Equality Illinois PAC Announces Endorsements, Including Pritzker for Governor

CHICAGO, Ill.—The Equality Illinois PAC is proud that an unprecedented number of candidates sought endorsement in the March 2018 Illinois primary election from the only statewide political action committee dedicated to defending and securing the rights of LGBTQ Illinoisans.

"The nearly 100 endorsement surveys returned to the Equality Illinois PAC from candidates throughout the state show how strong support for LGBTQ equality exists throughout Illinois," said Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois.

In particular, the Equality Illinois PAC Board was delighted to see overwhelming support for LGBTQ people consistent across all Democratic candidates for Governor.

"This support is a testament to the hard work LGBTQ people and our allies have committed over decades to ensure that LGBTQ people are treated equally in our state," said Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois. "Whichever Democratic candidate advances to the general election, the Equality Illinois PAC Board knows that it will have a supporter for LGBTQ equality."

The Equality Illinois PAC is proud to endorse JB Pritzker for Governor and his running mate Juliana Stratton for Lieutenant Governor.

"JB Pritzker has been a strong and public champion of the LGBTQ community since long before support for LGBTQ equality was the norm among Democratic political leaders," said John Litchfield, Equality Illinois PAC Board Chair. "Going back decades, he has marched in Pride parades, worked to elect LGBTQ people to office, and supported civic organizing efforts of LGBTQ community groups to broaden support for LGBTQ equality. There are few leaders in our state who have served as courageously and consistently for LGBTQ equality over recent decades as JB Pritzker."

Litchfield added, "We endorse JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton in the Democratic primary with the expectation that as Governor and Lieutenant Governor they will meet us at our table as active participants in the conversations and issues facing the LGBTQ community in Illinois now and in the future."

All candidates for governor were asked by the Equality Illinois PAC to fill out and return our questionnaires. No questionnaires were returned by the Republican candidates, and therefore the Equality Illinois PAC could not consider their candidacies for endorsement in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

The Equality PAC is also proud to endorse three incumbent statewide officeholders in the Democratic primary who have been consistent champions for LGBTQ Illinoisans: Secretary of State Jesse White, state Comptroller Susana Mendoza, and state Treasurer Michael Frerichs. The Equality Illinois PAC is also endorsing 80 legislative candidates for the March 2018 primary elections. ( The full list is below. )

The Equality Illinois PAC is a distinct entity, with separate boards of directors, from Equality Illinois Institute and Equality Illinois. The Equality Illinois PAC is the only statewide political entity dedicated to defending and securing the rights of LGBTQ Illinoisans though engagement in the electoral process. Endorsements are based on a candidate's record in office and responses submitted on the Equality Illinois PAC's candidate survey. Voters can learn more about the Equality Illinois PAC and our endorsements at www.eqilpac.org .

2018 Primary Election Endorsements by the Equality Illinois PAC:

Governor/Lt. Governor

JB Pritzker/Juliana Stratton

Secretary of State

Jesse White

State Comptroller

Susana Mendoza

State Treasurer

Michael Frerichs

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Debra Shore

Cook County Board of Commissioners ( district number — city of residence )

Kevin B. Morrison ( 15 — Elk Grove Village )

Illinois House of Representatives ( district number — city of residence )

Daniel Burke ( 1 — Chicago )

Theresa Mah ( 2 — Chicago )

Lamont Robinson ( 5 — Chicago )

Sonya Harper ( 6 — Chicago )

Emanuel Chris Welch ( 7 — Hillside )

Ann Williams ( 11 — Chicago )

Sara Feigenholtz ( 12 — Chicago )

Greg Harris ( 13 — Chicago )

Kelly Cassidy ( 14 — Chicago )

Lou Lang ( 16 — Skokie )

Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz ( 17 — Glenview )

Robyn Gabel ( 18 — Evanston )

Robert Martwick ( 19 — Chicago )

Merry Marwig ( 20 — Chicago )

Michael J. Madigan ( 22 — Chicago )

Elizabeth Hernandez ( 24 — Cicero )

Curtis Tarver ( 25 — Chicago )

Christian Mitchell ( 26 — Chicago )

Justin Slaughter ( 27 — Chicago )

Thaddeus Jones ( 29 — Calumet City )

Will Davis ( 30 — Homewood )

Kelly Burke ( 36 — Evergreen Park )

David Bonner ( 38 — Matteson )

Will Guzzardi ( 39 — Chicago )

Jaime Andrade ( 40 — Chicago )

Kathleen Carrier ( 42 — Carol Stream )

Anna Moeller ( 43 — Elgin )

Deb Conroy ( 46 — Villa Park )

Anne Sommerkamp ( 47 — Downers Grove )

Karina Villa ( 49 — West Chicago )

Maggie Trevor ( 54 — Rolling Meadows )

Michelle Mussman ( 56 — Schaumburg )

Jonathan Carroll ( 57 — Northbrook )

Bob Morgan ( 58 — Deerfield )

Daniel Didech ( 59 — Buffalo Grove )

Joyce Mason ( 61 — Gurnee )

Sam Yingling ( 62 — Grayslake )

Jake Castanza ( 68 — Rockford )

Joan Padilla ( 71 — Sterling )

Mike Halpin ( 72 — Rock Island )

Linda Chapa LaVia ( 83 — Aurora )

Stephanie Kifowit ( 84 — Aurora )

John Connor ( 85 — Lockport )

Jill Blair ( 88 — Bloomington )

Amy Davis ( 90 — Dixon )

John Curtis ( 93 — Macomb )

Mica Freeman ( 97 — Plainfield )

Natalie Manley ( 98 — Joliet )

Marc Bell ( 99 — Springfield )

Jen McMillin ( 101 — Decatur )

Carol Ammons ( 103 — Champaign )

Benjamin Webb ( 105 — Normal )

Shirley Bell ( 110 — Mattoon )

Katie Stuart ( 112 — Edwardsville )

Jay Hoffman ( 113 — Collinsville )

Illinois Senate ( district number — city of residence )

Omar Aquino ( 2 — Chicago )

Mattie Hunter ( 3 — Chicago )

John Cullerton ( 6 — Chicago )

Ram Villivalam ( 8 — Chicago )

Laura Fine ( 9 — Glenview )

Emil Jones III ( 14 — Chicago )

Bill Cunningham ( 18 — Chicago )

Iris Martinez ( 20 — Chicago )

Laura Ellman ( 21 — Naperville )

Tom Cullerton ( 23 — Villa Park )

Suzanne Glowiak ( 24 — Western Springs )

Tom Georges ( 26 — Mundelein )

Ann Gillespie ( 27 — Arlington Heights )

Julie Morrison ( 29 — Deerfield )

Terry Link ( 30 — Vernon Hills )

Mary Mahady ( 32 — McHenry )

Nancy Zettler ( 33 — Algonquin )

Gregg Johnson ( 36 — East Moline )

Heidi Henry ( 38 — Marseilles )

Don Harmon ( 39 — Oak Park )

Bridget Fitzgerald ( 41 — Western Springs )

Linda Holmes ( 42 — Aurora )

Andy Manar ( 48 — Bunker Hill )

Rachelle Aud Crowe ( 56 — Glen Carbon )

Christopher Belt ( 57 — Cahokia )