Jesse White

Sen. Hastings Hedges Bets With 2 Possible Campaigns

Illinois Sen. Mike Hastings isn't just passing petitions for one political office -- he's weighing his options for two possible campaigns. Hastings has started to collect signatures for both attorney general and secretary of state.

While Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced last week she was no longer a candidate, longtime Secretary of State Jesse White says he is running again for secretary of state. Nevertheless, several political sources have told NBC 5 there is talk of Ald. Walter Burnett also circulating petitions for secretary of state. Burnett, tells NBC 5 White is his mentor, and denies the petition gathering.

Wednesday night Hastings' spokesman Ryan Keith tells NBC 5:

"Mike is a strategic thinker who wants to be very methodical and deliberate about the next steps in his political future. He's considering carefully whether to run for Attorney General. He heard a rumor there would be an old-fashioned switcheroo in the Secretary of State's race. He has no intention of running against Jesse White. Jesse is a friend and has been good to the South Siders. Mike will make his intentions known within the next few weeks."

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