State Rep. Margaret Croke, serving the North Side district that encompasses upscale areas like Lincoln Park and Old Town since 2021, now seeks the statewide comptroller role. Four Democrats compete to replace her in the primary.
The Contenders
Karim Lakhani serves as chief development officer for his family’s Chicago-area hotel operations. His campaign draws significant family funding and earns support from the Chicago Teachers Union. Lakhani opposes Illinois joining the new national tax-credit scholarship program and backs a graduated income tax, despite voters rejecting it decisively in the 2020 referendum.
Litcy Kurisinkal positions herself as a pragmatic progressive aligned with core Democratic priorities. She holds multiple local party roles and supports a graduated income tax, but advocates for a fresh proposal to address voter concerns from the prior rejection.
Mac LeBuhn, 37, is an attorney with experience in former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration. He helped lead efforts to eliminate aldermanic prerogative, the policy granting aldermen veto power over zoning in their wards. Though unsuccessful, this work strained City Council relations late in Lightfoot’s term. LeBuhn chairs CHANGE Illinois and pledges to push for fair legislative maps in Springfield.
Paul Kendrick Emerges as Strong Choice
Paul Kendrick, 42, brings experience as a campaign and administration aide for Barack Obama. He proposes a “grand bargain” to reform Illinois pensions, declaring at a February 2 candidates’ forum, “I’m willing to take on that third rail.” Kendrick also advances legislation targeting organized retail theft gangs in Chicago, a position that has drawn criticism from fellow Democrats.
Kendrick stresses boosting Illinois’ economic competitiveness. As co-chair of Rust Belt Rising, he leads centrist Democrats in crafting working-class-focused economic messages to strengthen the party across the Upper Midwest.
In a competitive field, Kendrick stands out for tackling critical challenges head-on, positioning him as a compelling option for state representative.
