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Question of the day

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Illinois

* Title of a recent Reddit post…

Who do you think should be Governor after JB leaves?

Make sure to explain your answer. Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:12 am

Comments

Former Rep. Mark Batinick would make an excellent Governor. He has a wealth of fresh ideas and understands how to appeal to moderate swing voters.

Comment by AuH2O Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:19 am
Kwame Raoul or Emmanuel (Chris) Welch
I think both are leaders that stand with their constituency and support their positions. Both have state-level leadership experience and have been active in the policy-making, negotiating process of getting things moving forward.

Comment by CentralILCentrist Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:25 am
Hope Andy Manar

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:25 am
Susana Mendoza. Knows the whole state, experienced in politics and governance, can appeal to (or at least not alienate) a lot of skeptics/soft D supporters with her record on fiscal responsibility, but also not good on standard Dem intraparty issues. Oh, and she’d make her history.

Comment by Torco Sign Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:25 am
Raja Krishnamoorthi.

Although I figure he has his sights set on staying in DC or running for Senator. I think he’d be a good candidate; he has down state roots, is wicked smart and has history inside of state government.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:30 am
i bet it is someone unknown to anyone right now. I think it will be fascinating how JB plays it. Will he run for a third term then campaign for president or will he leave the governor’s mansion and hit the campaign trail early with boatloads of money supporting Democratic candidates and lining up supporters

Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:33 am
*meant to say Mendoza was good instead of not good

Comment by Torco Sign Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:40 am
People, make sure to explain your answers.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:42 am
He’s leaving? He seems to enjoy being Governor and could keep winning for a while against the ILGOP. Even if he decides in ‘28 to run for President and wins, there might be a whole new cast of characters to chose from. But if he decides to raise cattle because of the State Fair, I would echo Torco Sign’s choice.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:47 am
JB will be governor for as long as he wants it, so the next governor may well still be in high school.

Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:48 am
Mendoza. Has exec level chops at the state and municipal levels. Was a legislator. Knows the entire state. She is fiscally responsible and not afraid to take on wrong (Blago, Rauner) and she would be the first Gen-X IL gov (and a woman). It’s time.

Comment by levivotedforjudy Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:51 am
State Sen. Ram Villivalam. Professional, smart, fairly progressive, and has strong experience in the legislature. I worked with him very briefly and would be immensely grateful to see him as Gov.

Comment by Shibboleth Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:56 am
The trend has been towards ultra rich guys who can self fund, so I’m guessing another rich guy. Mendoza has been working towards higher office since forever. I think she could be good at it because she really really lives by the constituent service mantra; that tells me she’s going to be responsive to people and make the effort to listen.

Another option could be Durbin decides to stop commuting to DC. I like Durbin; he’s matured and knows the job and the players.

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 10:58 am
We forgot a reason. Andy is a gifted, but pragmatic leader with both legislative and executive branch experience. He would mark a return to working with GA and a rebirth of downstate Ds. And we would see 4 years of Tracey flips.

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:03 am
Mendoza, because she received more votes than anyone else in the last statewide election cycle. She understands rural Illinois and the City. She understands the challenges of law enforcement, but also the obstacles presented to minorities. She listens actively when talking with everyone from the Billionaire to the Janitor. I don’t agree with her stance on many issues, but I trust her, and that trust factor is important to a republican like myself, who wants to see Illinois return to a state that looks more like mid america, and less like the coasts politically, even if it’s in the smallest of ways.

Comment by James Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:04 am
I kind of like Mendoza for that spot. I think she is mentally tough and a strong communicator. She seems to be well respected. I really like how she handled herself with Rauner as governor.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:04 am
I like AG Raoul, but he needs to up his fundraising game. Alexi has a solid fundraising game. He had a great first year as SoS. I think he has the pole position at this point.

Comment by Speaker of the grouse Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:09 am
I second Andy Manar. His work on school funding reform was an inspiring example of government working to improve life for residents across the state. More of that, please.

