Durbin will back Rotering, Pelosi for Schneider
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will back Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering's primary bid for Congress, picking her over former U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Deerfield.
And Schneider's bid to go back to the Capitol was endorsed Saturday by House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California.
Rotering and Schneider are running for the Democratic nomination to take on Republican Rep. Bob Dold of Kenilworth in the North suburban 10th Congressional District.
Durbin's endorsement is set to be announced Sunday and gives Rotering the backing of one of the state's most powerful Democrats. In making the pick, Durbin pointed to Highland Park's recent U.S. Supreme Court victory that left the city's assault weapons ban in place.
"While the Republican-led Congress refused to respond to the nation's gun violence, Nancy Rotering and her City of Highland Park showed real leadership," Durbin said in a statement.
Pelosi picked Schneider for the March 15 primary, giving the nod to one of her former members.
"Brad Schneider is a relentless defender of women's rights and LGBT equality," she said in a statement. "His legislative vision is a direct reflection of his genuine passion for helping others."
Schneider won a 2012 primary contest and went on to defeat Dold to get a term in Congress. In 2014, he lost his re-election bid to Dold.