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Duckworth and Pritzker take different paths on Lightfoot endorsement

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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot received her first state-wide endorsement Thursday.

“Hello this is Senator Tammy Duckworth and I am proud to endorse my good friend, Mayor Lori Lightfoot for her reelection campaign,” Duckworth said in a video released by Lightfoot’s campaign.

During an unrelated news conference Governor JB Pritzker was asked if he would be endorsing Lightfoot and he gave a very non-committal response. […]

The mayor and the governor have had, at times, a very cool relationship, going back to the pandemic shutdown, but one political consultant believes Pritzker’s hesitancy could be a more practical one.

“So it buys him some time. And buying that time also allows him an opportunity to see who all is going to be in the race because I’m sure the field is not complete as of yet,” political consultant Delmarie Cobb said.

* From yesterday’s Pritzker press conference…

Q: Given Senator Duckworth’s endorsement of Mayor Lightfoot, would you be endorsing her?

A: You know, I’m engaged in my own campaign, as you know, for reelection as governor. And so, you know, those of us who live in the city of Chicago will consider the question of the mayoralty after the November election.

* From the second Pritzker press conference yesterday…

Q: Governor, do you think you could clarify the comments you made earlier today about the, what they’re calling the non endorsement for Mayor Lightfoot. Do you do plan to make any kind of endorsement in that or you’re just waiting or are you saying you’re not going to be endorsing Mayor Lightfoot?

A: I’m focused on my own election. That’s what I was saying earlier. And, we’ll all make decisions after that. Let’s get past November. There’s a February election you’re trying to project toward and I’m focused on my own.

Q: Are you saying you’re not going to endorse?

A: No. I know you’d like me to say something. Look, just because I haven’t talked about endorsements in future elections, does not mean that there isn’t the possibility of it.

Not one question was asked about his own campaign, by the way.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 10:09 am

Comments

I wonder who the Governor might endorse if the mayor’s race came down to Lightfoot v. Quinn?

Comment by Just Sayin Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 10:13 am
It’s a good thing Duckworth is not in a position to threaten to not vote for any Governor Pritzker nominations like she did did to President Biden.

Comment by Kippax Blue Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 10:20 am
= Not one question was asked about his own campaign, by the way. =

That in itself is very telling. It suggests the media is not concerned with who might win the Governorship. I understand that the road ahead for Bailey is long, and narrow, and indeed may have been swept away already. Still, there are a lot of other things they can be asking Gov. Pritzker, such as where we stand with forming a committee to examine how we might expand women’s access and his thinking on increasing medicaid reimbursements, his thoughts on next year’s budget planning given the assumed decline in federal stimulus linked to Covid, or even his thoughts on Nov. federal and state elections. It just seems sloppy for the press to focus on the issue of endorsing Mayor Lightfoot.

Comment by H-W Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 10:23 am
I’d love to see a decent challenger enter the fold.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 10:32 am
==It just seems sloppy for the press to focus on the issue of endorsing Mayor Lightfoot. ==

Yes. Chicago media has always been far more interested in the fifth floor, though. If they think the GOV campaign is a fait accompli, it’s gonna get worse.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 10:41 am
===Not one question was asked about his own campaign, by the way.===

Same ole Chicago media lovin’ the mayoral election and caring nada about the gov’s race.

Long ago, and dated now, someone once told me that after President of the US and General Secretary of the Soviet Union, the next most powerful political positions were mayor of NYC, mayor of LA and mayor of Chicago.

Comment by Baloneymous Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 10:44 am
I think Pritzker has the right of this one. The staggered elections can cause a little havoc, but petition filing for the municipals is after the midterm. The next election can mostly wait until after the current one.

Pritzker already has Will Davis and friends mad at him, there’s no reason to add Kam Buckner and heaven knows who else to that list right now. I don’t know why Duckworth jumped so early, but there’s no reason it should put any pressure on Pritzker. There are plenty of other worthwhile questions to ask the governor.

Comment by vern Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 10:46 am
“Yes. Chicago media has always been far more interested in the fifth floor, though. If they think the GOV campaign is a fait accompli, it’s gonna get worse.”

True. Also, like most media, they love conflict. Right now it’s just a guy on a mat punching himself with his opponent standing over him laughing. That’s not that exciting. On the other hand, they did run a major story on the weird Bailey attack from yesterday in which he accused JB of having, and I apologize for using such crude language, “soft hands.” Bahahahaha Oh Darren, you’re so cute.

