Madigan Alone In Race

By Amy Hart in News on Nov 14, 2005 4:50PM

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Sunday that she will run for reelection, and so far she is easily in the lead as no one has yet stepped up to run against her.

Madigan has released a statement on her campaign website that reads, in part:

Whether the issue is protecting women from domestic abuse, protecting our children from sexual predators, protecting seniors from scam artists who are targeting them, fighting unfair pricing by prescription drug companies, protecting the quality of the air we breathe, or protecting our communities from the dangers of methamphetamine, my record shows that I have worked hard every day to make a difference for the people of Illinois.

Madigan became Illinois’ first female Attorney General in 2002 after defeating Republican DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett 50% to 47%. During her first campaign, Madigan was criticized for not having any prosecutorial experience and for her political connections. Her father is Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan.

Since taking office, Madigan has made a name for herself by acting independently of her father and hasn’t cozied up much to the now radioactive Governor Blagojevich.

Recently Madigan received a John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award for her commitment to public service and has been named by USA Today as a top contender to one day become the first female President of the United States.

Can a 2010 bid for governor be far behind?