Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Yes, Jesse White is (still) running for reelection

Posted in:

Illinois

* A political operative I’ve known for years called me Saturday to tell me a buddy of his had just called to say he had seen someone passing a petition that had Chicago Ald. Walter Burnett running for secretary of state.

I supposed it made a tiny bit of sense because Burnett is Secretary of State Jesse White’s alderman and one of his main guys. So, I reached out to the White folks and was told that it must be some sort of a joke or a weird dirty trick. I didn’t think much more about it.

* Well, one of White’s guys just called me a few minutes ago to say his phone has been blowing up for days with the rumor up to and including this afternoon and asked if I’d post something about it.

So, according to this top White person, Secretary White is definitely running for reelection. There is absolutely no plan to substitute anyone else for White on the ballot. The rumors are simply false, I’m told.

With all the breaking “news” on social media these days about who might be running for what that don’t turn out to be true, I can understand why they’d want to get ahead of this thing.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 4:20 pm

Comments

Good to hear. That would have made for an interesting moment tomorrow when Scott Drury announced for Secretary of State.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 4:30 pm
Are you saying that you’ve only confirmed this with White People? /s

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 4:32 pm
I’m glad Jesse White’s people can return phone calls to the press…and stuff.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 4:41 pm
As a top White person, does the governor have an opinion on this?

Comment by MissingG Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 4:47 pm
I find it suspicious that only Frerichs and Mendoza joined together on a statewide “slate” petition, while Lisa and Jesse are circulating on their own. We now know why Lisa went solo. Why did Jesse?

Comment by TNT Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 4:50 pm
If white’s guy won’t let you use his name, I’m very skeptical his information is accurate.

Comment by Lobo Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 4:52 pm
Did this top White person explain why petitions are being circulated that have Chicago Ald. Walter Burnett running for secretary of state?

Comment by Under Influenced... Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 5:19 pm
If it comes down to Jesse White not running for re-election and the dems slating a Chicago alderman as his replacement then they are foolish. Rauner loves pushing the Madigan and Chicago narratives and the dems keep giving him ammo.

Comment by Real Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 5:40 pm
I had heard this rumor yesterday too, it’s definitely circulating.

Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 5:45 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if a swap like this happened. If the party convinced Jesse to run again with an argument about focusing on taking Rauner out, that’s out the window now that AG is up for grabs.

Comment by TopHatMonocle Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 6:05 pm
=We now know why Lisa went solo. Why did Jesse?=

Maybe the Secretary decided he didn’t want to be on a slate with candidates publicly jocking for his job. Plus, he’s also endorsed JB, so perhaps other statewide encumbants haven’t made up their minds with such clarity for Sec. White to be on petitions with them.

Comment by realkewlio Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 6:15 pm
I saw the Burnett position yesterday. It made me go hmmmm.

Comment by Michael Westen Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 6:45 pm
@Real, if games are being played here, they are being played by Jesse and Jesse alone. The “dems” are not being foolish, they want Jesse on the ballot, not Walter Burnett or anyone else. Jesse might be catching them asleep at the switch.

Jesse’s name not being on the statewide slate petition will add fuel to this rumored conspiracy.

Comment by Roman Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 6:46 pm
Burnett, the bank robber, is White’s protege; but then again so was Derrick Smith.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 10:34 pm
Jesse White is running for re-election–translation: Tom Benigno is “running for re-election”.

Walter Burnett for Secretary of State–bawhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
that is a joke and would be an indictment waiting to happen.
No credentials and no gravitas and is a Chicago alderman and is NOT Jesse White so will not have the popularity

Comment by Fedup Dem Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 11:47 pm
Alderman Burnett would be a disaster as the Illinois Secretary of State.

Comment by Neil Degrelle and N.A. Chan Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 2:37 pm