Not being from IL you are excused for not knowing how things work here.
'WE' have this thing called the 'combine', they're movers & shakers of NO political convictions and are really who select who will be on all the tickets. And if you've ever ticked off the 'combine' you can't be elected dogcatcher in Cairo (pronounced 'kay-row').
The 'combine' consists of crooks and cronies, bag-men and bribers who 'vote' for anyone who will line their pockets with the most cash, and who will give their relatives the highest paying gubmint jobs. They change parties like we change our socks.
And FYI, IL is truly an equal opportunity corruption state. Dems, Republicans, makes no difference. The combine 'runs' them both.
Ditka could be the man you want then. I can't imagine him letting anybody push him around.
Yup, an' how long has the combine been around ... I hear John Deere invented it ;^)