The field of candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Illinois attorney general is growing with a former federal prosecutor jumping into the 2018 race with an announcement on national television.
Renato Mariotti served as an assistant U.S. attorney and is a frequent television commentator. He used an MSNBC appearance Thursday to announce his candidacy.
He says he can no longer "sit on the sidelines" and wants to work against powerful special interests.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced last month that she wouldn't seek re-election.
Democratic candidates include suburban Chicago mayor Nancy Rotering, state Rep. Scott Drury, state Sen. Kwame Raoul, former State Board of Education Chairman Jesse Ruiz and Sharon Fairley, former head of Chicago's police oversight agency.
Erika Harold, a lawyer and former Miss America, seeks the Republican nomination.
