Rep. Nekritz Announces She Will Not Run for Attorney General
By James Neveau •
State Representative Elaine Nekritz, who will not be seeking re-election to the legislature, won't be running for Attorney General either, she announced on Sunday night.
Nekritz, who announced in July that she would not be running to keep her seat in 2018, said that she reached the decision while celebrating Rosh Hashanah with her family.
"I have decided not to run for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General," she said in a note posted to Facebook. "We determined that this is not the right time in our lives to expend the energy required to serve as a statewide candidate and constitutional officer."
EFE
Republican Erika Harold is an attorney and former Miss America who ran for Congress downstate in 2013 and announced her intent to run against Madigan last month. After Madigan announced she would not seek reelection, Harold said she would like to thank her for her service, and that "regardless of who the Democrats put forward, our campaign will continue to focus on protecting the people and not the powerful."
facebook.com/RepresentativeJimDurkin
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, said Tuesday that although he received calls asking about his interest in running for the position, he "made a commitment" to his caucus and endorsed Harold, saying, "the organizations and groups are galvanizing behind her."
AP
Much like his successor, former Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross is among those who have been urged to run, though an insider close to Cross revealed that “people are asking, but he is not that interested.”
facebook.com/ChairmanCronin
While some speculated that the former legislator and current DuPage County Board chairman may throw his hat in the ring, Dan Cronin said following Madigan's announcement that he had no plans to run for the position.
Un Nuevo Día
On the Democratic side, just one candidate has declared his candidacy. A former federal prosecutor, state Rep. Scott Drury, of Highwood, announced Tuesday that he is withdrawing from his campaign for governor and instead running for attorney general. Drury has served in the General Assembly since 2013, and in that time has painted himself as an anti-establishment candidate, often breaking ranks with members of his own party and vocally opposing longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan.
Getty Images
State Sen. Kwame Raoul, who has represented Chicago’s South Side since 2004, made his plans to run official on Wednesday. “As a prosecutor and legislator, I’ve spent my career advocating on behalf of victims, speaking up for the voiceless and producing real change in our justice system,” Raoul said in a statement. “As Attorney General, I’ll put my problem-solving and advocacy experience to work to ensure that justice in Illinois is blind, never discriminating between city, suburban and Downstate, between brown, black, and white or between rich and poor.” Raoul has long eyed the position and was one of the first Democrats whose names circulated following Madigan’s announcement. Adding to the incentive, his Senate seat is not on the ballot until 2020, meaning he does not need to give up his current position to run, and would be able to return to the legislature if he were to lose.
The former head of Chicago's new police oversight agency Sharon Fairley officially announced on Oct. 10 that she would be throwing her hat in the ring. Fairley was appointed in 2016 to serve as the first chief administrator of COPA, a role she assumed when the office officially opened on Sept. 15 - just 10 days before news broke of her eventual departure. Prior to COPA, the former federal prosecutor and assistant attorney general led the new agency's beleaguered predecessor, the Independent Police Review Authority, beginning in Dec. 2015.
Facebook
President of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners Jesse Ruiz announced his campaign on Oct. 18, saying, "For too long, many of us have felt forgotten and let down by our government. As Attorney General, I will use all of the powers of the law as a shield – and if necessary, a sword – on behalf of everyone in Illinois." Ruiz said that as the son of Mexican immigrants, President Donald Trump's comments on immigrants motivated him to run for office. Ruiz is a practicing attorney and in the past has served as vice president of the Chicago Board of Education, interim CEO of the Chicago Public Schools district, as well as chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education.
facebook.com/FriendsOfNancyForAG
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, elected in 2011, launched her campaign in late September. In 2016, she unsuccessfully challenged former Rep. Brad Schneider in the Democratic primary for the north suburban 10th Congressional District he previously held, losing the bid to unseat incumbent Rep. Bob Dold. In announcing her entry into the race, Rotering told Politico that one of her chief accomplishments as mayor was Highland Park's ban on assault weapons, which the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear in 2015 - leaving the policy intact.
facebook.com/RenatoForIllinois
Former assistant U.S. attorney Renato Mariotti announced his candidacy on Oct. 26 in an appearance on MSNBC, where he has been a commentator and legal analyst. A Chicago native, Mariotti spent nearly ten years as a federal prosecutor and has worked in the private sector since 2016. He said in his announcement that he can no longer "sit on the sidelines."
