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Erika Harold launches attorney general bid

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A former Miss America and unsuccessful congressional candidate on Tuesday is expected to announce a Republican bid for attorney general for the chance to challenge four-term Democrat Lisa Madigan.

“Today in Illinois, it’s nearly impossible to find opportunity and live out your dreams. Instead, career politicians have made it a nightmare for too many families in our state,” Erika Harold says in a two-minute video announcing her candidacy.

“You deserve a state government that works for the people, not the powerful,” says Harold, of Urbana. “Changing the status quo is never easy. And I need your help to do it. Together, let’s defeat the special interests and send the politicians packing.”

The 37-year-old Harold is an attorney at the Meyer Capel law firm in Champaign. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 2001 and received a law degree from Harvard Law School in 2007. A 2003 winner of the Miss America pageant, she used her platform to launch a program to combat bullying in schools.

* Here’s the video…

I haven’t seen any polls, but I’m assuming that the tens of millions of dollars spent on attacking Speaker Madigan has damaged AG Madigan’s reputation with voters. And with tens of millions more dollars spent against the Madigan name, the attorney general is going to have a real race - the first time that’s happened since her first statewide race in 2002.

* News-Gazette…

Since narrowly winning the post in 2002, Lisa Madigan has never received less than 60 percent of the general election vote. On June 30, her campaign fund had $2.3 million on hand, although Harold is expected to receive generous financial support from Gov. Bruce Rauner and his wealthy allies. […]

Harold in 2014 challenged U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, in the Republican primary in the 13th Congressional District. She lost, 55 percent to 41 percent, but won in Champaign County.

She is expected to make her first appearance as a candidate at Wednesday’s Republican Day festivities at the Illinois State Fair.

Harold lives in Urbana and serves on the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Equality, and as a commissioner on the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. She is a member of Trinity International University’s Board of Regents, and serves on the national board of directors of Prison Fellowship, the world’s largest outreach to prisoners and their families, and is an advocate for criminal justice reform.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:04 am

Comments

Thank you for taking her on. Morale was so bad when I left the office. Everyone understood the political connection too. Dozens of great lawyers left when even 2% raises refused after years of nothing. Good luck!

Comment by No Raise Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:10 am
Oh my, another Rauner type….”status quo”…the rallying call for rubes

Comment by wondering Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:12 am
Her best chance is now as you mention, capatilizing on the years of madigan ads.

Howver she is announcing and has no website up for volunteers/donations/info

a bit of a sloppy unprepared start…. he said ironically after sloppily posting in the wrong article

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:12 am
Rauner sure likes the ivy league graduate dark horses

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:13 am
I really do wish she set her sites lower, like State Rep or town council. I understand that she has the minimum qualifications to be AG, but she lacks the “gravitas” to be the AG.

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:16 am
Ghost,
Obama attended Harvard and Columbia, both Ivy league schools. Just saying….

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:19 am
This race will be a lot closer than people think. Just ask Mike Madigan how that name helped him when he ran against Scott Bennet. If she has the money to show her qualifications and has a good team behind her, anything can happen. Look at 2016 cycle.

Comment by Almost the weekend Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:19 am
Does anyone know what the rest of the ballot will be? Is Munger running again? Who is running for Treasurer?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:20 am
I guess running as a Republican means sounding like a Democrat.

Comment by Obamas Puppy Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:20 am
“I haven’t seen any polls, but I’m assuming that the tens of millions of dollars spent on attacking Speaker Madigan has damaged AG Madigan’s reputation with voters”

Wasn’t that the whole point of the Madigan attacks in the first place?

Comment by Ok Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:21 am
This will be quite interesting. The Madigan name has been damaged both by the family itself and from the outside. Michael can only be unseated by the voters in his district. But the Madigan who is currently AG and who has been surprisingly uninspiring in that position IS running for statewide office. Will she reap the whirlwind of Madigan fatigue?

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:22 am
To the Post,

Makes me think of state Senator Mike Schimpf…

So, her political decisions have been…

… to take on Rodney Davis and Lisa Madigan.

You don’t choose races like that with strong political acumen.

I have asked a few people about Lisa’s polling numbers and I can’t imagine in any way that the name “Madigan” is what the common acceptance would be “popular”. This is a really good choice for Raunerites, far better than the choice for Harold herself. You fly too high, any chance of being on that “big stage” she savors could be made or broken with this choice. The calculation then is a “simple” one; take the Raunerite monies, use the Madigan name and win where others have failed.

