Madigan has not been seriously challenged by Republicans since she first ran for the office as a North Side state senator with four years of experience. Neither has she risen to higher office, despite being seen as a future Democratic star and mentioned as a contender for everything from governor and U.S. Senate to the Illinois Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court. In 2014, she stayed out of the race for governor, citing the potential conflicts that could come from having a governor and legislative leader from the same family.