Lisa Madigan Won't Run For Governor
Bill Daley Reacts To Madigan Decision
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Attorney General Lisa Madigan said Monday she won't run for governor and instead will seek re-election to her current office.
The Chicago Democrat cited potential conflicts that would arise from her father Michael Madigan's continuing role as Illinois House speaker.
"I feel strongly that the state would not be well served by having a governor and speaker of the House from the same family and have never planned to run for governor if that would be the case," Lisa Madigan said in a prepared statement. "With Speaker Madigan planning to continue in office, I will not run for governor."
Two of her potential primary opponents -– incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn and former White House Chief of Staff William Daley -- had been pounding away at the issue for months.
"You have to deal with the House if you're governor, every single day, and I think it's important that no members have conflicts of interest," Quinn said.
Daley said his own relationship to Richard Daley, the former mayor of Chicago, influenced his own decisions in politics.
Mike Madigan seemed to be trying to smooth the way for Lisa by finally championing pension reform, but his involvement in the Metra hush money scandal may have been the final straw.
Quinn is a proven campaigner, while William Daley has never run for elected office. Lisa Madigan had done both well.
The crowd of Republicans hoping to win their party's nomination for governor grew Monday as state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, formally announced his bid. Other Republicans include Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford and businessman Bruce Rauner.
