CHICAGO, IL — Today, The Chicago Tribune published a story profiling Illinois’ candidates for lieutenant governor, and the contrast could not be clearer. Christian Mitchell brings years of experience delivering for Illinois families and is ready to serve on day one. Aaron Del Mar brings a pattern of threatening behavior that has only become more evident on the campaign trail.
Read excerpts from Jeremy Gorner’s story below:
On Democratic Lieutenant Gubernatorial Candidate Christian Mitchell:
- More than 20 years younger than Pritzker, the 40-year-old Mitchell could serve as a bridge to a newer generation of voters and future leaders of the state Democratic Party.
- As deputy governor, Mitchell was Pritzker’s lead strategist on the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, one of the nation’s most ambitious clean energy laws, which set a goal of moving Illinois off fossil fuels by 2050. He also helped negotiate Rebuild Illinois, the $45 billion, multiyear capital plan to improve roads and bridges; the legalization of recreational marijuana; and the January 2023 ban on certain high-powered guns and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
- “So how can we lower your costs? How can you raise the quality of your healthcare, raise the quality of your wages? Make sure you have a grocery store and a hospital, no matter where you live?” Mitchell said in an interview this month. “Those are things that myself and JB want to get done in term three.”
On Republican Lieutenant Gubernatorial Candidate Aaron Del Mar:
- In February 2013, a Naperville man [his ex-wife] was dating filed for a no-contact order against Del Mar in DuPage County following a series of anger-filled text messages Del Mar sent her about him. Some of the texts read:
- “I’m fully prepared for the repercussions and consequences of kicking his ass … I will wear them like a badge of honor.”
- “Ur bring him around, that’s your decision … My suggestions is to keep him as far away from me as possible … I would be more worried if it gets physical, that would really look bad.”
- “I Fn hate him and I’m not going to hide it … I want him to get pancreatic cancer.”
- His sometimes fiery demeanor was on display as recently as last week, when he told WLS-AM he wanted to “choke” Pritzker “through the television.”
- Del Mar made a similar comment about the Democratic-controlled legislature.
- “We will reach across the aisle and shake their hand, but when they don’t want to cooperate, we will reach across the aisle and grab them by the throat,” Del Mar said on the show.
The contrast is clear; Christian Mitchell has spent his career delivering for Illinois working families and is laser focused on lowering costs. Aaron Del Mar offers only threats and violent rhetoric. He lacks the temperament to lead Illinois.
Read the full story here.
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