Meet The Democratic Statewide Candidates
An introduction to the Democratic candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, treasurer, comptroller, and lieutenant governor.
Just tuning into the upcoming primary election? Want to acquaint yourself with the top-tier candidates? Below is a run-down of those Democrats vying for the major statewide offices, as well as U.S. Senate. For each candidate, we've provided a brief bio, an informative video, endorsement information, and a link to the policy questionnaires they've filled out.
If you live in Cook County, you can also meet the county board president candidates here. And if you're a 10th congressional district constituent, read our summary of that race here. Not sure who is going to appear on your ballot? Plug your address into the eVoter database to find out.
GOVERNOR
You can watch the full WTTW debate between these candidates here. And after getting to know them, read the most recent news on this race.
Pat Quinn got his start as an organizer in the 1970s. During that decade, he helped force the passage of tough new ethics laws. In the 1980s, he was behind efforts to reduce the size of the Illinois Legislature and clean up the scandal-ridden Cook County Board of [Property Tax] Appeals. He also helped found the Citizens Utility Board. Elected state treasurer in 1990, Quinn spearheaded passage of the Illinois Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act. In 2003, he became Illinois' lieutenant governor and made advocating for Illinois soldiers and veterans his signature issue. Quinn was sworn in as governor in January of 2009, following the impeachment and removal of Rod Blagojevich.
Here is Quinn in a January 24 interview with ABC 7:
You can see more videos of Quinn on his YouTube page here.
Quinn has been endorsed by the Chicago Sun-Times, Belleville News-Democrat, Southwest News Herald, and Crain's. His progressive institutional supporters include the SEIU Illinois State Council (which sponsors this site, UNITE-HERE, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 881, Citizen Action/Illinois, Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, and Democracy for America. He has also been endorsed Reps. Jesse White, Jesse Jackson Jr., Luis Gutierrez, Jan Schakowsky, Phil Hare, and Danny Davis.
Dan Hynes is currently serving his third term as Illinois comptroller. His administration has been marked by an emphasis on consumer and taxpayer advocacy, government accountability, and long-term budget reform. Before taking office, he worked as a health care attorney for a Chicago law firm. He is the son of former Illinois Senate President and Cook County Assessor Tom Hynes.
Here is Hynes in a January 17 interview with ABC 7:
Check out his YouTube channel here.
Hynes has been endorsed by the State Journal-Register, Daily Herald, SouthtownStar, Northwest Herald, Kane County Chronicle, and Champaign News Gazette. His institutional supporters include the Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Laborers' International Union of North America, UFCW Local 1546, and numerous trade unions. He has also been endorsed by former comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch
U.S. SENATOR You can watch the full WTTW debate between these candidates here. After getting to know them, read the most recent news on this race.
Alexi Giannoulias is a former vice-president at Broadway Bank in Chicago's Edgewater community and served briefly on the board of directors for the Community Bankers Association. In 2006, he was elected state treasurer. On his first day in office, Giannoulias issued an executive order banning contributions to his campaign from office employees, contractors and banks. His administration has been marked by efforts to streamline the office.
Here is Giannoulias in a January 10 interview with ABC 7:
For more videos, check out his YouTube channel.
Giannoulias has been endorsed by a wide variety of progressive lawmakers and officials, as well as the SEIU Illinois State Council (which sponsors this site), the Illinois AFL-CIO, UNITE-HERE, Citizen Action/Illinois, Planned Parenthood, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Sierra Club. Check out his full list of endorsements here.
Until launching his bid for Senate, David Hoffman served as City of Chicago inspector general, a job he held for four years. During that time, he exposed bribery, fraud and theft, along with contracting corruption, illegal employment practices, ethics violations, and other waste. Hoffman also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago from 1998 to 2005, where he led a newly-created gang unit. Other highlights of his career are a stint as a law clerk for conservative U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, press secretary and legislative assistant for foreign policy to U.S. Senator David Boren (D-OK). In 2009, Hoffman also served on the 15-member Illinois Reform Commission.
Here is Hoffman in a November 15 interview with ABC 7:
For more videos, check out his YouTube channel.
Hoffman has been endorsed by each of Illinois' major newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, Northwest Herald, The State Journal-Register, The Kane County Chronicle, Southwest News-Herald, Peoria Journal Star, The Champaign News-Gazette, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the Rockford Register Star. He has also received support from the Illinois Education Association and a series of political organizations across the state. The full list of those endorsements is available here.
Cheryle Jackson was trained as an accountant, but made her career in communications. After serving as vice president of corporate communications for National Public Radio in Washington, DC, she moved over to Amtrak where she worked as the regional vice president of state and local affairs. She left Amtrak to become press secretary to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, but left that position before he finished his first term. She went on to serve as the Chicago Urban League's president and CEO, where she turned the group's focus to economic empowerment.
Here is Jackson in a November 29 interview with ABC 7:
You can view more videos on her YouTube channel.
Jackson has been endorsed by the Chicago Defender, WVON radio, and N'Digo Magazine. Her institutional supporters include Cook County Democratic Women and EMILY’s List. A full list of endorsements is available here.
TREASURER You can watch the full WTTW debate between these candidates here. After getting to know them, read the most recent news on this race.
