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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Christian Mitchell has had strong detractors ever since Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle elevated the young Black man out of obscurity and backed him for the Illinois House in 2012.
Preckwinkle chose her trusted aide Mitchell over appointed Rep. Kimberly du Buclet (D-Chicago). Preckwinkle’s move upset a lot of people in that part of the world because the du Buclet family’s local influence had been strong for decades and Mitchell was not a born South Sider.
As a result, I somewhat derisively referred to Mitchell as “The Chosen One” in a story I wrote for my subscribers back in the day.
Mitchell’s first House primary race was a proxy battle between Preckwinkle and the Jesse Jackson family, and man was that close race ever heated. He was a brassy, highly educated amateur boxer who didn’t take any guff whatsoever. Mitchell then went on to win two successive Democratic primary races against a Chicago Teachers Union-backed candidate. The enemies list grew as Mitchell fought all opponents tooth and nail.
The complaints really started to fly in 2019 when he was chosen as one of newly elected JB Pritzker’s deputy governors. Statehouse denizens (most of them white men) who were accustomed to deference were shocked at Mitchell’s in-your-face negotiating style and fierce loyalty to his boss. I lost count of the number of white men who reached out with stories about the brash Pritzker lieutenant.
But, hey, Mitchell helped pass a lot of bills. He drove some very powerful folks up a wall during the intense negotiations over the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, but the bill got done.
Now that he’s been chosen as Gov. Pritzker’s running mate, I asked Mitchell last week if he believes he has bridges to build.
“I am proud to have been a tough negotiator in some very, very difficult rooms, trying to get the best deal for Illinois and for working families, for taxpayers. I’m not going to apologize for that,” Mitchell said.
But Mitchell said he’s a “different person” since he left politics in 2023. “Are there times when I spoke when I should have listened? I think the answer is absolutely.”
Mitchell pledged to be far more open in the future. “Anybody who wants to have a conversation, wants to reach out, wants to do well on behalf of the people of Illinois, I’m going to greet them with an open hand. And I’m going to remember to listen more than I speak. And I’m really excited to work with everybody, even people with whom we may have had some past friction.”
Mitchell was a fearless boxer back in the day, and he audaciously used “The Chosen One” moniker I gave him when promoting two charity fights.
Asked if he still boxes, Mitchell said, “I do not. I’ve been off for a few months. I had a wrist injury, but I’m hoping to start back next Friday.”
I jokingly wondered aloud whether his wrist injury was from breaking somebody’s skull. “I did not,” he said. “I don’t spar that often anymore,” Mitchell said, alluding to the fact that he was getting a bit too old to spar. “But I still love to hit the bag and love shadow boxing. It’s how I relax.”
And now he’s “The Chosen One” all over again as the billionaire governor’s running mate and possible successor should Pritzker win the presidency or is appointed to a Cabinet position.
Mitchell has a lot of work to do. But he seems committed to pulling this off.
Asked what his role would be in the upcoming campaign, Mitchell said, “My role is going to be to go everywhere, to talk to everyone, to articulate the issues across the state of Illinois, to meet people in their houses, at their churches, on the stoop in the town square. And ultimately, it’s going to be to articulate the message that the governor is putting forward about continuing the progress we’ve made over the last seven years, protecting that progress, investing in the jobs of the future, and making sure that we have a 21st Century education and health care system that people can afford. That’s gonna be my role.”
If Pritzker does somehow move up, or even if he doesn’t and retires, Mitchell will need the support of powerful people and groups in 2030 who thoroughly despised him when he was a deputy governor.
“The Chosen One” will then have to stand on his own.
However, he’s always been “The Chosen One” for good reason.
* Space limitations precluded me from including this part of the interview…
I told Mitchell that a mutual friend had described him as “insanely smart,” and said he didn’t mind that Mitchell was also, “a person that can be an a**hole when they’re right, as long as they get things done.”
I asked Mitchell if that was a fair assessment.