Getty Images
Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced his intention to run for attorney general on Oct. 27, saying he wants to be "the lawyer for the people," according to The Chicago Sun-Times. A spokesman for Quinn said there will be more information on his candidacy in the coming weeks. Quinn served as governor from 2009 to 2015 before he was ousted by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
senatorhastings.com
Also considering a run from the Illinois legislature is state Sen. Michael Hastings, who was first elected in 2012 to represent a south suburban district that includes parts of Matteson, Frankfort, New Lenox and more. Sources said Hastings, a former U.S. Army Captain who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, is making calls about a possible run for attorney general – and like Raoul, he would not have to give up his seat.
facebook.com/SenSilverstein
A third potential candidate from the upper chamber is state Sen. Ira Silverstein, who sources said is interested in the position. Silverstein has served in the General Assembly since 1999, representing a district that includes portions of Chicago’s Northwest Side and surrounding suburbs. As Majority Caucus Chair, Silverstein is the only potential candidate so far who is a member of Senate leadership, and he is up for reelection in 2018 – meaning he would need to choose between running for AG or to keep his seat.
amo.cz
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Andrew Schapiro is among the names being circulated for attorney general, though he has not formally commented on the position.
facebook.com/willcountysao
During a news conference Thursday responding to the Illinois’ Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Drew Peterson’s murder conviction, Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow did not rule out a run. “I certainly am very qualified” he said, proceeding to recite his credentials. “I haven’t made any decisions about the attorney general’s office but it certainly has been something I’ve thought about over my career, and I’m eminently qualified to do it.”
While sources said Sarah Burke, the daughter of 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke, was considering a run, the powerful Chicago pol - who controls millions of dollars in campaign cash across multiple political committees - said Tuesday that she would not join in the seemingly crowded primary, because "with three little ones under 8, it simply would not be the best thing for her family."
Jack Franks, who served in the House from 1999 through his election to McHenry County Board Chairman in 2016, said in September that he was “seriously considering” a run for attorney general, but officially opted out on Oct. 10. He said in a statement that while he is "uniquely qualified" and "very tempted" to enter the race, "something really special is beginning to happen in McHenry County" and he has "therefore decided to pass on the opportunity to run for attorney general in favor of fulfilling my commitment to the taxpayers of McHenry County to reduce their property taxes and reform county government."
facebook.com/VoteAnnWilliams
State Rep. Ann Williams, a former assistant attorney general under Madigan who has represented Chicago’s North Side since 2011, said the lack of female candidates in the conversation led her to consider a run, saying she is "concerned that there have been very few women mentioned as possible contenders for the seat. That means there would be only one independently elected woman on the Democratic statewide ticket. And we are losing more and more strong women leaders in the legislature - this is a troubling trend at a time where issues important to women have been under unprecedented attack on the federal level." While she said she was taking a preliminary look at campaigning, she ultimately decided Tuesday to seek reelection to her seat in the legislature.
facebook.com/repchriswelch
Though he did not initially rule out a run, state Rep. Chris Welch, of Hillside, said officially on Monday that despite encouragement from supporters, he would not pursue the office of attorney general. "In 2012, I was first elected to the position of State Representative for the 7th district based on a promise to fight for the community in which I was raised, in which I was educated, in which I have made my professional career, and a place where my wife and I are deeply rooted and raising two beautiful children. That promise remains my priority. With President Trump and Governor Rauner deliberately undermining healthcare programs, attacking public education, and discarding the most vulnerable citizens of our state, my fight for the people of the 7th district must remain my chief responsibility."
cookcountystatesattorney.org
While some potential candidates discussed the position just minutes after Madigan’s announcement, Kim Foxx remained silent through Monday despite rampant speculation. One Democratic strategist wondered if the first African-American female Cook County state’s attorney might "step up" to replace the first female Illinois attorney general, citing Foxx’s $250,000 in campaign cash on hand, her high favorable ratings in county-wide polling, and the ability to say she’s run a law office. However, Foxx made it clear Monday that she would not run, saying in a statement, "I was elected to reform the criminal justice system in Cook County and remain committed to that endeavor. We have made significant progress during my first 10 months in office and there is much more work to do."
facebook.com/RepElaineNekritz
State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, of Northbrook, announced in July that she would not seek to keep her seat in 2018. After Madigan's announcement, she said that she had no inkling she would not run again, but was seriously considering throwing her hat in the ring. Well-respected in the House, Nekritz was a top contender for the statewide auditor general position in 2015, but instead remained in the legislature. Though she initially said her attorney was drafting petitions, she announced on Facebook Sunday that she decided not to run for attorney general. "Spending time with my family as we celebrated Rosh Hashanah, we determined that this is not the right time in our lives to expend the energy required to serve as a statewide candidate and constitutional officer," she wrote. "I am deeply touched by everyone who expressed encouragement and support as I reached this decision. The process provided an opportunity for reflection on my time and experiences in the legislature. Among the most rewarding aspects of my career has been the privilege to meet and collaborate with so many dedicated public servants and advocates on addressing our state’s challenges. I have been reminded that despite the scope and magnitude of those problems, there are an abundance of good people working to meet them."
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who has often been rumored to be interested in other offices - like that of Chicago mayor - squashed speculation Tuesday, when an insider said he "never does anything that would jeopardize his time with his family."
After three terms as state comptroller and unsuccessful runs at both U.S. Senate in 2004 as well as Illinois governor in 2010, Dan Hynes said he has fielded calls, but "the timing is not right" and he will not seek the position of attorney general.
Nekritz's decision comes after Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that she would not be running for re-election next year. Her decision set off a stampede of candidates entering the race, but Rep. Nekritz won't be one of them.
Several Democrats, including State Rep. Scott Drury and State Sen. Kwame Raoul have both jumped into the race, while Republican Erika Harold has remained in the race since announcing her candidacy earlier this year.
