The latest from the 2010 electoral landscape ...

IL GOVERNOR

In addition to receiving the backing of the SEIU Illinois State Council (which sponsors this website), Gov. Pat Quinn also rolled out endorsements yesterday from numerous elected officials, including Rep. Jan Schakowsky.  Watch a video put together by the campaign with clips from the Schakowsky event:

Here are the additional Quinn supporters announced yesterday:

State Sen. Heather Steans
Former Illinois State Sen. William A. Marovitz
State Rep. Will Burns
State Rep. Harry Osterman
Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin
Chicago Ald. Joe Moore
Chicago Ald. Mary Ann Smith
Chicago Ald. and 44th Ward Committeeman Tom Tunney
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore
Laura Ricketts, Co-Chair, Democratic National Committee LGBT Caucus
Brandon Neese, Co-Chair, 9th Congressional District Steering Committee
42nd Ward Committeeman John Corrigan
46th Ward Committeeman Tom Sharpe
48th Ward Committeewoman Carol Ronen
49th Ward Committeeman David Fagus

Furthermore, challenger Dan Hynes published his first Daily Kos diary late last week, introducing himself to members of that online community.  Read it here.

U.S. SENATOR

After officially launching his candidacy last week, David Hoffman took his RV on the road over the weekend, visiting several Illinois towns.  The campaign released this video of footage from his swing through Carbondale:

Meanwhile, Cheryle Jackson published a Huffington Post entry over the weekend expressing her support for a public option as part of any health care reform package and her opposition to the idea of a trigger.  From her piece:

The public insurance option for consumers is essential to meet the dual goals of containing costs and expanding coverage.

And the idea of a compromise that would "trigger" a public option years down the road if there is insufficient competition in the market almost guarantees that the President won't be "the last" to tackle health care reform.

This week, Jackson also appeared to modify her account of why she left former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration in 2006.  At the outset of her campaign, she told local media that the "infighting" in the Blagojevich administration drove her away.  Now Jackson says she left when she observed the "politics of personal benefit."  From an interview with the Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet:

"But I left, and I left before the end of the first term. And there was a reason why I left. I left because I was increasingly uncomfortable with the directions that the administration was moving in and the decisions that were being made.

"And those decisions, the direction, was increasingly based on personal politics, politics of personal benefit. And I was uncomfortable with that. And that's not what I signed up for, that's not what I signed up to do.

Alexi Giannoulias also has a post up on Huffington Post Chicago previewing his forthcoming economic plan:

As we move forward in enacting long-overdue regulatory reforms that will increase accountability on Wall Street, we must also hold those in Congress accountable for their errors as well and embrace new, pragmatic, and progressive economic philosophies that will protect our economic system for generations. 
 


In the coming weeks I will lay out an economic plan that will focus on creating jobs and investing in our future. 
 


10th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

State Rep. Julie Hamos' Democratic bid for the soon-to-be-vacated IL-10 seat got a boost today.  From a press release:

EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest financial resource for women candidates, today announced its endorsement of State Representative Julie Hamos in Illinois’ 10th congressional district.

“EMILY’s List is proud to endorse Julie Hamos for the United States Congress,” said Ellen R. Malcolm, President of EMILY’s List.  “As an attorney, co-founder of the Illinois Coalition against Domestic Violence, and a five-term state representative from Chicago’s northeast suburbs, Julie’s record of advocating for Illinois women and families is second to none.  We need her in Congress to continue that fight.”

“Julie has a well-earned reputation as a legislative work-horse.  She’s been named a “top legislator” by more than 25 organizations across Illinois, founded and chaired the Illinois House Mass Transit Committee, and has forged legislation to make buildings more energy efficient, promote electronic health records and to establish affordable housing.  She’s also been a passionate advocate for women’s rights and the right to choose.  Julie’s race is a great opportunity to add another pro-choice Democratic woman to the Congress,” said Malcolm.

COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT

Today, the Daily Herald editorial board urges Board President Todd Stroger to "bow out gracefully":

Stroger needs to heed the writing on the wall. He's a liability for his party and for Cook County residents.

It's time he pulls out of the race for county board president and clears the way for other candidates.

As most of you probably saw, a Tribune poll released last week found that only 10 percent of Cook County respondents approved of the job Stroger is doing as president.

And despite Rep. Danny Davis' repeated declarations that he is running for the seat -- rather than reelection to Congress -- doubts still remain. On a WVON Radio interview over the weekend, candidate Toni Preckwinkle reportedly predicted that he won't end up running for board president.  And Carl Nyberg has been doggedly pressing the Davis campaign, asking why he still has an active federal campaign account.