Chris Kennedy, a prominent Chicago businessman and son of the late U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, joined the Democratic race for Illinois governor on Wednesday.
“Today I am announcing my run for governor because I love Illinois,” Kennedy said in a statement.
The latest gubernatorial hopeful said the Land of Lincoln has “never been in worse shape” and requires “fundamental” changes at the state level to improve economic conditions and opportunity.
It’s time for Illinois to embrace “the notion that we are a country and a state where anyone can make it and where unlimited opportunity is the promise of our country,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy was said to have been consulting with professional pollsters for months leading up to his decision on Wednesday. He is the second Democratic candidate to join the race to challenge Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who is expected to run for re-election in 2018.