Comment by Dysfunction Junction Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:14 am
==she received more votes than anyone else in the last statewide election cycle==

I’ve got nothing against Mendoza but this is just political spin and nothing else. She ran against an absolute nobody GOP candidate who barely raised or spent any money. Had JB ran against someone who spent ~60k then he likely would’ve had more votes too.

Mendoza does spend a lot of time downstate, so I can see her doing better down there - but that particular stat is just some slick political spin by the Mendoza team (who are good at what they do, don’t get me wrong).

Comment by bingo Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:21 am
===Who do you think should be Governor after JB leaves?===

Me. But like others mentioned here, I don’t have a viable path.

The Democratic Party has shifted a lot during the past decade. Cobbling together a coalition that can win a statewide primary is going to be super challenging, in part because there will be several candidates. Alexi and Juliana haven’t been mentioned yet, but I assure you they will look closely at this, as will Susana and Kwame and others.

Who can win sizable shares of the Latino, African American, suburban and downstate primary voters? As far as I can tell, there is no clear favorite and that makes for a messy primary.

Personally, I hope JB never leaves.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:24 am
Sen. Robert Peters. He’s the most progressive member of the GA and also has a well-earned reputation as a legislative workhorse.

Someone who should definitely not be governor is Andy Manar. He voted against the Reproductive Health Act, and so his candidacy would and should be DOA in a post-Dobbs world.

Comment by Quibbler Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:31 am
Mendoza. Good fiscal chops. Seems to be a genuinely kind person. Also time for a female Governor. Manar as second choice. Hard worker and problem solver. Work on school equity and teacher pay was outstanding

Comment by Stormsw7706 Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:36 am
Jamie Dimon because Illinois needs to begin discussion about public pension reform for future employees. Dimon isn’t likely to want the job but someone talking about the big issue with support in the political and business community would help out.

Comment by Steve Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:41 am
Andy Manar would be my choice. He would make a great Governor - has the experience and the temperament. He just has to decide he wants it and I think he’d outwork everyone else.
I’ll go ahead and say it: Mendoza is not my first, second, or third choice. She’s not responsible for the state’s fiscal turnaround, that would be the General Assembly and the Governor. Mendoza just cuts checks. She has terrible relationships with the General Assembly and other statewide elected officials. She has a habit for the type of grandstanding that burns a lot of bridges. Finally, her fundraising for the mayoral race should be a cautionary tale - she ran a lot of donors off with the way she would conduct meetings (where the message was essentially - give me money or I’m going to scream at you).

Comment by SIUSaluki Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:47 am
My preference would be none of the current (individual) statewide office holders, though I assume they all want to run, that at least of couple of them will and that they have the inside track. I think I kind of like Stratton for the nod - she’s smart and has had a chance to learn. Maybe Welch, but I dunno why he’d do it.

If a rank-and-file GA member (or former) gets elected governor, I’ll eat my hat. Throw any downstate D in that bucket too.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:55 am
Mendoza. Track record of winning statewide. Legislative experience. Understands downstate and not afraid to go into “hostile” and listen to the GOP.

Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 11:59 am
=Illinois needs to begin discussion about public pension reform for future employees.=

Is it suddenly 2009? That ship has come, passed, and been implemented for 12 years now.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:03 pm
===That ship has come, passed, and been implemented for 12 years now.===

I was gonna let it slide, but glad this was called out.

Why?

To the question, the candidate that best understands the realities of the wonky governing to issues including pensions, I’ll likely to be very supportive.

That’s as close as I can get without ruining some hopeful’s day by supporting them.

Many mentioned have this trait, let’s hope for Illinois these folks eye a run when it’s ripe.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:07 pm
Daniel Biss - only person serving I can think of who might, -might-, get meaningful reform passed. Because whatever good JB does (and he’s done a lot), he’ll always have the stain of promissing to never sign a partisan redistricting map and then signing an ultra-partisan redistricting map.

Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:08 pm
Lukas Walton - We need to continue the streak of super-rich governors. Good narrative story arc given that he funds quite a few progressive causes but comes from Wal Mart money.

Comment by Anonymous 2 Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:10 pm
“Jamie Dimon … discussion about public pension reform for future employees.”

Pensions? Wall Streeters reflexively support things like Chile’s private pension disaster.

Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:12 pm
Suzanna Mendoza. Though the question is “should” which is hard to answer as a format. Mendoza has spent the last several years actively engaging communities throughout the state. I think she would do a good job representing the whole of the state and keeping a good focus on the areas that are easiest to leave behind where many of the challenges lack a simple or easy solution.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:12 pm
I say Stratton or Manar. Both are talented speakers, understand what governing actually entails and bring something different to the table. And you can tell they like each other which is both interesting and potentially awkward. But I doubt Manar runs. He got clipped hard by Don Harmon and he hasn’t been the same person since. It’s a shame because he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen in this business.

Comment by Halvor Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:14 pm
Roland Burris so he can fill in any empty space left on that grave marker of his.

Comment by Benniefly2 Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:14 pm
Mendoza, for all the reasons others have stated. Stress the credibility of her working with the GA on various reforms, while not being afraid to call out bad practices and past decisions hampering State fiscal stability, as well as her fiscal decision-making which often doubled the value of one-time Fed funds to orchestrate paying down State debt and paying vendors. She’s the closest to JBT’s style and ability seen since JBT’s passing, and that is saying quite a lot for both women.

Comment by thisjustinagain Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:16 pm
Going to say Richard Ivrin.

The question is who I would like, not who it will be.

I think having a governor of a different party would be a good idea for a bit of time, and I think he might be one of the more rational parties in that party. Also, I know the guy, so that is a bias on my part. I will freely admit that. Also, the next governor having experience running a fairly diverse city wouldn’t be bad.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:24 pm
It’s got to be Mike Frerichs. the gov’s office would be for him, just like pritzker, a launching pad for the White House

Comment by jim Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:29 pm
Time for the Latino caucus to put up a candidate with
the demographics leaning their way…Mendoza? Maybe.

Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:31 pm
Mendoza.

Love to see some right-wing whacko, excuse me, Republican try to villainize her.

Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:31 pm
Mendoza- she’s done such a fantastic job in the comptrollers office. Wondrous job

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 12:59 pm
As long as the candidates are Democrats, I don’t care.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 1:02 pm
Andy Manar is the obvious best choice…He stood against Rauner when others shook in their boots.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 1:05 pm
Thrilled to see that Alexi isn’t being promoted here.

Comment by Save Ferris Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 1:24 pm
If Durbin doesn’t retire at the end of his current term, I’d vote for Raja. He has the experience, connections, and fundraising capacity to be a force to be reckoned with for the state and ILDems, although that being said a gubernatorial run would obviously be a consolation prize for him as he pretty clearly wants to be senator.

Comment by TJ Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 1:31 pm
Susana Mendoza. Lots of good reasons listed above. She’s been in the GA, in Chicago city gov’t, and now Comptroller. She knows how things work at all levels and she makes a point of visiting every part of the state and doing things to help folks.

==She’s not responsible for the state’s fiscal turnaround, that would be the General Assembly and the Governor.==

Disagree, she has played a significant role. Her focus on transparency and push for reform has plaid a large role in the turnaround. She understands how things work, how to educate and motivate people to care about wonky, but important, stuff, and how to get reasonable reform through the GA.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 2:02 pm
Going outside of the box with my pick - Dan Hynes. Probably should have been the Democratic nominee in 2010 (that’s an interesting rabbit hole to go down over whether he would have beaten Rauner in ‘14) and after everything Pritzker has accomplished, a good economic manager is what’s needed. Definitely not the most exciting choice but would be able to keep Illinois on its current upward path.

