Republican gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka has tapped DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett as her running mate for governor, saying their political differences on social issues would aid their chances of winning the Republican primary, according to an item in the Chicago Tribune.
Topinka, who has served three terms as state treasurer, appealed to Birkett to run as lieutenant governor in part to appease conservative Republicans who are not happy with her policy positions.
Topinka said that while she supports abortion rights, she agrees with the anti-abortion Birkett that parents should be notified if their daughter seeks an abortion. With the pro-death penalty prosecutor at her side, Topinka also said she would lift the moratorium on executions that was enacted by former Gov. George Ryan and continued by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
However, the two differed on other social matters. Topinka said she would veto legislation that called for defining marriage as between a man and a woman and said she supported civil unions between same-sex partners. Birkett said he supports a marriage amendment and opposes civil unions.
Meanwhile, former North Side Chicago alderman Edwin Eisendrath is poised to step into the Democratic race for governor, giving incumbent Rod Blagojevich a serious progressive challenger in the primary race.