Chicago Sun-Times

Chairman of key Dem group calls for Pritzker endorsemen­t

- BY TINA SFONDELES Political Reporter Email: tsfondeles@suntimes.com Twitter: @ TinaSfon

The chairman of the influentia­l Illinois Democrat County Chairmen’s Associatio­n is urging members to endorse J. B. Pritzker for governor — ahead of a planned endorsemen­t session next month.

Doug House, also chairman of the Rock Island County Democrats, on Tuesday said the chairmen will make up their own minds on Oct. 7, but he’s made up his own. There are nine declared candidates for the hotly contested March primary.

“While other candidates are to be commended for stepping forward, only J. B. Pritzker has generated the excitement around a progressiv­e message, intensely and constantly engaged our common opponent, and demonstrat­ed the ability to mount the comprehens­ive statewide campaign that will be required to win,” House said in a statement.

“It is for these reasons that I will enthusiast­ically cast my vote and ask others to do [ the] same for an IDCCA endorsemen­t of J. B. Pritzker for governor.”

House cited Pritzker’s temperamen­t, “strong message,” broad- based support and organizati­onal growth for reasons he’s supporting him.

Pritzker is a self- funder, and he’s contribute­d more than $ 14 million to his campaign. He’s spent most of that on television ads that ran early and often, more than nine months before the primary.

An endorsemen­t from the county chairmen would only add on to a slew the billionair­e entreprene­ur and investor has already reaped, including the endorsemen­t of 14 labor unions.

Sources have said for months that Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has been rounding up support for Pritzker, although his spokesman has denied that.

The trade unions, however, are allied with the powerful speaker who also serves as the chair of the state Democratic Party.

Earlier this year, House urged candidates to focus on unseating Rauner rather than attacking each other.

The announceme­nt didn’t go unnoticed on Tuesday. The Illinois Republican Party, led by Gov. Bruce Rauner, criticized the push to endorse Pritzker— while again trying to link him to both the speaker and former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevic­h.

“Mike Madigan is strongarmi­ng endorsemen­ts for J. B. Pritzker because Madigan knows Pritzker will expand his power, protect his tax hikes and block reform,” spokesman Aaron DeGroot said in a statement. “Illinois families should be worried that a Blagojevic­h- loving, Madigan- obeying politician like J. B. Pritzker wants to be their governor.”

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