Kamala Harris unveils Illinois leadership team: Snares big names in diverse group

Exclusive: The Harris “Illinois Leadership Council” includes City Clerk Anna Valencia; Reps. Danny Davis and Bobby Rush; Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering and veteran Democratic strategist Mike Kreloff.

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Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has unveiled her “Illinois Leadership Council.”

Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris is the first 2020 contender to unveil an Illinois leadership team, and she has snared a diverse group of influential Democrats, according to information provided to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Harris “Illinois Leadership Council” includes City Clerk Anna Valencia; Reps. Danny Davis and Bobby Rush. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering and veteran Democratic strategist Mike Kreloff, an expert on election laws, are among those on the team.

Desiree Rogers, the chairman of Choose Chicago, former Johnson Publishing CEO and former Obama White House Social Secretary is a member of the Harris national finance committee and is the Midwest finance co-chair. Rogers has hosted fundraisers for Harris in Chicago.

The presidential campaigns have to start organizing in Illinois now because the window for passing delegate petitions opens Oct. 5 for the March 17 primary.

The Illinois team “will serve as in-state leadership for the campaign and help identify and recruit supporters throughout the state, aid with grassroots events and organizations, and assist with the delegate selection and ballot access process,” a release from the Harris campaign said.

Here’s the who’s who, from the campaign:

State Senator Ram Villivalam and State Representative Bob Morgan will also advise the campaign on South Asian and Jewish outreach respectively. 

Members of the Leadership Council include:

  • Anna Valencia, City Clerk, City of Chicago
  • Donna Miller, Cook County Commissioner
  • Bob Morgan, State Representative – 58th District
  • Ram Villivalam, State Senator – 8th District
  • Bobby Rush, U.S. House of Representatives - 1st District
  • Danny Davis, U.S. House of Representatives – 7th District
  • Valerie Alexander, Former Chief of Staff U.S. Senator Dick Durbin
  • Mike Kreloff, Attorney & Northfield Township Democratic Committeeperson, Emeritus
  • John West, Small Business Owner & LGBTQ Activist
  • Mattie Hunter, State Senator – 3rd District
  • Nikki Budzinski, Senior Advisor, Governor Pritzker
  • Jennifer Camille Lee, Executive, Co-President Illinois Democratic Women
  • Arielle Maffei, President Young Democrats of Illinois
  • Deb Conroy, State Representative  - 46th District
  • Nancy Rotering, Mayor - Highland Park

“At a time when the current structure has systematically oppressed generation after generation, we need a candidate that puts equitable reform at the top of their agenda,” said Valencia in a statement.

“As the link between Chicago’s residents and their government, I know firsthand the importance of having an elected official who not only fights on behalf of those that they serve but whose life experiences match their own. Whether as District Attorney, Attorney General, or United States Senator, Kamala has done just that: fight for the people. That’s why I am proud to support her candidacy.”

“I’m proud to endorse Kamala Harris’ historic candidacy for president,” said Miller in a statement. “As a fellow graduate of Howard University, I know Kamala will prioritize investing in HBCUs and close the racial homeownership gap. She has laid out an agenda focused on the issues that keeps Americans up at night, from access to affordable healthcare to raising teacher pay. She is the champion that all Americans, and the people of the South Suburbs, deserve in the White House.”

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