In a significant decision for Illinois politics, the Cook County Democratic Party has chosen not to endorse a candidate in the highly competitive Senate race to succeed retiring Senator Dick Durbin.
During their meeting on the South Side, members of the Cook County Democratic Party Central Committee concluded a two-day slating process by opting for an open primary.
This decision came after presentations from key candidates, including Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton.
Representative Robin Kelly was unable to attend and sent a surrogate to represent her due to a late-night House vote in Washington.
In a separate endorsement, the committee backed Patrick Hynes, the Lyons Township Assessor, over the incumbent Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi.
Governor JB Pritzker was absent from the meeting, and his newly appointed running mate, Christian Mitchell, cited a family event as the reason for his absence.
Given that no major Democratic challengers have emerged against him, Pritzker received an easy endorsement for reelection.
Krishnamoorthi, who is leading in fundraising efforts for the Senate race, highlighted his diverse background as he referred to himself as “a racial, religious, ethnic minority, immigrant with 29 letters in my name from Peoria, Illinois.”
He expressed his commitment to creating accessible satellite offices throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods, as well as establishing federal funding liaisons to assist committee members in navigating funding opportunities.
“I’m not personally wealthy, but I’m hard working,” Krishnamoorthi emphasized.
“I’m accessible, and I’m not changing my cell phone number.”
Stratton, on the other hand, detailed legislative achievements alongside Pritzker, including efforts to reduce the state’s bill backlog, enact balanced budgets, create jobs, raise the minimum wage, and protect women’s rights.
“This race marks a rare opportunity to send a new voice to Washington voters,” Stratton asserted.
“Everything we stand for is under threat, and the status quo in Washington is just not cutting it.
We need a fighter who will join Senator Tammy Duckworth in meeting these challenges with the urgency they demand.”
Chicago Alderman Bennett Lawson spoke on behalf of Kelly, praising her commitment to fighting gun violence and addressing health inequities in Illinois.
“Robin is running for the United States Senate to make Illinois safe from crime and gun violence, lower costs for families, and tackle health inequities,” Lawson stated.
The committee’s deliberations took place behind closed doors for several hours, reflecting the complexities surrounding their decisions.
In a notable move, following Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s announcement that she would not pursue a fourth term, the party endorsed State Representative Margaret Croke over her competitors, Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim and State Senator Karina Villa.
After an initial endorsement of Croke, the party reversed its decision amid discussions of diversity and geography but ultimately reaffirmed her approval.
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon had advocated for an open primary in this race, underscoring the significance of the decision.
The endorsement of Hynes over Kaegi stemmed from concerns raised by three challengers regarding Kaegi’s handling of property tax breaks.
A report by the Sun-Times revealed that Kaegi’s office mistakenly issued over $930,000 in tax breaks during his tenure.
Hynes criticized the incumbent, citing “wild swings in property assessments” as problematic.
In response, Kaegi stated, “I’m confident that the voters will continue to support the critical work we’ve done to make Cook County a national model for transparency and fairness.”
He also expressed respect for the party’s decision-making process.
Earlier in the meeting, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Comptroller Mendoza, both viewed as future candidates for mayor, made the rounds with the committee.
Giannoulias, although endorsed by the party, refrained from committing to another full term.
“I don’t like making campaign promises,” he remarked.
“My focus is on reelection, and I genuinely care about helping people.”
Mendoza offered a more direct response regarding her political future, stating she is not ruling out any elected office and plans to embark on a listening tour.
“I want to do a little bit more listening than talking and hear what the voters think I should do as my next big challenge,” Mendoza said.
She remarked, “It’s definitely open” regarding a potential mayoral bid.
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