Illinois’ top Republican says Blagojevich still a political issue

Illinois’ top Republican says Blagojevich still a political issue

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

The head of the Republican Party in Illinois says Rod Blagojevich could still be a political issue in the next statewide elections in 2014.

Jury selection is underway in the former governor’s corruption trial.

Pat Brady runs the Illinois Republican Party. He said the same people who initially supported Blagojevich for governor are still in power, so it’s still a political issue.

“Hopefully, when we put our candidate up to run for governor, we can remind them that Pat Quinn served as his lieutenant governor and, more importantly, the policies that Pat Quinn has pursued in his first year in office,” Brady said.

Quinn became governor after Blagojevich was impeached in 2009. Quinn was elected to that office this past fall.