Attorney General Lisa Madigan reportedly is “seriously thinking” about running for Illinois governor.
Sen. Dick Durbin told Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet that Madigan, daughter of House Speaker Michael Madigan, wants to run. Durbin and Madigan apparently had a conversation during festivities at President Barack Obama's inauguration this weekend, and he says she wants to do it.
Madigan long has been a rumored candidate for the seat. When Ward Room asked her spokeswoman, Natalie Bauer didn't confirm a potential bid but said Madigan is weighing her options.
“Like any public servant the Attorney General is focused on her job," Bauer said, adding Madigan is “also trying to determine where her energy will be best focused.”
Madigan's possible opponents include former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, who maintains he's still not any closer to making a decision on his role in the governor's office.
"I'm doing a lot of things that go into making a decision," said Daley, the son and brother of two former Chicago mayors. "I'm talking to a lot of friends and elected officials and people that involved in community activities and getting their sense of what they think is needed and whether or not, in the end, I think I can add something to the debate."
Potential GOP candidates include state Treasurer Dan Rutherford, Sen. Kirk Dillard, Sen. Bill Brady, Rep. Aaron Schock and businessman Bruce Rauner.
As for Gov. Pat Quinn, he says "of course" he's running for re-election. "I'm the governor," Quinn has said. "We don't plan to change the title."
