Illinois lieutenant governor race: Christian Mitchell, Aaron Del Mar vie for a No. 2 job with big stakes
For most of Illinois’ history, the lieutenant governor has been a political afterthought, an officeholder whose unofficial title has been “lite gov” and whose main duty has been to stand ready should the governor die, become incapacitated or be removed from office. This year, the No. 2 job carries outsize stakes on both tickets. If Gov. JB Pritzker wins a third term, attention will quickly turn to whether he runs for president in 2028. That would place greater responsibility on his running mate, Democrat Christian Mitchell of Chicago, a former state representative and top Pritzker aide who would become governor if Pritzker wins the White House. On the Republican side, Aaron Del Mar of Palatine has been far more prominent than a typical running mate, serving as something of an interpreter on Chicago-area and suburban issues for Darren Bailey, the downstate farmer and former state…
