Jan Schakowsky, a Progressive's Progressive, Gears Up Her 2010 Bid for Obama's Senate Seat

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
by Christine Bowman

She has represented Illinois' liberal 9th District on Chicago's north side in Congress since 1999. She has been a bold, outspoken Progressive Caucus member and is vice chair of the bipartisan Women's Caucus. Jan Schakowsky serves in the House leadership as Chief Deputy Democratic Whip and serves on the Steering and Policy Committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, the Subcommittee on Health, and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Should she give up all that to run for Obama's, and now Roland Burris', Senate seat? (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg)

Bets are that she will, and recent polling gives her the edge in both a February primary race and the November 2010 general election. Schakowsky will announce her decision to run, or not, June 8.

At BuzzFlash, we know Schakowsky as a hometown leader who started out as a consumer advocate. We've seen her marching for years in local July 4th and Gay Pride parades and more recently giving pep-talks to activists who were heading off to lend their help to garner votes for Barack Obama in far-flung polling places. She's been the subject of several BuzzFlash interviews over the years, too.

Although she would be a shoe-in for reelection to the House, polling shows her lagging in name-recognition statewide. As national co-chair of Barack Obama's presidential campaign throughout 2008, Schakowsky raised her profile with extensive media and grassroots campaign appearances. She is now a frequent commentator on MSNBC's news programs.

Schakowsky's name did come up along with others after Obama won the presidency and a Senate replacement for him was to be named by then-Governor Rod Blagojevich. If Schakowsky competes in the 2010 Democratic primary, she is expected to face Senator Roland Burris (named to the position by now-indicted ex-Governor Blagojevich) and State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Chris Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Robert Kennedy, also has conducted polling but has not signalled a decision to run. The likely GOP opponent in the general election is assumed to be Rep. Mark Kirk, from the neighboring 10th Congressional District.

As Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet notes, "Burris is under investigation by the Sangamon County state's attorney -- and the Senate ethics committee -- over whether he gave misleading remarks when questioned about the circumstances leading up to his appointment. Under fire, Burris has kept public appearances to a minimum." Giannoulias, too, has drawn criticism just this week for his purchase of a new Ford Escape hybrid for use by staff who market the state's Bright Start college savings plan -- a program that lost $85 million last year.

On May 2 during a downstate visit, Schakowsky touted stimulus package green jobs that could potentially benefit rural Illinois. In other recent appearances and statements, she has advocated impeachment hearings for Bush OLC lawyer and now Judge Jay Bybee and she wrote to Attorney General Eric Holder urging appointment of either a special counsel or an independent commission on Bush Administration torture policy. Schakowsky has long been highly critical of the Bush Administration's torture policies. On May 5 she criticized John Boehner's pro-industry position on health care and urged Congress to give Americans "a choice between a public health care plan and private insurance."

Schakowsky's official bio is here. Her latest news is posted at http://www.janschakowsky.org/.

Illinoisans elected Carol Moseley Braun to the Senate in 1992 when she challenged a male Democratic incumbent who had voted yes on Clarence Thomas' appointment to the Supreme Court. Are voters ready to choose a liberal feminist candidate for the Senate again? Currently only 16 women serve in the U.S. Senate and 92 in the House. That's less than 20 percent.

The right wing has recently attacked Schakowsky for her criticism of the teabagging events. Of course, they attack not only progressive candidates, but Democratic moderates and less extreme GOP candidates like Arlen Specter, too.

Schakowsky recently sent a letter to constituents asking for their input into her decision whether to commit to making a Senate run. But what are progressives to say in response? Do you risk losing an strong progressive leader in the House, in hopes of gaining that voice in the Senate? It would be a sad outcome, indeed, to lose Schakowsky's voice in Washington altogether.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS