CITY HALL — President Barack Obama has a lot on his plate, but he's still managed to speak up when it comes to Chicago politics over the years. On Monday, he jumped into a contentious Illinois House race, endorsing Juliana Stratton for the state's 5th District.
The endorsement comes as that district's Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) faces accusations of vote-buying. Dunkin has been in powerful Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan's crosshairs since breaking with Democrats to support Gov. Bruce Rauner last year.
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"I’m endorsing Juliana Stratton because she will stand up for our children, our seniors and our working families,” Obama said in a statement released Monday by the Stratton campaign. “Juliana will fight to get guns off our streets. Throughout our neighborhoods, too many young people and families live in fear. These families can’t afford inaction."
Obama said Stratton would "bring a new voice to Springfield as state representative, adding, "She is the strong and devoted leader our neighborhoods need."
The increasingly embattled Dunkin was hit with charges this weekend that his supporters gave people $50 to vote for him, but his spokesman said if anyone was paid at the office in question, it was for canvassing or phone banking.
Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) has been another vocal opponent of Dunkin, with his 42nd Ward Democratic Organization sending out mailers calling Dunkin a "deadbeat dad" and accusing him of “violent and menacing criminal conduct toward women." On Monday, Reilly called called Obama's endorsement of Stratton "unprecedented."
"[Obama] had to work w Dunkin in Springfield, so he knows what a disaster he is," Reilly said in an email to DNAinfo. "Dunkin's sell-out to Rauner, his poor record & criminal past factored into this."
Dunkin broke ranks with Democrats in the state House last year and cast a critical vote to uphold a veto by Rauner on affordable child care. Republican fundraisers have since rewarded Dunkin by contributing $1.5 million to his campaign, Stratton charged.
The Friends of Ken Dunkin campaign fund has received $800,000 this year from the Illinois Opportunity Project, run in part by former Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft. Proft's Liberty Principles Political Action Committee has received $1.8 million from Rauner's Turnaround Illinois PAC.
Obama made reference to Dunkin in a speech to the General Assembly last month. Speaking on the need for compromise in politics, Obama said legislators who voted against their party shouldn't be branded as sellouts.
"That's right!" Dunkin shouted.
"We'll talk later, Ken," Obama tartly responded.
Obama talked Monday through TV and radio ads for the Stratton campaign.
"Receiving President Obama’s endorsement is an incredible honor, and I will work hard every day for our families and neighborhoods to earn his continued trust and support,” Stratton said. “Our neighborhoods are proud of how President Obama has taken on dangerous right-wing agendas and has stood up for working families. As state representative, I will fight against reckless agendas that threaten our families."
Dunkin is a 13-year incumbent representing the 5th House District, which stretches in a thin band from north to south from Old Town to Grand Crossing.
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