Lisa Madigan Not Running For Senate Or Governor, Will Seek Reelection As Attorney General
CHICAGO (AP) -- Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced Wednesday that she's running for re-election instead of seeking higher office, a surprise decision that leaves potential candidates for governor and Senate figuring out where they stand in the new political landscape.
Former rivals praised Madigan at the same time they calculated whether to launch a campaign or tried to solidify their position as the front-runner now that she's out of the picture.
Her decision spares Gov. Pat Quinn one major challenge from within the Democratic Party, but it could lure Comptroller Daniel Hynes into the race. Her absence from the Senate race could result in a more crowded Democratic primary, helping incumbent Sen. Roland Burris.
Meanwhile, Republicans suddenly sounded more optimistic about winning offices now held by Democrats.
"With Lisa Madigan out of the race, it clearly makes this at least an even, if not a Republican-tilting, field," state Sen. Kirk Dillard said Wednesday as he announced his campaign for governor.
With her solid reputation, political connections and money-raising ability, Madigan would have posed a major threat in any race in 2010.
The daughter of powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, she had long eyed the governor's office. But Democratic leaders all the way up to the White House had been encouraging her to run for the Senate.
Politicians from both parties postponed campaign decisions as Madigan pondered her options. Few, if any, expected her to settle on seeking a third term as attorney general.
"At the end of the day, this is a decision that I made with my husband about what is best for us and our family and what is best for the state," Madigan, a 42-year-old mother of two young daughters, said at a news conference.
Madigan said she wants to continue doing a job she loves and also have time to spend with a family she loves.
Running for governor or Senate would have meant a bitter primary battle and the prospect of emerging weakened for the general election. If she were to become governor, she'd have inherited a state likely to still be facing major budget problems. A Senate victory would have meant long periods in Washington for a job where she would be among the newest and least-influential senators.
Madigan didn't offer any political endorsements, and she acknowledged her decision would set off a political scramble.
"Everybody needs to decide what it is they want to do," she said, "and I'm sure that they will be doing that quickly."
Next year's election is wide open because the top two statewide elected offices up for grabs - governor and U.S. senator - are held by two Democrats who weren't elected to those posts.
Quinn inherited the job when he replaced ousted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and removed from office by lawmakers after his arrest on federal corruption charges, including allegations that he tried to sell off President Barack Obama's Senate seat.
Blagojevich appointed Burris to the seat before being kicked out of office. Burris' tenure has been dogged by an ethics investigation over his changing statements on whether he offered to raise money for Blagojevich.
Burris and Quinn haven't formally announced their plans, but both have indicated they will run for full terms next year.
Burris aide Delmarie Cobb said Democratic leaders have been "doing everything they could to destroy" Burris by trying to recruit big-name challengers, including Madigan, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's brother William and Christopher Kennedy, son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, who may still choose to run.
"The Democratic Party has continued to try to come up with these marquee names to run against Roland," Cobb said. "I think since each one of them has fizzled, it's really time for the party to rally around the person who has the seat."
Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has already announced plans to challenge Burris. Now that Madigan will not enter the race, it may be more likely that Kennedy and Chicago Urban League president Cheryle Jackson will jump in. Potentially, a crowded field would divide votes and help Burris.
On the Republican side, party leaders now expect U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk to run for the seat. The suburban Chicago congressman has been the top recruit of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee but held off on an announcement when Madigan showed interest.
"It's obviously more likely. But I'm still talking to supporters and friends," Kirk told the Chicago Tribune after Madigan's announcement.
A Madigan bid for governor would likely have produced a messy Democratic primary battle against Quinn, who is mired in a legislative dispute over the state's budget deficit. A battle could still be ahead if Hynes, who has taken an increasingly critical tone toward Quinn, decides to run.
Madigan's decision is a blow to Republican Joseph Birkett, the DuPage County state's attorney who recently announced he is running for attorney general. The two have faced off before, with Birkett losing.
Birkett said he would stay in the race. But it may be an indicator of the uphill battle he faces that Dillard, a fellow Republican, said Wednesday that when he's governor, he looks forward to working with Madigan as attorney general.
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Wills reported from Springfield, Ill. Associated Press Writer Henry C. Jackson contributed to this report from Washington.
-ASSOCIATED PRESS
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First Posted: 07- 8-09 11:30 AM | Updated: 07- 8-09 08:36 PM