Will Voters Push Back As Giannoulias Seeks Two Offices at Once?
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias answers questions from media after announcing his campaign for Chicago Mayor Sunday. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
In 2018, Comptroller Susana Mendoza waited eight days after winning re-election to her statewide post before announcing her run for Chicago Mayor in 2019, though speculation about her plans were perhaps more prevalent in her campaign than her actual day job.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who announced he’s running for both re-election in November and Chicago Mayor next year this weekend, seemed unconcerned with the running for two posts at the same time.
“Running for Mayor is like interviewing for a job, a really hard job. And just like anything else, when you’re running for a job, you don’t quit the one you’re in while you’re interviewing [for the new one,”] he said to reporters after his announcement speech Sunday.
Giannoulias gave a similar answer in a Chicago TV interview that was released Sunday Morning, and when NBC Chicago political reporter Mary Ann Ahern asked him to explain that, Giannoulias essentially repeated the talking point.
It has already led to some criticism of Giannoulias by his competitors.
“I’m all in for Chicago. Alexi is clearly all in for Alexi, and that’s why he’s hedging his bets and he’s running for both offices. Chicago deserves a mayor who’s all in,” Mendoza, who is running for Mayor in 2027 but not seeking re-election as Comptroller in November, told a Chicago TV station Monday.
But, sources say, Giannoulias and his team are unconcerned about attacks over seeking two offices at once.
First, Giannoulias’ Republican competition is nominal and he is perceived to be a shoo-in for re-election. They believe even if Republicans tried to make it an issue to bloody him up in the statewide race, they wouldn’t be successful.
Secondly, sources close to the Giannoulias campaign said they had polled the question both statewide and with city voters and “voters don’t care.”
So, it’s likely you’ll see Giannoulias brush off the questions between now and November.
Like when The Illinoize asked Giannoulias directly Sunday if it was hypocritical to ask four million voters to re-elect him to his current job while he sought another at the same time, he flatly replied “no.” When we asked why, he didn’t respond and moved on to another question.
