by DuPage Dave Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:29 pm
“The Governor, AG, SOS, are all from Cook.”

So, they were elected by the state.

Comment by Tone Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:35 pm
So when Napoleon Harris loses the US Senate primary, he can try to get appointed to this position?

Comment by Archiesmom Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:35 pm
“I’m sure the people of his district will continue to enjoy the quality representation he has provided in the next term.” LOL!

Comment by Levois Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:02 pm
“Maybe he is announcing where the $1 million missing for the Bobby Rush Technology Center went? lol” Man people are going after him today….

Comment by Levois Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:03 pm
Personally I wonder who wants to run against him. if there was someone who was good and electable out there, he’d think twice. Is there anyone on the horizon who would be much better?

Comment by Levois Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:03 pm
Should’ve read this post before the comments, those outlets may be right. It would be messed up if he wins primary only to pick his own choice. I wouldn’t like that outcome, but all I and others can do is use our votes in the general against the ultimate nominee.

Comment by Levois Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:08 pm
“…..his district will continue to enjoy the quality representation he has provided in the next term.”
And they say Cook County doesn’t appreciate quality representation.

Comment by Milorad Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:15 pm
Dave/Tone - no kidding. The point is about the concentration of power in 40% of the state - Cook County. Term limits would have removed the AG and SOS years ago, while redistricting reform should keep districts within Cook instead of disenfranching voters in adjacent counties. See Eastern Will and Kankakee districts.

Comment by Southwest Cook Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:03 pm
Missed a syllable - disenfranchising

Comment by Southwest Cook Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:08 pm