Madigan is depending on [Pritzker] to use his family fortune to win an overwhelming victory that will return Illinois to one-party rule”

It’s no secret that House Speaker Mike Madigan is supporting J.B. Pritzker’s campaign for governor. Pritzker funnels campaign cash to Madigan’s political front groups while Madigan “breaks legs behind the scenes to help Pritzker.”

Pritzker needs Madigan’s support to get through the primary and Madigan needs Pritzker’s money to tighten his grip on power and return Illinois to a one-party state before the next round of redistricting. Together, Pritzker and Madigan will team up to hike taxes, line their pockets, and expand their Chicago Political Machine.

And now voters are discovering their corrupt scheme.

From the News-Gazette editorial:

…Madigan, who is also chairman of the state Democratic Party, has made no official endorsement. But it’s common knowledge — as well as a source of considerable resentment — that Madigan is backing Pritzker. Madigan is depending on the billionaire to use his family fortune to win an overwhelming victory that will return Illinois to one-party rule and ensure that he will again be able to gerrymander state legislative districts after the 2020 Census.

But Madigan’s support for Pritzker has drawn fire from the other candidates.

Last week, Biss characterized Pritzker as “Madigan’s guy” and said “I’ve been independent of Madigan, and I’m proud of that.”

Kennedy, too, has been highly critical of Madigan, not only for the speaker’s influence on the gubernatorial nomination process but his role as a private lawyer who profits from “our rigged (Cook County) property tax system that benefits the well-connected and political insiders at the expense of homeowners, communities of color and working families.”

Befitting his standing as the campaign front-runner, Pritzker has declined to respond, saying he won’t be critical of party leaders like Madigan and Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios.

With four months left in the primary campaign, there’s still plenty of time for circumstances to change. Kennedy, who is rich but not nearly as wealthy as Pritzker, has yet to fully unleash his radio and television campaign, and his family name still could count for a lot among Democratic voters.

So, too, with Biss, who is seeking votes from the Bernie Sanders crowd that could be enough to win in a multicandidate race.

But it’s Pritzker who has the backing and the clout of the big boys. Fortunately for his opponents, voters will have the last word, and they have shown in the past that they are capable of thinking for themselves.

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