Comment by New Day Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 10:47 am
Sorry - here’s the link to the story I mentioned.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-darren-bailey-pritzker-soft-hands-20220804-gzmo5wqhlrautdrtpjmdzf63q4-story.html

Comment by New Day Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 10:47 am
He took out the first black female chair of the Illinois Democratic Party and now he won’t endorse the first black mayor of Chicago. This guy

Comment by Soft hands Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 10:59 am
It would be nice if everyone would just focus on one election at a time, and that being the next one coming up. Give people a break and not starting asking them the day after they won their election of they are going to run again in four years.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:00 am
I was also surprised that the press had no questions about the governor’s campaign.
New Day - Thanks for the link on Candidate Bailey’s video. I missed that this morning.

Comment by Back to the Future Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:00 am
===President of the US and General Secretary of the Soviet Union, the next most powerful political positions were mayor of NYC, mayor of LA and mayor of Chicago.===

Rahm once said the 5 best jobs in politics were; Governor of New York, Mayor of New York, Governor of California, POTUS, and Mayor of Chicago.

As ambassador to Japan, I’m betting his idea of good gigs has now changed, and after his tenure as Chicago’s mayor too.

To the post,

The media is sleeping on the Guv’s race, as Bailey seemingly can’t get out of his own way in past televangel…ing…. It’s more interesting to hear the governor … pause… when it comes to Lightfoot? Likely.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:02 am
“now he won’t endorse the first black mayor of Chicago”

You’re funny, but I think you probably aren’t smart enough to know why you’re funny.

Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:04 am
===He took out===

Pritzker took out?

The voters took out Kelly, and Kelly herself admitted she was merely a figurehead… to comply.

Also, political interests here in the mayor’s race, what good does it do Pritzker to endorse Lightfoot? Whose numbers might be better all by themselves?

Your silliness…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:05 am
===voters took out===

Committeemen lost races, Kelly lost those votes.

Had those folks won, it might have been different

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:08 am
I doubt Pritzker or anyone else spends anytime worrying about Will Davis being mad at them because Will Davis is always mad at everyone all of the time.

“Now he won’t endorse the first black mayor of Chicago”

Did something happen to Harold Washington? If you are going to say ridiculous things like this on the blog please make sure you get your history right.

Comment by Laketrail Runner Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:13 am
The best thing about the Pritzker Lightfoot relationship is for the past two years when strangers start telling me those two are good friends and allies because they’re both Democrats I can stop listening entirely and think about sports.

Comment by ChicagoBars Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:18 am
One election season at at time. After November, it’s fair game to ask politicians who they are endorsing for Mayor.

Comment by Steve Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:23 am
Three you knows in a couple of sentences. If he had put in a “friends, let me tell you” it would have been hard to say whether it was Pritzker or Bailey speaking.

Comment by MoralMinority Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:33 am
= he won’t endorse the first black mayor of Chicago =

Did you forget Harold Washington? (I’ll give you a pass on forgetting Eugene Sawyer.)

Comment by JoanP Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:48 am
IMO, the Sen. Duckworth endorsement is beyond meaningless. No one is going to change their opinion on the last couple of years of LL’s tenure.

I think Ald. Tunney’s interview in SunTines is an excellent summation of what Chicago residents feel.

Comment by Jockey Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 11:59 am
History is hard.

Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 12:04 pm
What is interesting is those so quick to want that race card played to Lightfoot seemingly make the mistake of forgetting Harold Washington… then can’t grasp that Eugene Sawyer was mayor too.

Prisoners of the moment are not students of any history.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 12:09 pm
Mayor Lightfoot isn’t all that popular but she is a Democrat. It’s obvious why JB doesn’t want to answer that question.

Comment by TheDudeAbides Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 12:09 pm
I do not understand either the reasoning or timing of Duckworth’s early endorsement of Mayor Lightfoot.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 12:17 pm
Took a lengthy mayoral poll last night due to the number of prospective candidates. Was surprised to see Brian Hopkins name included.

Was a bit discouraged by the lack of enthusiasm I had for any of the candidates listed. I’m hoping some qualified moderate jumps in. Maybe JB is thinking the same thing.

Comment by Original Rambler Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 12:42 pm
“he won’t endorse the first black mayor of Chicago”

There is still time for an endorsement.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 12:58 pm
=“he won’t endorse the first black mayor of Chicago”

There is still time for an endorsement.=

They asked if he would have voted for Harold Washington in 1983?

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Friday, Aug 5, 22 @ 1:34 pm