Kwame Raoul, Andy Manar, and Juliana Stratton were other names that I considered since I’m assuming Raja is running for Senate. And the only thing that has gotten Mendoza press in the last 5 years is when she attacked Lori Lightfoot and tries to take credit for the work done by others.

Comment by uialum Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 2:23 pm
When a scam cremation service lost my mom’s body for about four months, I appealed to the attorney general, the secretary of state, the department of professional regulation… And none of them could/ would help me. They were all totally ineffectual and mired in red tape and burocracy. Mendoza’s people returned my call within two hours,and located mom’s body and got her ashes and death certificate delivered to my doorstep in about 72 hours from my hotline call. That is constituent service, and I know from personal contacts with her face to face that constituent service is her true religion, and her people live that, every day. So she’d have my vote if she ran after JB.

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 3:33 pm
The question is “should.”

The next candidate should not be another self-funder. It should not be a Cook County Democratic Machine loyalist. It should not be someone picked by Team Pritzker. And it should be someone who has both demonstrated the values of the Democratic Party and the ability to actually administer a large office.

Lots of good suggestions here, but I would have to suggest either AG Raoul or Treasurer Frerichs. Both got their start running against the Democratic machine, both have done solid jobs running their offices, and Raoul as the first Black governor and Frerichs as the first downstate Democratic governor since I dont know when have the potential to draw new voters to the party.

I think it says something that no one has suggested Dan Biss.

I get that Raja is sitting on a mountain of cash, but Blago has solidified my views on Congressmen jumping to the governor’s mansion.

Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 3:39 pm
Kirk Dillard. How I long for a return to pragmatism in the GOP. He would make an excellent Governor.

Comment by SuburbanRepublican Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 4:07 pm
I honestly don’t see a path back for the GOP toward normality. No way the downstate primary voters would allow it and there just isn’t enough of an organized GOP party left anywhere else.

Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 4:17 pm
Treasurer Frerichs is a very smart guy and I like him personally, but I think he burned himself too hard with that social security issue and the GOP like O.W. will never, e v e r let that go, making it an uphill climb for the guy.

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 4:40 pm
Nobody said Robin Kelly. She spends time in Central Illinois with farmers and is good at raising money.

Comment by Joand315 Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 4:47 pm
===GOP like O.W.===

You forgot a comma.

I know you don’t mean “me, a GOPer”, these days… you meant… the GOP, alone… and *they* agreeing with me. Right?

I stayed out of this. It’s quite unfair to drag me in, No one he cares my opinion on such matters.

I will continue on that tact of staying out of this except for my initial thought,

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 4:54 pm
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. She is smart, prepared, well traveled, and is great personally, fun and humble in what she reveals about herself. Lawyer, mediator, former state rep. It’s not just that she is the Lt. now, it’s that she is really really good at this job and knows what it takes to be the Gov.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 5:14 pm
My first choice would be Mendoza, for all the reasons listed here. She’s done a fine job in a statewide office already.

I voted for Biss in the primary when he ran, and I think he also would be a great candidate.

Comment by Odysseus Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 5:32 pm
I think Andy Manar would be an excellent candidate who could generate support from every region and boost downstate vote totals above the typical Democrat. On policy, he’s the sharpest knife in the drawer. On campaign experience, he was an ace with the Senate. He would also help lead the state through choppy fiscal waters if fiscal storms slammed Illinois.

Comment by QC Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 5:58 pm
“Daniel Biss - only person serving I can think of who might, -might-, get meaningful reform passed.”

Oh good grief. Watch what he’s done in Evanston. Total chameleon. Too scared to comment on anything Northwestern has said or done. Hiding on the stadium issue. Was willing to be outspoken on NU three years ago but now invisible. All he cares about is succeeding Jan S. so everything he’s doing is too cute by half. All calculation all the time. We are so lucky as a state that he lost that primary to JB.

Comment by New Day Monday, Aug 21, 23 @ 7:55 pm
Me, because I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and, doggone it, people like me.

Comment by Me Wednesday, Aug 23, 23 @ 1:32 pm