By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – The first Republican to announce a challenge to Lisa Madigan in next year’s race for Illinois attorney general says she will do what Madigan promised but failed to do – fight public corruption.
Madigan is the daughter of the longest-serving state House Speaker in the modern history of the U.S., Michael Madigan, D-Chicago. During Governor’s Day at the state fair Wednesday, former Miss America turned lawyer Erika Harold said she’s asked if it’s crazy to take on what she called the Madigan machine.
“I have to tell you, no,” Harold said. “Because if we don’t stand up and fight, then good people do not have the opportunity to have somebody fight for them.”
She said if she’s elected, she will follow through on her promises, unlike the current attorney general.
“When [Lisa Madigan] ran for office 15 years ago,” Harold said, “she said it would [be] a priority to fight public corruption. You and I both know that has not happened. If you decide to elect me your attorney general, I will fight public corruption.”
Harold said she wants to be attorney general because too many people in Springfield are not serving the people’s interests.
“They are serving political interests,” Harold said. “They are serving their own interests, and that has to stop right now.”
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, who was among the pool of candidates alongside Harold during a special selection for his current seat several years ago, said Harold’s message challenging the Democrat majority Illinois is going to resonate.
“It wasn’t too long ago that [Democrats] had super majorities in both chambers, they had a governor and they continue to put us in this fiscal mess that we’ve seen Illinois be in,” Davis said. “And the solution for them is to always raise taxes.”
Harold unsuccessfully challenged Davis in the 2014 Republican primary for his congressional seat.
Harold said if she’s elected, she will be independent, hold both parties accountable, fight public corruption and serve the people’s interests first.
The general election is in November 2018, but a primary for both Republican and Democratic seats across the ballot is scheduled next spring.
