We’re lower than 9 months from when candidates can
start circulating petitions for the 2026 election, so we’re quickly approaching
the time when main figures might want to determine whether or not to run or not. As a result of
of that, lots of people are polling.
The state’s two massive canine, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Gov.
JB Pritzker, are nonetheless not saying what they plan to do, though Durbin has
mentioned he’ll make his plans recognized after the beginning of the brand new yr.
Pritzker has been polling, though his marketing campaign wouldn’t
remark. A buddy who was polled mentioned the questions diversified from migrant and
immigration coverage, to a doable constitutional modification to guard abortion
rights, to crime response and whether or not he ought to stand as much as President-elect
Donald Trump if he tries to violate the rights of Illinois residents or whether or not
he ought to discover a solution to work with the Trump administration to profit Illinois.
There have been the standard proper route vs. fallacious route
questions, and questions score the governor’s efficiency on issues like
fiscal administration and taxes, and the place they believed Pritzker stood on the
political ideological spectrum.
Pritzker’s ballot examined the statewide recognition of individuals
like Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood and Raja
Krishnamoorthi. The governor additionally examined Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s
recognition.
Lt. Gov. Stratton can be polling. A supply with
data of the ballot and the pondering behind it mentioned Stratton is “holding her
choices open” as a call by Pritzker looms. Nevertheless, the particular person burdened
that Stratton has “no plans of not holding her day job.”
Stratton has been actively fundraising for the reason that summer time
of 2023 and has additionally turn out to be extra seen, showing with the governor at many
of his governmental and marketing campaign stops and doing a number of of her personal occasions.
Stratton’s ballot examined Sen. Durbin’s recognition, which is
commonplace in these kinds of issues, however that’s an workplace she might search. Additionally,
if Pritzker decides to not run once more, the choice will doubtless create a
down-ticket cascade as folks try to maneuver up the ladder. Like Pritzker,
Stratton examined the recognition of a number of different elected officers.
Stratton’s ballot examined numerous background messages with
potential voters, which can be frequent. As an illustration, a query examined how her
relationship to Pritzker performs with voters: “Juliana Stratton has labored with
JB Pritzker since day one to get massive issues executed for Illinois. JB calls her his
associate in governing. Collectively, they turned the Illinois financial system round and
together with accomplishments like elevating the minimal wage, making historic
investments in infrastructure, and giving 1.8 billion {dollars} in tax aid to
working households in Illinois.” Voters have been then requested to fee her favorability
between one and 10.
One other check query notes that Stratton “is the primary
Black Lieutenant Governor and first Black lady constitutional officer in
Illinois ever,” and after speaking about her life on town’s South Aspect,
closes with, “As a descendant of enslaved folks, she understands the systemic
boundaries dealing with marginalized communities. She works each day throughout Illinois
to rebuild uncared for communities.”
The ballot talks about her time because the “major caregiver”
to her mom, who had Alzheimer’s and lived with Stratton for 3 years
earlier than passing away. “She says it was each the distinction of her life in addition to
extremely troublesome. Stratton was additionally elevating three daughters on the identical time,
sandwiched between two generations and caring for everybody. Stratton managed it
all and is aware of how arduous Illinois households have it.”
The ballot touts her expertise as a mediation lawyer.
“Which means her complete job was to get opposing sides to compromise, see issues
from the opposite’s standpoint, and get each side to conform to an answer. And
Stratton had a really excessive % success fee. Who higher to guide us when
everyone seems to be so divided? Stratton has the talents and the know the right way to assist convey
each side collectively to get issues executed.”
After testing different candidates’ recognition, Stratton’s
ballot additionally requested whether or not her help of assorted points made respondents extra or
much less more likely to approve of her, together with elevating the minimal wage; enacting a
massive infrastructure plan; prison justice reform; balancing the funds,
enhancing pension funding and reaching 9 credit score upgrades; serving to go a
invoice to “enshrine reproductive rights into state regulation”; main the Council on
Rural Affairs and the Council for Ladies and Ladies; and “stood as much as the NRA” by
serving to go an assault weapons ban.
That ought to offer you an thought of the messaging to count on
if Stratton decides to run for a special workplace.
