Alexi Giannouliasa Democratic politician and financier who was Illinois state treasurer during 2007-11has thrown his hat back into the political ring, as he plans to run for Illinois secretary of state in 2022.
He would succeed longtime Secretary of State Jesse White, who plans on retiring after this term. White has been in the post for more than two decades.
At 30, Giannoulias was elected state treasurer, becoming the youngest person in that position in the nation. In 2010, he ran for U.S. senator against Republican Mark Kirk; Kirk narrowly won.
A Jan. 21 Politico Playbook item noted that Giannoulias has secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial support for the open seat (including $400,000 raised in a single week), according to filings with the state Board of Elections. Just a few of the donors include Black Opal CEO Desiree Rogers, Paragon Biosciences CEO Jeff Aronin, attorney Bob Clifford, California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Terlato Wine Group CEO William Terlato (along with two other members of the Terlato family), and Winnetka psychotherapist Emily Schnaper and PVone Capital partner Owen Schnaper.
Politico also stated that Giannoulias' team claimed he also has the support of Ariel Investments Co-CEO John Rogers Jr., former U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Vistria Group Co-CEO Marty Nesbitt, as well as organized labor.
WBEZ reported that other Democrats interested in being secretary of state include Chicago Ald. Walter Burnett, state Sen. Michael Hastings, Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia and Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough.
Giannoulias' campaign website is AlexiForUs.com.