Chicago

Sen. Daniel Biss Announces Run for Illinois Governor

Biss joins Chicago Democrat Chris Kennedy and Ald. Ameya Pawar, who both threw their hats in the ring earlier this year

The Democratic field for Illinois governor is adding one more candidate.

State Sen. Daniel Biss announced Monday he is joining the growing list of Democrats challenging Gov. Bruce Rauner in his bid for re-election in 2018. 

Biss, who represents the 9th District, announced his candidacy during a Facebook live, saying he "plans to build a movement to take our state back from wealthy and insider interests."

In his announcement, Biss answered questions from users on a number of topics, including how he plans to combat President Donald Trump's stance on immigration, how he plans to fund Illinois' education system and whether or not he thinks Speaker Michael Madigan should remain in office. 

Biss told Illinoisans they can "resist [Trump's] actions at every turn" and proposed a law that would protect people from the "unethical actions from the Trump administration." He said he was in favor of an elected school board in Chicago and supported term limits for politicians, saying Madigan has "been there too long."

Biss joins Chicago Democrat Chris Kennedy and Ald. Ameya Pawar, who both threw their hats in the ring earlier this year.

Chicago billionaire J.B. Pritzker also recently filed to create an exploratory committee to run for Illinois governor in 2018.

Biss, an Evanston resident, is a former University of Chicago math professor with a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and undergraduate degree from Harvard University. 

He served in the Illinois House from 2011-2012 and has been a member of the state Senate since 2013. He will be giving up his Senate seat amid the run for governor. 

Though he acknowledged he doesn't have the same funding as other candidates, he hopes to create a "movement of the people to overcome the power of money and the machine."

"This is a campaign for the rest of us," he said. 

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