Pritzker would consider VP nomination, but some unhappy with party leadership

(The Center Square) – As the Illinois governor weighs in on a potential vice presidential nomination, a socialist alderman from Chicago is expressing frustration with the Democratic Party.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker told CNN he’d be reluctant to give up his post as governor of Illinois, but the possibility of being vice president would be appealing.

“It’d be hard to resist a call and consideration if the nominee called me to ask to be considered for vice president,” Pritzker said Wednesday.

He told MSNBC Tuesday that he had not received any vetting materials from the Harris campaign.

A member of the Chicago City Council’s Socialist Caucus wants to hear more about issues before endorsing Democratic Party candidates. Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez also expressed dissatisfaction with leaders of the Democratic Party in Illinois.

The 25th Ward alderman said President Joe Biden did the right thing by dropping his bid for reelection. Sigcho-Lopez questioned Biden’s fitness to continue a potential second term and disagreed with the president’s policy in Gaza.

“We know that the majority of Democratic voters believe that there should be a cease-fire, that there should be more attention to the issues at home,” Sigcho-Lopez said.

Sigcho-Lopez also expressed dissatisfaction with some Illinois Democrats.

“We have in Chicago a tremendous issue of housing, for instance, and the neglect of every level of government. I’m not particularly impressed with the leadership of the Democratic Party here in Illinois,” Sigcho-Lopez said.

Sigcho-Lopez is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. He is also part of the Chicago City Council’s Socialist Caucus.

As Vice President Kamala Harris builds momentum in her bid for the Democratic Party’s nomination for president before the DNC, Chicago’s 25th Ward alderman said it is important that Democrats coalesce around a candidate who incorporates the voices of people around the country.

“I do think the city of Chicago needs coordination from the federal level, something that we did not see under President Biden and I hope to see in a potential presidency of Kamala Harris,” Sigcho-Lopez said.

Sigcho-Lopez was not ready to endorse Harris for president.

“I am in favor of a convention which respects the majority of Democratic voters. And if that is the case, we would like to see what is the position of the vice president on the genocide in Gaza. We’d like to know what is her position on immigration,” Sigcho-Lopez said.

The Democratic National Convention is scheduled from August 19 through the 22nd.