Lisa Madigan Won't Run For Fifth Term As Illinois Attorney General
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says she won't run for a fifth term next year.
The surprise announcement came from Madigan's office Friday morning.
"After serving as Illinois Attorney General for over 14 years, today I am announcing that I will not seek reelection," Madigan said in a prepared statement.
Madigan, 51, did not say what she plans to do after leaving office when her term expires in 2019.
"We've done amazing things for the state. Some of them have had a national impact, but I'm going to be ready for some new challenges, and so I'm not going to seek a fifth term as attorney general," she told WBBM Newsraido's Craig Dellimore.
There has often been speculation Madigan would run for higher office, and she previously considered running for governor, but said in 2012 she would not do so while her father, House Speaker Michael Madigan, remained in office.
Madigan said her next challenge might not be in the political realm.
"I've learned never to say never. So I do not know what the future holds politically, but at this point I'm not seeking reelection as attorney general, and I have no immediate plans to run for any other office," she said.
That includes running for Chicago mayor in 2019.
Madigan said the combative political climate in Springfield has nothing to do with her decision.
"For me, it has nothing to do with the political environment. I enjoy a good fight, and always have, and really just said to myself, look, at the end of my term, it'll be 16 years as attorney general, and I'm ready for new challenges. I'm ready to use my skills in a different way to continue to help people," she said.
Madigan has been attorney general since 2003. She was the first female attorney general in Illinois, hand has served longer than any other person in that office. Before she was attorney general, she served in the Illinois Senate from 1999 to 2003.
