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Endorsement: Harold for Illinois attorney general in Republican primary

Voters in the Republican primary for attorney general will have a choice between two solid candidates - litigator Erika Harold of downstate Urbana and DuPage County Board member Gary Grasso of Burr Ridge.

Though we admire Grasso's combination of legal, elective and administrative experience, our recommendation is Harold.

We endorse her at least partly because we believe she easily would be the strongest of the two candidates in next fall's general election in Illinois, where it's difficult for the GOP to win statewide office. Electability is important because it's hard to overstate the benefit a Republican attorney general could provide as a check on the Democrats' control of state government. This check becomes particularly vital in a year when it looks like Republicans might well lose the Governor's Mansion.

But electability is only part of Harold's appeal. We're impressed by her work ethic and by the priorities she would bring to fighting public corruption, defending public access and responding to the opioid epidemic.

Her record also demonstrates a long commitment to addressing abuse and harassment of those who are vulnerable, whether they're young people, women or minorities. While we wish she had raised her allegations in the recent Burt Minor controversy sooner, her efforts over the years on harassment issues have been consistent and laudable. We're intrigued by what greater good she could do in combating harassment if given the power and the platform of the attorney general's office.

Erika Harold wins our endorsement.

Gary Grasso: Candidate Profile

Erika Harold: Candidate Profile

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