Illinois Primary 2010: Governor, Senate Seat And Cook County Board President Up For Grabs (PHOTOS)

At a time of economic turmoil and with the country seemingly divided politically, Illinois voters will have a chance to vote on the first round of candidates for governor, senator and Cook County Board President on Tuesday.

After months of mudslinging, it can be difficult for voters to divide fact from fiction, so we narrowed down the most popular candidates in each race and briefly described what they claim to be about.

Check them out--and decide for yourself:

Democrat For U.S. Senate: Alexi Giannoulias

The front-runner and establishment candidate for Obama's old Senate seat, after the Democratic party failed to recruit a bigger name like Lisa Madigan. Strongly liberal on social issues like gay marriage and abortion rights. In hot water over shady dealings and bad business at his family bank, where he worked as senior loan officer.

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Comments

[krz2]

05:42 PM on 02/02/2010

could the dems find a less attractive canditate than alexi?
is he electable in the general election.?

[mratcheson]

02:04 AM on 02/03/2010

Well, we'll find out in November.

[VOTER]

07:33 AM on 02/02/2010

ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS

GOP PRIMARY CANDIDATES - IL GOVERNOR RACE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPPOSE civil unions and/or gay marriage.

OPPOSE Stem Cell Research.

FAVOR MORE GUNS on the streets of Illinois.
Jim Ryan is the only one of them
to support gun bans and he doesn't have any chance of winning the Primary.

SUPPORT MORE RESTRICTIONS on the availability of A Woman's Right To Choose.
Only one of them supported Abortion Rights but GOPer Schillerstrom dropped out of the race.

It appears the Republicans best candidate is living in a prison in Terra Haute, Ind.
Inmate, George Ryan.

[USAFVET76]

03:22 AM on 02/02/2010

Someone should put together an over - under pool for how many weeks or months before one of these find party of blame candidates or nominees is indicted.

Or maybe a pool where you can list the person you think most likely to be indicted first.

Imagine the amount of people that would participate. Chicago and Illinois Dems history makes it a lock to get all the squares filled. It could be more popular than a super bowl square game.

[VOTER]

06:25 AM on 02/02/2010

Can Prison Inmate George Ryan, former Illinois Republican Governor,
vote in your pool?

[USAFVET76]

09:12 AM on 02/02/2010

Sure its open to all. To include members of either party, convict or not.

[mratcheson]

11:43 PM on 02/01/2010

All three dem Senate candidates are strong on liberal issues. While I don't believe Jackson supports gay marriage, she does strongly support legal rights through civil unions. (Both Giannioulias and Hoffman support gay marriage.)

I'll be voting for David Hoffman tomorrow. He's our best candidate. See his stands on the issues at http://www.hoffmanforillinois.com/issues

[Mahi Joe]

12:40 AM on 02/02/2010

I'm thinking Hoffman also.

[mratcheson]

01:56 AM on 02/02/2010

Cool. I really think he'll represent us well.

[Aldyth]

08:41 AM on 02/02/2010

Ditto for Hoffman. With his record of going after corruption, it's a shame he can't be governor, too.

[wonketteRAWKS]

10:28 PM on 02/01/2010

Doesn't Alexi have a Rezco connection like 0?

[Patricia Hanrahan]

11:07 PM on 02/01/2010

Like President Obama, Alexi Giannoulias seems to be dealing with guilt by association with Rezko. His family's bank loaned Rezko some money, and Rezko bounced big checks. Keep in mind that before his indictment Resko was just another developer, apparently worth millions. Also like President Obama, there has been no indication of any quid pro quo, no exchange of favors for the loan. In fact, Giannoulias is the first Senate candidate in Illinois to refuse money from federal lobbyists and corporate PACs. For more on his stands on the issues and his many endorsements see:
www.alexiforillinois.com

[USAFVET76]

03:54 AM on 02/02/2010

Does he take State PAC money?

[mamala4]

06:22 PM on 02/01/2010

Another no vote from the party of no...kick kirk out:

Castle Nugent National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (240-175, 18 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would establish the Castle Nugent national historic site in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands and authorize the Interior Department to purchase land for the site with appropriated funds. It now goes to the Senate.

Rep. Mark Kirk voted NO.....

[VOTER]

07:38 AM on 02/02/2010

What's up with HP posting the old photo of Congressman Mark "Bush" Kirk with
his former wife? LOL

[Mahi Joe]

08:21 AM on 02/02/2010

LOL I saw that too. Me thinks it's time for HP to update their photo files. I think it's been close to 6 months since his divorce.