Longtime Senate Dems Withdraw to Hand Off Seats to Chosen Successors
Sen. Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) withdrew from his race for re-election to essentially concede the primary to the only other candidate who filed petitions for the seat…the man who is engaged to his daughter.
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Two longtime Democratic Senators have withdrawn from the June primary ballot to pass on their seats to preferred successors.
Both Sen. Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) and Sen. Steve Landek (D-Bridgeview) withdrew from the ballot Wednesday, as had been expected after they engineered the filing of a family member or longtime ally on the ballot.
Munoz’s soon-to-be son-in-law, Javier Cervantes, filed nominating petitions just before the deadline on the final day of the nominating window in March.
Landek’s former Chief of Staff, Lyons Township Trustee and Public Works Director in Bridgeview (where Landek is Mayor) Mike Porfirio, did the same in Landek’s south suburban 11th District.
Sen. Steve Landek (D-Brideview)
By filing before the closing date and withdrawing, no other Democrat can file to face Cervantes or Porfirio.
In a short statement from his Senate office Thursday, Munoz said he served to help make lives better for the people in his neighborhood.
“I was taught at a young age that hard work and determination is the key to success,” Munoz said. “I have applied this to everything I have accomplished, especially as a state senator.”
Landek did not comment.
Munoz has served in Senate since 1999, Landek joined the Senate in 2011.
Republicans likely won’t make a ton of hay out of the moves as former Sen. Chuck Weaver of Peoria essentially did the same thing two years ago, passing on the seat to ally Sen. Win Stoller (R-East Peoria). No Republican has filed in either district, which are both heavily Democratic.