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* You don’t often see congressional candidates roll out initial endorsement lists which are this extensive, let alone a first time Illinois House candidate…
Today, Margaret Croke announced the endorsements of IUOE Local 399, Commissioner Bridget Gainer, 24th Ward Alderman Michael Scott Jr., and City Clerk of Chicago Anna Valencia. Croke also received the endorsement of community leaders Bernard Cherkasov, former CEO of Equality Illinois, Deputy Governor and former Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes, former Ambassador Bruce Heyman and Vicki Heyman, former Ambassador Wally Brewster and Bob Satawake, and Anne Caprara. Margaret is running to succeed State Representative Sara Feigenholtz in Illinois House District 12.
City Clerk of Chicago, Anna Valencia praised Margaret’s entrance into the race saying, “I personally know Margaret from her many years organizing and advocating for women and working families in Illinois. Margaret works tirelessly to stand up for our values and create opportunity for our community, our generation, women, and working families.”
Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer added, “Margaret is a champion for women and creating economic opportunity. Margaret represents the next generation of leaders for our community. We need her voice and the voice of her generation at the policy-making table.”
Margaret Croke said, “I am honored to have the support of Local 399 and leaders of my community. Their support is a testament to the work I have done as a public servant, where I have been a champion for creating economic opportunity, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and animal welfare. As a millennial, I know the challenges my generation faces and as a State Representative, I will fight to create economic opportunity for my community and I will be an advocate for women and working families.”
###
About Margaret Croke: Margaret Croke is a native of Illinois and a dedicated public servant. Margaret previously worked for Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, the City of Chicago and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. She was the lead organizer for the inaugural Young Feminist Conference. Most recently, Margaret worked on Governor JB Pritzker’s campaign, serving as the statewide Women’s Outreach Director. She is currently the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Margaret lives in Old Town with her husband, Patrick, and her two rescue dogs Winston and Charlie. Margaret and Patrick are expecting their first child in January.
It’s not noted in the release, but Anne Caprara, of course, is the governor’s chief of staff.
Rep. Feigenholtz filed to run again, but she’s hoping to be appointed to the Senate after Senate President John Cullerton steps down. Five other Democrats filed to run. Croke is fourth on the ballot.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 9:23 am
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The two quoted electeds sure have received a lot of money from Croke’s husband over the years…
Comment by Follow the money Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 9:33 am
Makes sense that this happened today, after she got a truly terrible draw in the ballot lottery yesterday.
Comment by Hmmm Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 9:37 am
That is impressive. Not sure it’s the best idea for the governor’s top staffers to make public endorsements in a primary, but I get it, she is one of them.
Comment by Brent Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 9:50 am
Make for a nice mail program, stump speech stuff, sure, but in a tight primary race in a short window, getting folks on the street, on the phone, those things will show more strength in the end than a list.
Still, to put together a list like that, it’s impressive as Rich noted for the office and her first run.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 10:00 am
Dem’s seeking endorsements for 2020 have quite a job cross referencing all their allies against the known list of folks under the could of corruption.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 10:15 am
Its a district of mostly apartment and condo buildings with people who move in and move out.
It is a battle at the moment between an Old Town woman who has worked in politics and fundraised, versus a boys town gay man who has worked in politics and fundraised.
One supported by JB staffers. One supported by Kelly Cassidy.
Both can fundraise and/or self-fund.
That means lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of mail.
Sorry, trees.
Comment by Ok Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 10:22 am
Agree with Brent. Very surprised JB Admin brass are personally endorsing state rep candidates. Is there precedence for this and I just don’t remember?
Comment by Centennial Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 10:25 am
—a boys town gay man—
Not a lot of ‘boys’ left in “boys town.” Up in Cassidy’s district now and Naperville.
Times have changed.
Comment by King Louis XVI Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 10:27 am
“Not sure it’s the best idea for the governor’s top staffers to make public endorsements in a primary”
No disrespect to Anne Caprara, but only CapFax readers — and not all of us — would recognize her name as the governor’s chief of staff.
(And I suspect that her name deliberately appears sans title on the list of endorsements for that very reason.)
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 11:00 am
Rich - on one hand, thank you for roundhousing that ridiculous comment off of this thread.
On the other hand, leaving it up would have been a good example of the type of nonsense that young women who choose to run for office have to confront on the campaign.
Comment by Salonica’s Backroom Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 11:29 am
I am sure all the dems who scoffed at Avery Bourne’s candidacy are doing the same with Croke/s
Comment by Pot Meet Kettle Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 12:35 pm
The profile of these candidates IS what’s wrong with our state government. Where’s the “started a business and employed others” or “worked his/her way up in the private sector” before entering public service? Accomplish something real, please.
Comment by Broken Gov Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 1:01 pm
“Where’s the “started a business and employed others” or “worked his/her way up in the private sector” before entering public service?”
The last governor ticked all your boxes — he was also a complete failure.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 3:16 pm
“I suspect that her name deliberately appears sans title on the list of endorsements for that very reason.”
That does make sense. Yet, Hynes used his Dep Gov title for the political endorsement. Odd.
Comment by Centennial Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 3:31 pm
Is Margaret Croke any relation to Ryan Croke–Quinn’s former Chief of Staff?
Comment by Leatherneck Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 4:59 pm
@misterjayem - Mike Madigan just maybe had something to do with the “failure” of the Rauner administration. Own the deeds that made it so.
Comment by Broken Gov Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 7:24 pm
=== Mike Madigan just maybe had something to do with the “failure” of the Rauner administration.===
60/30… same rules as anyone else.
“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate”
There was that too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 7:30 pm
== - Broken Gov - Thursday, Dec 12, 19 @ 1:01 pm:
The profile of these candidates IS what’s wrong with our state government. Where’s the “started a business and employed others” or “worked his/her way up in the private sector” before entering public service? Accomplish something real, please. ==
Is that you, Dwight Kay?
Comment by Southsider Friday, Dec 13, 19 @ 1:16 am