As a Republican, and not a Raunerite, and looking at it without Raunerite cynicism, it’s a fairly good move for Republicans. A downstate woman, fairly good name recognition due to her past before politics and with that run “against the status quo” Rodney Davis.

It’s important that central Illinois is engaged and farther downstate they feel that they can invest in someome outside Cook and the Collars in a statewide race.

Trump headwinds or not, the name “Madigan”, especially in central and southern Illinois isn’t all that great, and polling will only comfirm that, yet again. Harold might just be what Republicans (not Raunerites) need to give a different face outside a rich white male with 9 homes and ridiculous costumes and funny sounding words as the marker for Republicans to see an actual future beyond the destruction of Raunerism… as Rauner, maybe even Diana Rauner, funds this race to finally beat a “Madigan”

Tough race. Lisa will have her hands, both hands, full.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:23 am
Let’s recap here: smart and invested in those who don’t have power and a minority. Oh yes, she’s not ready and her step-father isn’t Michael Madigan. Well we can’t let her win can we?

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:26 am
She calls herself a constitutional conservative. She is anti-abortion rights, pro-gun, believes that marriage is between a man and a woman. She does not support marijuana legalization. She wants to repeal Obamacare

From politico in 2012. She’s toast in general, even being anti Madigan wont carry her.

Comment by Illini Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:27 am
My bad, it’s from 2014 http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/02/erika-harold-republicans-illinois-103357

Comment by Illini Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:28 am
OW, with respect, I think you mean *Paul* Schimpf. Not to be confused with Mike Schrimpf.

Comment by Jack Kemp Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:33 am
My first questions for her would be: “You believe government should work for the people. Do you see the current administration as working for the people? If not, are you ready to challenge that administration as the current Attorney General has done on several occasions?

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:34 am
Inexperienced and lacking “gravitas?” Those were the same sort of terms thrown at our current AG when she ran less than a decade out of law school. Didn’t stop her from winning, though I suppose her name helped.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:38 am
- Jack Kemp -

Yes I did, my apologies.

But, *if* I didn’t, the snark value, multi-layered… whew.

Thanks for pointing out my error.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:38 am
@Illini - appreciate your comments, but let’s not get other commenters confused here. I’ve had my handle for years.

thanks

Comment by illini Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:41 am
I think since it’s a midterm election with dissatisfaction with both Trump and Rauner make the political headwinds too strong for her to overcome. I think there are Illinois voters who are tired of Mike Madigan but are smart enough to make the distinction between his job and the job his daughter has done as Attorney General.

Comment by The Dude Abides Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:42 am
I like Erika, but Lisa gets my vote. Who’s helping Erika choose these campaigns? Both are bad choices for her. How many losing campaigns can Erika afford?

If Erika can’t win my vote, and I’d like to vote for her, she isn’t going to win.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:47 am
@Ron Burgundy: =Inexperienced and lacking “gravitas?” Those were the same sort of terms thrown at our current AG when she ran less than a decade out of law school. Didn’t stop her from winning, though I suppose her name helped.=

Before our current AG was elected to the position, she spent 4 years in the Illinois Senate. While I am not opining that 4 years in the Senate grants you immediate “gravitas”, it’s better than nothing.

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:49 am
Erika Harold checks all the boxes, but 2018 is going to be tough for any Republican running in a statewide election.

Comment by Chicagonk Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:51 am
If voters believe they can send a message to Mike by voting Lisa out, then all bets are off.

Don’t underestimate the collateral damage of these campaigns. See Judge Gordon Maag - 2004.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:56 am
And most importantly, how many people think Lisa is doing a bad job? Her rep seems decent to the casual observer in a blue state, although I am sure some have complaints. Doing a poor job gets a politician ousted sometimes, a la Quinn.

Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 9:58 am
Downstate yeah but the selected canidates to run agaimst both Madigans were ivy leaguers, just appears there is a preference for certain institutions as background over, say experience.

But then again Trump has no experience and thats working well for us so….

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:00 am
Illini: I believe in the things she does as you noted. I’m a longtime cap fax guy. So what exactly does that make me in your view?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:00 am
Could be interesting if Rauner/Griff put some money behind her.

But her positions as outlined in that Politico article are a heavy load in a statewide race.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:08 am
=== Inexperienced and lacking “gravitas?” Those were the same sort of terms thrown at our current AG when she ran less than a decade out of law school. Didn’t stop her from winning, though I suppose her name helped. ===

The name, money, and ground support due to her name. Erika won’t have that except maybe (Rauner’s) money.

Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:09 am
Lisa will be just fine in the general; Erika doesn’t have much of a chance.

Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:09 am
She might have some appeal downstate but lacks name recognition in most places. There will be a huge push for Chicago/Collars turnout in the general and the political winds are not in her favor. Unless something dramatically changes, I just don’t see it, but nothing in this State is impossible or even improbable.

Comment by Fool On The Hill Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:12 am
I think the name recognition is overstated. I live in Champaign and know who she is, but have no interest in voting for her.

Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:23 am
– “… are you ready to challenge that administration as the current Attorney General has done on several occasions?” –

To which Erika Harold’s response should be: “Oh, yes, I will challenge and investigate misbehavior in *both* parties. For a change.”

Comment by JB13 Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:25 am
Good video.

Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:30 am
Is Bruce and Proft deciding who runs on the state wide ticket for the Republicans? I cant believe that a few surprise candidates might not pop up on the R side that they dont see coming just yet.

Comment by Inspector Gadget Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:31 am
Pro-life/anti-gay marriage? Running statewide? For Attorney General no less? Doesn’t help Rauner - maybe she’ll be primaried.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:32 am
== I think there are Illinois voters who are tired of Mike Madigan but are smart enough to make the distinction between his job and the job his daughter has done as Attorney General. ==

I have the same sense that people distinguish between the two of them.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 11:48 am
Even if her chances aren’t great, Erika adds some gravitas further up the ticket. That will be a help to people further down. It’s helpful.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 12:00 pm
Erika should be running for an office she can win, and not be someone else’s tool.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 12:22 pm
===Erika adds some gravitas further up the ticket===

She adds something to the ticket, but it ain’t gravitas. Lol.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 12:40 pm
===Who’s helping Erika choose these campaigns? Both are bad choices for her. ===

I think it’s pretty clear who helped her choose this one…

Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:09 pm
I don’t know if I would call what she has gravitas, but she’s not total cannon fodder either.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 1:57 pm
I thought it was poor judgment of her to run against Rodney Davis.

Not sure what I think about her running against Lisa Madigan. The anti-Rauner & anti-Trump perspective will be there for certain. She checks a lot of boxes though. If she has the ability to convince the public that a vote for Lisa Madigan is a vote for Mike Madigan, she might be able to pull off the upset.

Comment by logic not emotion Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 2:01 pm
Interesting that the video is paid for both by her campaign committee (which doesn’t exist yet) and the ILGOP. So i guess Bruce Rauner, the outsider, isnt for an open primary. They/He just decided that Erika is the candidate.

So how about asking her some semi-tough questions…

Will she take millions of dollars from the Governor’s campaign committee or affiliated committees? If yes, how will she maintain her independence? Does that make her an automatic insider herself?

To the ILGOP, they blasted the “insider” and “crooked” Cook County Dem endorsement of pritzker. Is their back room pre-selection of Harold just a tad bit hypocritical? If another candidate emerges will they also pay for that persons video?

Comment by An insider's outsider Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 2:02 pm
If you guys think a Republican is winning statewide in IL during the trump administration, I have a bridge to sell you in the Brooklyn area.

An AG candidate has to navigate a minefield of sanctuary city, white supremacy, affirmative action, marijuana, choice, civil rights, Russia investigation, ACA lawsuits, and voting rights act questions. Tough for even a seasoned Republican.

Comment by Jeb Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 4:11 pm
Harold’s political choices make more sense if understood as career/personal ones. In 2014, her congressional bid, among other things, also served as an “exit strategy” from the (presumed) drudgery of being an associate at a big Chicago law firm. Harold’s AG bid, among other things, paves the way for her to pursue a life and career outside Champaign County with her head held high. If she runs a good race, but loses, she’ll have all sorts of lucrative, Chicago-based opportunities in front of her. If she wins, she’s a heroine and very likely a strong candidate for governor in the future. She’s a very, very intelligent person.

Comment by DarkHorse Wednesday, Aug 16, 17 @ 10:55 am
Harold has a minor celebrity status from the Miss America stint. Probably likes the limelight. Maybe overestimates her name recognition. She holds herself well. And this won’t be a blowout. Someone made a good comment that she is racking up losses.

Comment by Mr B. Thursday, Aug 17, 17 @ 7:50 pm