Anti-Violence Activist Tio Hardiman on His 2nd Bid for Governor


The Democratic primary for governor isn’t until March of 2018, but the field has already become a crowded one—so far, eight candidates have declared their intentions to run.

Much of the attention has been focused on big-money, big-name candidates J.B. Pritzker and Chris Kennedy. But another candidate, anti-violence activist Tio Hardiman, says he’s making another run at the office after challenging then-incumbent Pat Quinn in 2014.

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Hardiman grabbed 28 percent of the vote against Quinn, but he’ll have his work cut out for him with seven other Democratic hopefuls. The head of the nonprofit group Violence Interrupters, Hardiman worked as the head of the CeaseFire program from 2009 until 2013. He’s also previously announced candidacies for U.S. House of Representatives and Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, and hinted at a run for U.S. Senate.

Hardiman says his platform includes job creation, reducing gun violence, supporting legal gun owners, boosting public school funding, and bridging gaps between Democrats and Republicans. He joins Chicago Tonight political correspondent Paris Schutz in conversation.

This is the eighth in a series of conversations we will be having with declared candidates for Illinois governor. Find more of our coverage of the 2018 governors race here.


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June 15: The billionaire businessman and venture capitalist is the early front-runner in the Democratic race for governor. He joins us in discussion.


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