“I think a fair assessment is that I am a tough negotiator on behalf of the people of Illinois. And I think that when you do that, there are going to be some entrenched interests in Springfield, some lobbyists who are used to getting their way who hear and know, and I think that that can be very difficult for some people to deal with.”
But, Mitchell said, “I have certainly learned, certainly grown. There are certainly times when I may have been more flippant than I should have been, and those have all been lessons for me. And ultimately, I am willing to reach out and repair any bridges with anyone who is very interested in advancing the cause of Illinois. So, I’m always open to that kind of feedback, but I will not apologize for being a tough negotiator.”
Mitchell also talked about how his service in the Illinois Air National Guard had changed him. “People have been overwhelmingly welcoming to me, incredibly supportive. I felt very lucky to be able to help Airmen with not just some of their legal issues, but even life issues, and offer some advice. It’s been a really wonderful experience. The 182nd Airlift Wing is full of wonderful people, and it really is the best of Illinois. They talk about the ‘Peoria Way,’ and that’s about excellence, and it’s about kindness, and it’s about lifting each other up. And I feel really lucky to be a part of it.”
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 8:52 am
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I agree with him about the Peoria Way and that is why I’ve always liked Peoria better than Springfield and it’s way of dealing with people.
Comment by Lurker Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 9:05 am
A young, brash, often arrogant politician who is trying to make his way in Illinois politics? Where does he get off.
My, I certainly hope all those rough, tough, Windy City feelings he hurt have healed.
Wonder how many times “uppity” has been thrown his way.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 9:09 am
If we were all judged by how we behaved as our younger selves, well, we’d be in a big mess.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 9:27 am
I like him, I have no sympathy for the “elite” complaining about how “brash” he is, of all people these political operatives and power-players are most in need for someone to get in their faces and yell at them from time to time.
Comment by CA-HOON Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 9:33 am
In my 25 year plus legislative career he is the only legislator that ever held a grudge. I was basically a kid, worked for a state agency, and was representing the point of view of my director and the governor (not mine) and he could not see past that. I had not worked with anyone else like that before or since. Hopefully he has changed and will do a good job. Unlike him I do not hold grudges.
Comment by Captain Ron Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 9:41 am
All I will say is anyone that Rich can say was “thoroughly despised” while doing his job has some serious fence-mending to do. That has nothing to do with race.
Comment by Oh Cmon Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 9:43 am
Pritzker can at least plausibly claim to care about the whole of Illinois, and not only Chicago/Cook County.
A lieutenant of Preckwinkle’s? That’s a much tougher sell
Comment by JB13 Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 9:44 am
While I don’t discount the possibility of racism (it is Chicago after all), would most of those who had negative relations with Mitchell in Springfield have changed their opinion of him if he was white? I’m confident the answer is an emphatic no for the vast majority eho had dealings with him.
Comment by Soxfan Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 9:53 am
No one needs to apologize for being a tough negotiator. Heck, there are plenty of tough negotiators in Springfield. But most of them never threaten to burn anyone’s house down. And it’s been my experience that most of them manage to leave folks on all sides of the table feeling like they were listened to and treated respectfully. These are the places where Mitchell has come up short.
But we are all capable of change and personal growth. He said a lot of good things in that interview. He genuinely seems committed to making amends. I hope he does.
Comment by Felix Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 10:07 am
Younger self?
You mean like two years ago when he was 37?
Comment by Johnny B Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 10:21 am
How would Mitchell’s past behavior compare to that of the House staffers who reduced a Governor’s staff member to tears in the waning days of the 103rd GA in early January?
https://capitolfax.com/2025/01/07/pritzker-on-hemp-bill-tremendously-disappointed-staff-treated-extremely-poorly-in-hdem-caucus-and-are-owed-an-apology-not-calling-bill-was-irresponsible-mayor-rarely-calls-didnt-have-much-to-do-with-b/
Comment by Leatherneck Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 12:29 pm
check your facts, leatherneck. those were House members, not staffers. lol
Comment by Heartburn Monday, Jul 7, 25 @ 12:56 pm