Mediaboss Marketing

Democratic candidate for governor J.B. Pritzker on Friday won the backing of the Cook County Democratic organization, which rejected calls by his rivals that the party modernize and make no formal endorsement.

Pritzker, a billionaire entrepreneur and investor, has pledged to both fund his own campaign and help out the party's candidates across the ticket next year, providing a financial allure for Democrats to support his bid to take on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Rauner, an equity investor prior to becoming governor, has used his personal wealth to not only help pay for his own campaign, but also subsidize the Illinois Republican Party and back GOP legislative candidates.

With Democratic committeemen from Chicago's wards and suburban Cook County townships gathered at a River North restaurant, Pritzker touted his early field organizing and communications efforts to counter Rauner and the state GOP.

"Like no other candidate in this race, I am focused on building up the party, uniting the Democratic Party and winning up and down the ticket," Pritzker said.

"So now more than ever, we Democrats need to come together to defeat Bruce Rauner, to stand up against (President) Donald Trump, and today I ask you humbly for your support and endorsement," he said.

The vote for Pritzker by the state's largest Democratic county organization had been expected. It comes as a precursor to next week's gathering of party activists at a large annual county chairmen's brunch to mark Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair.

Some of the county party's more progressive members had sought an open primary with no endorsement a concept that Pritzker's rivals readily encouraged in an apparent acknowledgment he was likely to get the nod.

"I think it's essential to have an open primary," said businessman Chris Kennedy, an heir to the iconic Massachusetts political family. He urged the slatemakers to "bring the Democratic Party into the 21st century" and restore trust with voters.

"We can't ask them to make our choice theirs if we're not prepared to make their choice ours. We're alienating ourselves from the voters. No voter wants to be told who to vote for in the primary," he said.

Later, Kennedy issued a statement saying top party officials were more concerned with "preserving the status quo."

"So, in the backroom of a restaurant, they anointed their choice for governor," he said.

Another contender, state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston, urged the party not to endorse by asking, "Are we going to hold an election or are we going to hold an auction?" After the organization announced it endorsed Pritzker, Biss issued a statement saying the vote was unsurprising and represented "more of the same."

"More backroom deals and more closed door coronations to replace one billionaire with another," he said. "For far too long, families like mine have felt the pain of a system rigged against us, and we're ready to choose something new. Today's vote doesn't change that."

Biss and Ald. Ameya Pawar represent the more progressive candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor. Pawar used his appearance before slatemakers to criticize government run by the wealthy, warning that Rauner was an example.

"I am sick and tired of watching a wealthy few decide what's best for the rest of us," Pawar said.

"If we simply anoint someone based on fame or fortune, then nothing changes," he added.

Also appearing before top Cook County Democrats were governor candidates state Rep. Scott Drury of Highwood, lone downstate contender Bob Daiber, anti-violence activist Tio Hardiman and a new contender who surfaced Friday, perennial candidate Robert Marshall of Burr Ridge.

The organization also endorsed all of the current incumbent statewide Democratic officeholders: Secretary of State Jesse White, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Treasurer Michael Frerichs and Comptroller Susana Mendoza. All county incumbents received endorsements, too. And Cook County Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough was endorsed to replace retiring Clerk David Orr.

White has said he will announce next week whether he will seek a sixth term for the office he has held since 1999.

rap30@aol.com

Twitter @rap30

Read more here:
Pritzker endorsed by Cook County Democrats - Chicago Tribune