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* Kerry Lester…
Despite expressing interest in running for Illinois attorney general, outgoing state lawmaker Elaine Nekritz won’t be seeking the position after all.
“I’ve decided against it, it was a family decision,” Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat, told the Daily Herald Sunday.
She said the move “simply wasn’t the right time for my husband and family,” and she dismissed questions of any political pressure placed on her to bow out of the race.
Nekritz’s announcement slightly narrows the already crowded field to replace four-term officeholder Lisa Madigan, a Chicago Democrat.
State Sen. Kwame Raoul has not only emerged as the Dem frontrunner for attorney general, but Sneed hears Senate President John Cullerton not only pitched him his support on the phone Friday — but “I’m helping him put together a team,” said Cullerton.
“The guy is a star,” he said.
“Just watch.”
* Meanwhile, Tom Bowen was on Rick Pearson’s WGN Radio show yesterday morning and made an interesting point about why so many mostly unknown unknown people are talking about running for this office. Donald Trump’s election, he said, “showed everybody that unconventional things can happen.” Bowen said it has “caused a lot of folks to reevaluate,” and ask themselves “Why not me?”
*** UPDATE *** Speaking of “Why not me”…
Ten days after a ballyhooed kick-off, the chief administrator of Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability has told Mayor Rahm Emanuel she is planning to resign to run for Illinois attorney general, City Hall sources said Monday.
Sharon Fairley’s departure would be a stunning blow for a newly-created agency struggling to regain public trust shattered by the police shooting of Laquan McDonald and prove that it is more than just a name change from the widely-discredited and now-abolished Independent Police Review Authority.
* Related…
* Candidates scramble in unexpected open attorney general race
* Former Blagojevich Lawyer Joins The Race For Illinois Attorney General
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 10:42 am
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I think Kwame & his supporters will successfully prevent another African American from running.
A woman would have a great shot especially now that Nekritz isnt running - any follow up from Spyropoulos?
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 10:49 am
I do not know anything about his campaign or his issues but Goldstein obviously is a defense attorney. He must be a good one. He defended Blago so that makes him a bad candidate? Heaven forbid a defendant gets legal representation. Maybe the next AG can change that. After all they would not charge someone unless he is guilty. An AG with actual court experience might be a good thing.
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 10:49 am
===“caused a lot of folks to reevaluate,” and ask themselves “Why not me?”===
And that’s why Rich gave us Capitol Fax, the blog that helps crazy political wannabes answer the question: why not me?
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 10:52 am
Raoul has checked his first potential big name primary challenger.
Comment by Texas Red Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 10:52 am
To Fax Machine’s point, Rauner/Harold must be crossing their fingers that the Democratic nominee is a man.
Comment by DarkHorse Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 10:56 am
Good call on Nekeritz,
Incredibly nice and sharp legislator, but probably would not have had the fortitude to mount a successful statewide run.
Comment by Iggy Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 10:57 am
Well, if you are a self-absorbed, egomaniacal, blabbermouth
With the self restraint of a 6 year old, then indeed, “why Not you?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 10:58 am
It’s completely understandable that Cullerton is backing Raoul. He traditionally supports his caucus members if they try to move up, like when he supported Frerichs’ move for Treasurer.
Comment by Former Downstater Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 10:58 am
That was ref. Trump, not Raul.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 10:59 am
I agree with fax machine. A strong woman candidate in this race would have a great shot.
Comment by filanges Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:08 am
===like when he supported Frerichs’ move for Treasurer===
Yeah, but not a word about Biss.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:09 am
I agree with Fax Machine too. But the strong woman is on the GOP side.
Comment by Team America Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:11 am
As Tom Bowen told Chicago radio yesterday, Tom Dart is the 800 lb gorilla in this.
Comment by West Wing Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:11 am
==Yeah, but not a word about Biss.==
Didn’t do much in that Comptroller “primary” either, did he?
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:13 am
===I agree with Fax Machine too. But the strong woman is on the GOP side.===
… who was trailing Lisa Madigan by 10 points… as Lisa polled 34%…
When you’re chasing double digits, and the person you’re trailing is polling at 34%… that ain’t too good or… strong.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:13 am
Goldstein–great photo. If you won the lottery. Serious candidate, not so much.
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:38 am
Hastings. #ILikeMike.
Comment by ;) Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:54 am
I’m surprised that Nekritz bowed out. There hopefully will be a woman candidate in the primary, if anything just to put Raoul through his paces after the Miss America mess. There are a lot of qualified women for this office.
Comment by TopHatMonocle Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 11:57 am
=== … who was trailing Lisa Madigan by 10 points… as Lisa polled 34%… ==
Polling a year out, before the GOP opens up the checkbook, against an opponent who is not running anymore. Meh. We’ll wait 4-5 months, after Jesse, Kwame and Scott Drury get into drubbing each other, and see how it looks.
Comment by Team America Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 12:37 pm
Either GOP operatives think Harold is a juggernaut, or letting Harold lose to a Dem as others sit out and don’t have to run with Trump or Rauner is the better bet.
Losing to someone polling at 34% by double digits doesn’t dound like a strong candidate building a groundswell.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 12:40 pm
It’s hard to understand why Lisa’s timing would be such that it took her fellow Dems, especially women, by surprise. It would have been nice to provide some notice to help some of her fantastic women colleagues get ready for this. (Nekritz, Hamos, maybe even Flynn-Currie.)
Comment by State worker Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 12:54 pm
Raoul seems like the right choice for the Dems. He is tested, well known, and respected. Harold while not really tested or well known, is a very intelligent person and very well spoken and articulate. I think a contest where neither candidate can play the race card would be refreshing. Let the game begin, and let the best candidate win.
Comment by Retired Educator Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 1:49 pm
Trump was hardly “unknown.” He’d had a national TV show for 14 years for crying out loud.
He was better known than all the GOP candidates, except maybe Jeb. And he was at the top of GOP primary polling from the get-go.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 2:17 pm
Wow to the update. Sharon is a very credible candidate and would have access to substantial fundraising resources.
I do wonder if the difficulty of working for police reform under Rahm was a factor, or whether she’s just taking advantage of an unexpected opportunity.
Comment by Keyrock Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 2:39 pm
I’m with Hastings
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 3:24 pm
Hastings (military discipline and strategy) over Raoul (what’s discipline?).
Comment by Anon22 Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 3:40 pm
Lots of anonymous pro-Hastings comments in this thread.. Mike, shouldn’t you be out getting signatures on your many petitions?
Comment by TopHatMonocle Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 3:50 pm
Kwame Raoul is a solid candidate for Illinois Democrats. No only does he have a legal background but he’s a bright guy.
Comment by Steve Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 4:31 pm
Like “Top Hat Monocle”or any of the other fronts change anything
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 25, 17 @ 6:38 pm