Governor Pat Quinn is leaving the door open to running for governor three times, but even that would not put him on pace to set a record as the state's longest-serving chief executive.
It may seem a bit premature to think about. Though it's expected Quinn will be Democrats' nominee in 2014, he could well be unseated and never clinch a full, second term as governor. But when a reporter asked about it, Quinn refused to say if this will be his last time running:
"I think you have to pass a term limit amendment, then that starts the clock."
One of Quinn's opponents, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, is pushing for eight-year term limits.
Because then-lieutenant governor Quinn took over for Rod Blagojevich in 2009, he already has an extra two years under his belt. So if he does win and complete a second full-term, he would have been governor for a decade. Still, even if he did win a third, full term on top of it -- meaning Quinn would remain Illinois' governor through 2022 -- he would be still be nearly a month shy of Republican Gov. Jim Thompson's record of more than 14 years in office.