Chicago City Wire

Last week, nearly two dozen prominent Cook County politicians said in an open letter that it's time for a Black man to serve as State's Attorney, an endorsement of Democratic Party insider Clayton Harris III. The Chicago Federation of Labor isn't so sure, according to its March Primary Election Endorsements made public on Tuesday.

The CFL serves as the umbrella organization for labor unions in Chicago and Cook County, according to its website. The federation emphasizes the "unity and solidarity" of its affiliated organizations and their members. The CFL, which previously supported the candidacy of outgoing State's Attorney Kim Foxx, has chosen to remain "neutral" in the March Democratic Party primary contest between Harris and former Illinois Appellate Court Judge Eileen O'Neill Burke, who is white. As of Jan. 16, the organization’s list of endorsements for the March Primary included names for each position except that of Cook County States Attorney.

The CFL's decision to stay "neutral" in the State's Attorney race may be due to support from individual labor unions that have aligned with O'Neill Burke. According to O’Neill Burke’s website, this list includes influential members of the CFL such as the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134 and Local 9, and Chicago Journey Plumbers Local 130. She also received an endorsement from Joint Council 25 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents 25 union local affiliates.

Chicago City Wire reported that U.S. Representative Mike Quigley has also endorsed O'Neill Burke over Harris for the upcoming March primary election. Quigley emphasized O'Neill Burke's comprehensive readiness to address crime-related issues and lead the community towards safety and justice. He said O’Neill Burke "has unmatched experience and good judgment to get us back on track toward safety and justice for all."

According to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times, Harris announced his candidacy with a $10,000 donation and the endorsement of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Preckwinkle also serves as the chairwoman of the county Democratic Party. In addition to this, Harris has received endorsements from the Cook County Democratic Party and Chicago Teachers Union.