3 Republicans Vie For Attorney General: Illinois Primary Election 2022

ILLINOIS — At a time when crime, specifically gun violence, continues to plague Chicago and other parts of Illinois, the three candidates seeking to become the Republican candidate for Attorney General believe that putting more attention toward preventing crime and government corruption must be a bigger priority for the office. They're facing off against incumbent Democrat Kwame Raoul.

On Tuesday, Republicans Thomas DeVore, Steve Kim and David Shestokas seek the right to move on to the November general election to square off against Raoul, who is seeking a second term in office.

A Republican hasn’t been elected as Illinois Attorney General since 1998, when the late Jim Ryan was successful in his run for a second term. But whoever emerges from Tuesday’s primary election is hoping to change that and, in turn, start tackling issues that each of them believes Raoul isn’t making enough of a focal point.

DeVore, 52, has used social media as a major platform to get his message out since he announced he was seeking the office. DeVore, who lives near downstate Sorento, has been in the spotlight since before the election cycle when he publicly went after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

DeVore’s efforts to fight against the governor’s COVID-19 regulations were largely unsuccessful as a whole, including when he represented GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey in his effort to sue Pritzker for his COVID-19 stay-at-home order. However, DeVore was successful in his efforts when Pritzker attempted unsuccessfully to extend the state’s mask mandate for school children — which the small-town lawyer now touts as a major political accomplishment.

DeVore has used his Facebook page to spread his message after joining the race for Attorney General in February. In a video announcing the launch of his campaign, DeVore said he’s not overly fond of politicians but believes he is the right person for the job. DeVore had previously announced he would run for a spot on the Appellate Court of the 5th District, but said he would instead seek the office of Attorney General.

“My desire's always been, and it still is today, to try to help people. I believe you can help people, not by being a legislator or something,” DeVore said in a 20-minute video announcing his candidacy for Attorney General. “You can help people by working with them, so they can help themselves. …. that's the only way we can get anything accomplished."

DeVore has made everyday people his priority and told the Chicago Tribune that he wants to be a true public servant to Illinoisans, including to suburban moms, who he believes will be a key component of those casting ballots for Tuesday’s election.

“The suburban soccer moms that people like to call them, they are not particularly pleased with the way that Attorney General Raoul has attacked their children through supporting 100 percent the governor’s use of his executive power for the last two years,” DeVore told the Tribune.

Kim, a 52-year-old attorney who lives in Deerfield, has made fighting against crime and corruption his top priority. Kim, who previously sought the statewide office but lost to Lisa Madigan in 2010, is now turning his attention to being Tuesday’s top finisher and, hopefully, to face Raoul in the fall.

Kim has the financial backing of hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin, the state’s wealthiest resident. But if chosen to represent the Republicans in November, Kim — despite his success in chasing after a statewide leadership role — believes he can make a difference if given the chance by voters.

“I know what it takes to root out corruption and enact and enforce laws that give people the sense of security that we are losing here in Illinois,” Kim wrote in an election questionnaire to Patch. “The same old career politicians are not cutting it. We need someone who can look at the office through a new, experienced lens and provide leadership to tackle the challenges holding Illinois back. I will be that Attorney General.”

In turning his attention to his opponents on Tuesday’s ballot, Kim believes that DeVore and Shestokas do not have the experience or temperament to represent every Illinois resident the way he believes an Attorney General should.

“One opponent has used disgusting language to refer to special needs children and sued a special ed teacher for calling it out,” Kim wrote in his election questionnaire. “He is embroiled in lawsuits, including against the other candidate in this race, that will only serve as a distraction in November. We need a candidate who can make Kwame Raoul's failures clear, not someone whose own actions will distract from the challenges Illinois is facing.”

For Shestokas, 70, getting a chance to face off with Raoul in November’s general election also represents an opportunity to give Illinois residents the kind of Attorney General they deserve.

The Orland Park attorney who formerly served as an assistant state’s attorney for the Cook County government is also making taking a tougher stance on crime a top priority.

Shestokas said that if elected, he would take on cases that local state’s attorneys refuse. He said if he can emerge victorious on Tuesday and then defeat Raoul in November, he would have local state’s attorneys reassigned to monitor local prosecutions and criminal investigations.

As Attorney General, he said he would then go after crime and corruption in ways that he believes Raoul has not. He also said that Raoul has become a political puppet for Pritzker, which he said would be different if he were in the office.

“The Attorney General in Illinois is elected by the people. The Illinois Attorney General Act directs the first duty of the AG is to represent the people, not the governor or the government,” Shestokas wrote in an election questionnaire to Patch. “It is not an appointment to do the will of the governor. When there is a disagreement of law between the governor and the Attorney General . . . the Attorney General is bound by the Illinois Constitution to act as the lawyer chosen by the people.”

He added: "As Attorney General, I will make this duty a principal priority of the office, as it is critical to provide legitimacy to everything else that government does.”