ENDORSEMENT: Jim Durkin for Illinois House in 82nd District

Back in May, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin showed once again the integrity and decency that make him the easy pick in this race.

Seeing a group of protesters carrying anti-Semitic signs while demonstrating against Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home orders, Durkin didn’t hesitate. He told them they were wrong, plain and simple.

Afterward, at an unrelated press conference, Durkin put it more strongly. Marching around with signs comparing Pritzker to Adolf Hitler, and worse, was “nothing less than despicable.”

Our point is this: We think any person with a shred of decency knew those signs were indeed despicable. Even so, Durkin did more than many people would: He confronted those protesters publicly, then spoke out forcefully about it afterward.

Durkin is now spearheading the effort to investigate House Speaker Michael Madigan’s dealings with Commonwealth Edison. Whatever the politics involved, Durkin is a sensible legislator and a strong leader. He is endorsed over Democrat Kassem Moukahal of Homer Glen.

Illustration by Caroline Hurley.

To read more Sun-Times endorsements, please go to suntimes.com/political-endorsements. For more information about this race and others, including candidate questionnaires, go to our Illinois voting guide. Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and, in some cases, politically active investors; for details, see our owner information page.

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