Illinois Voters Decide AG Race Amid Budget Cuts and Legal Feuds
Incumbent Kwame Raoul defends his record on federal lawsuits while challenger Bob Fioretti targets the SAFE-T Act and state corruption.
By Marco Ortega ·
Kwame Raoul is seeking a third term as Illinois attorney general in Tuesday's general election. He faces Bob Fioretti, a former Chicago alderman and civil rights attorney. The election will determine the direction of the state's legal office as it navigates a reduced budget and ongoing disputes with the federal government.
Raoul entered politics in 2004 when he was appointed to the Illinois Senate to fill the seat vacated by Barack Obama. He served in that chamber for 14 years before succeeding Lisa Madigan as attorney general in 2018. Raoul won re-election in 2022 and has since focused his office on consumer protection, public safety, and civil rights enforcement.
During his second term, Raoul's office has engaged in approximately 90 legal battles with the Trump administration. These lawsuits have addressed issues ranging from federal disaster relief to medical research funding. Raoul estimates these efforts have helped Illinois retain more than $8 billion in federal funding that might otherwise have been withheld. His office also reached a $25 million settlement with Grubhub in December 2024 regarding deceptive business practices.
Despite these legal wins, Raoul faces fiscal constraints. State lawmakers reduced his office's budget by $10 million this year. Raoul has identified retaining attorneys and securing additional resources as top priorities if re-elected. He argues that the office needs financial stability to continue its multi-state litigation efforts and labor law enforcement through its Worker Protection Unit.
Bob Fioretti is campaigning on a platform of reforming the state's pretrial detention system and combating public corruption. He served as the alderman for Chicago's 2nd Ward from 2007 to 2015. Since leaving the City Council, he has run unsuccessfully for mayor, state's attorney, and Cook County Board president. Fioretti describes himself as a legal professional with 40 years of experience, including time as an assistant Illinois attorney general.
Fioretti has labeled the Illinois SAFE-T Act a disaster. The law, which eliminated cash bail in qualifying cases starting in September 2023, is a central target of his campaign. He argues the statute treats violent criminals with excessive leniency at the expense of victims. While the law allows judges to detain defendants in specific cases, Fioretti believes it needs significant reform or elimination to better protect public safety.
The challenger also emphasizes government accountability. He criticized the current enforcement of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. Fioretti described FOIA as a paper tiger, alleging that local officials often violate transparency laws without facing meaningful consequences. He plans to use statewide grand juries more aggressively to pursue corruption cases that he says currently go unnoticed.
Fioretti stressed the need for the attorney general to operate independently from the governor. He stated that he intends to be the people's lawyer rather than the governor's. This stance contrasts with Raoul's record of close cooperation with state leadership and federal agencies. Both candidates were invited to complete a questionnaire for the election guide, with only Fioretti submitting responses as of publication.
