How will the dominoes fall?

Add comment July 8th, 2009

Lisa Madigan’s decision to run for re-election will start some new political games in Illinois. No one really wants to run against her, so expect the AG candidate pool to dwindle. Don’t be surprised if Republican Joe Birkett, who announced he’d run for attorney general, changes his mind and runs for another office, governor perhaps.

Madigan’s decision to not run for governor or senator, a position she was being recruited for by White House staff, probably will mean Comptroller Dan Hynes will run for governor and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias will have an easier time in the Democratic primary for U.S. senator. I’m expecting statements from both men later today.

Madigan staying at AG also could be good news for Republicans. She would be a more formidable opponent for gov or senator than the likely Deomocratic candidates. She got 72 percent of the vote when she ran for re-election in 2006 making her the top vote-getter in the state.

Republicans have a better chance against Pat Quinn or Hynes than they would have against Madigan. They also have a better chance against Giannoulias than they would have against Madigan.

Expect a lot more names on both sides of the aisle to be thrown into these races.

Lisa Madigan to run for re-election

Add comment July 8th, 2009

Lisa Madigan won’t be running for governor or senator. At 2 p.m. she’ll announce that she’s going to run for re-election as attorney general.

Robin Ziegler, a spokeswoman for Madigan, called me a while ago to let me know. The news has already been posted on the Chicago Tribune’s Web site and some others.

I have privately told my colleagues that I thought she would run for re-election. It was a hunch and it looks like it was right.

Ziegler said Madigan will call me later this afternoon after the press conference. I’ll post an update then.