Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas wins endorsement from US Senator Dick Durbin

Senator Dick Durbin endorsed Paul Vallas in his bid to become mayor of Chicago on Sunday, giving Vallas a potential boost in the race for the top office at city hall.

“He is a thoughtful leader who can strengthen Chicago’s economy and create jobs. He will be mayor of all of Chicago and move the city forward,” Durbin said in a news release. From his position focused on improved schools and economic growth, I am proud to stand with Paul and urge all Chicagoans to support his election on April 4th. ”

As the second-highest Democrat in the Senate, Durbin’s endorsement is an indication that Barras will bolster support from moderate or liberal voters who are concerned that he is associated with conservative politicians and donors. may be useful for

Vallas has campaigned as a lifelong Democrat, but has faced questions about his ties to Republican activists and donors, as well as the right-wing Police Fraternity. Durbin’s statement in the campaign news release repeats the quote “Paul Vallas is a Democrat for life” as the first line.

Varras’ own words also caused him trouble. In his 2009 interview with Jeff Berkowitz, Vallas declared: “I’m more Republican now than Democrat.” The comment was featured in a negative commercial from his rival Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson in the April 4 runoff. rice field.

Vallas has a long track record of supporting abortion rights, running for governor in the 2002 Democratic primary, and later running against disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich, then governor. I countered that I served as In 2014 the Republican Blues Pat he lost to Rouner as he was Quinn’s vice-presidential candidate.

Vallas also admits that he considered running for the Cook County Commission as a Republican in 2009. Instead, Mr. Vallas wanted to find a foothold against then-Chairman Todd Stroger, who came from a strong Democratic family and whose father, John Stroger, had led the Cook County Board for 11 years. .

Durbin’s endorsement is notable. A recent news report revealed that Ballas mocked him and another U.S. Senator from Illinois, Tammy Duckworth, for “always” voting for Democratic initiatives.

Mr. Johnson recently announced plans for a pre-election rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders and received endorsements from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Presley.

Sanders was also a proven voter in Chicago, receiving 226,854 votes in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.