Open seat for Chicago-area prosecutor is in voters’ hands after spirited primary matchup
CHICAGO– After a heated primary campaign in the Chicago area, voters are in the hands of an open race to lead the nation’s second-largest prosecutor’s office.
The Democratic race for Cook County state’s attorney pits Eileen O’Neill Burke, a former appellate judge with a large war chest, against Clayton Harris III, a professor and attorney who has held government posts. The winner of the Democratic stronghold’s primary is expected to win outright in November.
The race is open because Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx did not seek a third term. She was one of several progressive prosecutors elected in major U.S. cities over the past decade, including Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Many have been criticized for being weak on crime, but in Chicago, both Democratic candidates have been more cautious in their criticism of Foxx and have said they will continue her approach on some issues.
Harris says punishment for crimes should take racial and community differences into account. He often talks about his personal experiences as a black man raising children in Washington Park, a neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. He says the office needs to strengthen its special prosecution unit and improve communication with police.
“We hear gunshots sometimes, and no one wants to live like that,” he said. “I understand how safety and justice impact our communities.”
O’Neill Burke says there should be tougher penalties, especially for those who contribute to the flow of illegal weapons.
“Our justice system isn’t working right now, but I don’t think anyone living in Chicago right now would disagree with that,” she said.
She calls for more lawyer training and unity to protect abortion rights, while continuing Foxx’s restorative justice efforts. Harris has said he will continue Foxx’s controversial policy of not prosecuting shoplifting as a misdemeanor unless the value of the stolen goods is more than $1,000. State law sets a misdemeanor threshold of $300.
When it comes to fundraising, O’Neill Burke leads the way with roughly double Harris’ amount, just under $2 million compared to about $750,000. Her amount includes money from top Republican donors.
But Harris has received significant support from labor unions, progressive leaders and the Cook County Democratic Party.
The district attorney’s office has more than 700 attorneys and is the largest in the country after Los Angeles.
Also running are Republican former Chicago City Councilman Bob Fioretti, who lost a bid for office in 2020, and Libertarian Andrew Charles Kopinski.