CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has decided to run for re-election instead of seeking higher office, an aide said Wednesday, a surprise decision that dramatically changes the landscape of the races for governor and Senate in a state that has seen both offices rocked by scandal.
The well-connected and monied daughter of powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan had been seen as a frontrunner for either seat, encouraged by Democratic leaders all the way up to the White House.
Madigan's political director, Mary Morrissey, confirmed the Chicago Democrat will instead seek another term as attorney general. She said Madigan would discuss the decision in a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Her announcement is likely to set off a domino effect, as candidates from both parties were waiting for her decision before jumping into races for statewide office in 2010.
Next year's election is wide open because the top two statewide elected offices up for grabs - governor and U.S. senator - are held by two Democrats who weren't elected to those posts.
Gov. Pat Quinn inherited the job when he replaced ousted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and removed from office by lawmakers after his arrest on federal corruption charges, including allegations that he tried to sell off President Barack Obama's Senate seat.
Blagojevich appointed Sen. Roland Burris to the seat before being kicked out of office.
Burris' tenure has been dogged by an ethics investigation over his changing statements on whether he offered to raise money for Blagojevich prior to his appointment.
Burris and Quinn have yet to announce they will run for full terms.
Madigan, now in her second term, had long been considering a run for governor. More recently, she pondered running for Senate, weighing the negatives of the travel and time away from her family that the job would require.
Madigan recently visited Washington to talk to Obama and some of his top aides about running for his old seat. Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said then that Madigan would be a ``terrific candidate,'' although the president wouldn't be endorsing anyone.
With nearly $3.5 million in her campaign war chest at the end of last year, Madigan had the kind of name recognition and money to wage a top-tier campaign, two things that can scare off likely opponents.
But she's also a mother of two young children who has said she loves her current job.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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