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Illinois Speaker Welch releases official Democratic Party endorsements
By Ray Hanania
Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch released recommended endorsements for the Democratic Primary election June 28, 2022.
The endorsements list the top Democratic candidates but leaves it up to voters to select their choices in two contested races. Those two contested races include candidates running for Illinois Secretary of State and for Cook County Assessor.
The race for Illinois Secretary of State is wide open although Alexi Giannoulias has a commanding lead over his two rivals Anna Valencia and David Moore.
In the race for Cook County Assessor, the candidates include the incumbent, Fritz Kaegi, who has been criticized for mishandling improvements in the office, and challenger Kari Steele.
It’s not uncommon for endorsements to allow voters to decide in some races so the Speaker’s list is not surprising.
It does confirm the divisions that exist in the party, what some observers might call an “openness” allowing contested races like Secretary of State and County Assessor to be left to the voters.
Giannoulias was elected at age 30 as the youngest person to ever hold the Illinois Treasurer’s office. Giannoulias is the favored candidate.
Steele is currently serving her second six-year term at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago(MWRD). She currently serves as President of the MWRD. Steele is the favored candidate.
Speaker Welch’s endorsements carry heavily in the new state Democratic organization and party.
Two endorsements for Judge in the 4th SubCircuit District also have note, Nick Kantas and ShawnTe Raines Welch, the Speaker’s wife, both deemed highly qualified by Illinois many Bar Associations.
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Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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