Dick Durbin to Decide on Gubernatorial Bid in November


Once again, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin gave an impassioned speech Thursday morning before the Illinois delegation at the Democratic National Convention, sounding more like a candidate for governor than ever.

He confirmed reporting by “Chicago Tonight” that he would make a decision on entering the race after the November election, saying he’d consult with his wife and make a formal announcement.

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“I don’t want to be coy about this, but I’m not going to announce now,” he said.


Related: Voters Favor Durbin for 2018 Governor’s Race, Poll Shows


Durbin forcefully condemned the tenure and philosophy of Gov. Bruce Rauner in his speech.

“The cardinal sin, or mortal sin, is what he’s tried to do to our state,” Durbin said, touting his credentials as someone who is familiar with the entire state of Illinois. “I’m from downstate. Loretta and I raised our kids in Springfield. Over the last 20 some years, we’ve enjoyed making Chicago our primary home away from D.C. I consider it the greatest city in the world.

“We cannot allow any politician to divide this state. We must stand together.”

Thursday morning's breakfast also featured speeches from U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Mike Quigley, and Kim Foxx, Democratic candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney.

Join “Chicago Tonight” for continued coverage of the Democratic National Convention all week.

Follow Paris Schutz on Twitter: @paschutz


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