There are six Democrats considering a run for Illinois Governor and the chance go mano-e-mano with Republican incumbent Bruce Rauner. On Monday, Cook County Democratic Party bosses heard from each of them in turn as they asked for the party’s endorsement.
Cook County Democrats met in an actual backroom of a steakhouse in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. There party officials peppered each of the Democratic candidates with questions for about 15 minutes. Some asked about school funding or ending Illinois’ flat tax. But really, that wasn’t the focus. The focus was: Can you win?
Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar acknowledged he has to introduce himself to a lot of people outside Chicago.
“I recognize I’m a long-shot. But I’m here in front of you, not just because I respect the party, because I think the party has to be bold going forward.”
Pawar was even asked if he’s only running for governor to get attention for a campaign for Chicago mayor. He seemed to bristle at that, saying “If this isn’t it, I’m out.”
Then came JB Pritzker, who nobody had to question about fundraising. The venture capitalist billionaire is still exploring a run for governor. But Pritzker’s already seen what the GOP’s attacks against him will look like, tying the name Pritzker to longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan.
“Turns out, at least according to Bruce Rauner and the Illinois GOP, Mike Madigan is my biological father.”
Pritzker suggested he’d use his wealth to help Democrats get organized to catch up to Rauner’s head start on how he uses social media.
For Chicago Treasurer Kurt Summers, his concern wasn’t so much social media as it was reaching out to Bernie Sanders supporters.
“The Democratic Party needs a narrative, a real narrative for what people care about.”
To define that narrative, he said the party should nominate someone who’s authentic. But Summers is still undecided about whether he actually wants to be that candidate.
State Senator Daniel Biss from Evanston is campaigning against billionaires and machine politicians, saying: “they make decisions about us without us in the room.” But standing in the room with the Cook County Democratic Party bosses, Biss didn’t bring up machine politicians. Instead, Biss said he would reach out to all the anti-Donald Trump activists to get involved in the governor’s race.
“If we don’t tap into that resource, shame on us.”
After Biss came Bob Daiber. Daiber is the Madison County Superintendent of Schools. If his name didn’t mean much to a room full of Cook County Democrats before Monday’s meeting, it might not have meant much to them after, either. Daiber said his strength is winning downstate Illinois for Democrats.
“Honestly, I don’t intend to get Cook County’s endorsement. I don’t even know how you could endorse me.”
The final candidate to address Cook County Democrats was actually asking for their endorsement. Chris Kennedy, the former President of the Merchandise Mart and the son of Robert F. Kennedy. Kennedy recently gave $250,000 to his own campaign. But despite that, Kennedy said if the Democrats endorse a rich person for governor, then the Illinois Democratic Party will be no better than the Illinois Republican Party. Kennedy was then asked if he’d drop out if Cook County Democrats don’t endorse him. His answer included questions of his own. About the whole political endorsement process, in this backroom of a Chicago restaurant with wood-paneled walls filled with taxidermy.
“What are we talking about here? We’re in the back room of a restaurant. You think the people of the United States are gonna put up with that? Isn’t gonna happen. Isn’t gonna happen. I love you all. I mean no disrespect. But the last thing you wanna do is that.”
Meaning it’ll be Illinois voters who pick the Democratic nominee, not a room of party bosses. Cook County Democrats will decide later this year who to endorse. Which gives candidates time to figure out if they’re really serious about running.