Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Create Joint Nomination for Governor and Lieutenant Governor

SPRINGFIELD – July 10, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation into law to require candidates of the same party who are running for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor to be jointly nominated at the general primary election.

“Illinoisans deserve to have their governor and lieutenant governor working together as a unified team to serve in the best interest of the people,” said Governor Quinn. “By allowing a gubernatorial candidate to choose his or her running mate for lieutenant governor, voters will be able to vote for a team, rather than two completely different individuals.”

House Bill 5820 amends the Illinois Election Code to create a joint nomination for candidates of the same party for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor at the general primary election. The nominated ticket would require electoral approval in the primary election.

The legislation is an initiative to reform the general primary election process. The new law will ensure that the individuals running for governor and lieutenant governor have similar values, making them more likely to work cohesively for the people of Illinois.

Currently, candidates from the same party running for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are nominated separately at the general primary election and then are joined together on the ballot as a gubernatorial ticket for the general election.

Sponsored by Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago), the new law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2011.