Cook County Democrats plan to get out voters for Clinton

Cook County Democrats are promising to register new voters and make sure those already registered visit the polls to back their candidate Nov. 8.

Though Illinois has voted solidly in Democrats' favor in the last six presidential elections, Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Berrios said Wednesday party leaders aren't taking anything for granted this year.

The prospect of Donald Trump as a Republican nominee who could win Democratic and independent votes has led local Democratic Party committeemen to renew their get-out-the-vote efforts.

"We'll be out trying to make sure it's a Democratic election for Hillary (Clinton)," said Berrios, referring to the Democratic front-runner who won Illinois' primary and had the local party's endorsement. "We'll be doing registration. We'll be going out knocking on doors and trying to get as many people as we can to come out."

On Wednesday, Democratic committeemen or their representatives from 30 suburban townships and 50 Chicago wards met in a crowded downtown Chicago conference room to re-elect Berrios as party chairman for another two-year term.

Berrios, the Cook County assessor, said he called every committeeman to ask for their support. He has been the party boss for eight years.

Berrios acknowledged missteps that led to the defeat of the party's endorsed candidate in the Cook County circuit court clerk March primary race.

In a rare move, the party withdrew its support from 15-year incumbent Dorothy Brown after federal authorities revealed they were investigating charges related to the purchase of jobs and promotions in the clerk's office. The party backed Chicago Alderman Michelle Harris instead, but Brown cruised to the nomination by some 160,000 votes over Harris. Another candidate, Jacob Meister, finished third.

"It's going to be very interesting to see what really happens with her office," Berrios said of Brown. "She had the name recognition and we got started late with our candidate. It was one of those perfect storms."

Brown said after the primary election she felt "vindicated."

She will face Republican Diane Shapiro in the general election.