Robin Kelly is the former director of community affairs in the south suburban village of Matteson. She was went on to win a seat in the Illinois House in 2002, where she focused on consumer fraud, economic development, mass transit, and domestic violence. Since 2007, Kelly has served as Alexi Giannoulias' chief of staff in the treasurer's office. She is also a trustee for Bradley University.
Here is Kelly giving a brief video introduction in mid-December:
More videos are available on her YouTube channel.
Kelly has won endorsements from the Tribune, Sun-Times, Daily Herald, and SouthtownStar. Check out her long list of institutional supporters -- including the Service Employees International Union (which sponsors this site) -- and state lawmakers backing her campaign here.
Justin Oberman is a former federal Transportation Security Administration official. He also co-founded NEXA Capital Partners, which supports capital-raising efforts for clients in clean energy sector. He is the son of former Chicago Ald. Marty Oberman.
Here is Oberman introducing his campaign:
Check out his YouTube page here.
His most high-profile endorsements comes from Rep. Phil Hare, former congressman and judge Abner Mikva, and Adlai Stevenson III.
COMPTROLLER You can watch the full WTTW debate between these candidates here. After getting to know them, read the most recent news on this race.
David Miller was elected to the Illinois House in 2001 and represents the south suburban 29th District. He serves as the Assistant Majority Leader and is the immediate past chair of the Higher Education appropriations committee. Miller is also a dentist and graduated from the University of Illinois' dentistry school. Check out his campaign profile here.
Here is Miller talking to Illinois Channel at the Illinois state fair last August:
More videos are available on Miller's YouTube channel.
Miller's list of endorsements is long. Among his biggest institutional backers are the Illinois Education Association, Citizen Action/Illinois, and the SEIU Illinois Council (which sponsors this website). The full list is available here.
Raja Krishnamoorthi's most recent stint in state government was as the Deputy Illinois State Treasurer under Alexi Giannoulias. Before that, he served as member of the Illinois Housing Development Authority's (IHDA) board and worked as a Special Assistant Attorney General to Lisa Madigan. He grew up in Peoria, attended Princeton University, then went on to Harvard Law School.
Here's Krishnamoorthi in a December 8 interview with Jeff Berkowitz:
Check out his YouTube channel here.
Krishnamoorthi's has snagged endorsements from the Trib, Sun-Times, and his hometown paper the Peoria Journal Star. A host of municipal leaders, trade unions and Democratic committeemen from across the state are also backing his campaign. A full list is available here.
Clint Krislov is a long-time public interest lawyer. He has waged a series of high-profile cases against the city of Chicago including an ongoing challenge over the legality of the 75-year, parking meter privatization deal. Krislov founded -- and has been a major benefactor -- for the Center for Open Government, a legal aid clinic at IIT's Chicago Kent College of Law. He's a grad of Northwestern University and Cornell Law School. Check out his campaign profile here.
Here is Krislov a November 18 interview with Jeff Berkowitz:
You can find more Krislov video footage here.
Krislov recently landed an endorsement from the Daily Herald.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR After getting to know the candidates, read the most recent news on this race.
Art Turner got his start as an investigator for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. In 1981, he was elected to the Illinois House and has risen to the ranks of unofficial "budgetter." Turner represents the 9th District -- a stretch of Chicago's West Side that includes the North Lawndale neighborhood -- where he grew up. He was the sponsor of the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Act.
Here is Turner's introductory video:
Turner has pulled in endorsements from the Sun-Times and the Trib, which noted his reputation "for hard work and honesty." Among his largest institutional backers are the Illinois Federation of Teachers, AARP, the Illinois Sierra Club, and SEIU Illinois (which sponsors this website). A complete list of his endorsements is available here.
Mike Boland is serving his 15th year in the Illinois House, representing Central Illinois' 71st District. He was a founding member of the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) and served on the consumer watchdog group's board for a decade. He is the current chair of the Illinois House Financial Institutions Committee.
Here is Boland in a July 24 interview with Jeff Berkowitz:
The IVI-IPO has endorsed Boland.
Terry Link was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996. He is the Majority Caucus Whip and chairs the Committee on Gaming. Prior to being elected, Link worked the Waukegan-based Major Industrial Trucking and Johnson Controls. He also worked in the Illinois Secretary of State and Treasurer’s offices and is the current chair of the Lake County Democratic Party.
Here is Link introducing his campaign for ABC 7:
Link has been endorsed by the Daily Herald and the Peoria Journal Star. U.S. Rep.Phil Hare, the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club, and the Illinois Federation of Teachers are among his largest supporters. A full list of endorsements is available here.
Chicago businessman Scott Lee Cohen has made his fortune owning rental properties and pawn shops, as well as Cohen Green Cleaning Supplies, a distribution company.
Here is Cohen in a December 22 interview with Avy Meyers:
Check out Cohen's YouTube channel here and his full list of endorsements here.
Rickey Hendon is the former secretary and treasurer of the Cook County Forest Preserve. He also served as alderman of Chicago's 27th Ward. In 1993, he was elected to the Illinois Senate. He was the youngest African-American male ever appointed to serve as Assistant Majority Leader.
Here's Hendon in a January 24 interview with Avy Meyers:
Questionnaires: Tribune
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