The family of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson is walking back endorsement claims in a heated Democratic primary for a United States Senate seat in Illinois.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said that she was backed by Jackson, who died on Feb. 17, based on information she received regarding his potential decisions that had not been made public yet, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Out of respect for my father, we decided not to publicly release his intended selections given the process had not been finalized,” said Yusef Jackson, his son, according to the outlet on Monday afternoon.
“Unfortunately, this weekend, a draft sample ballot that was in development was released without authorization. It is important to note that the Jackson Family does not issue political endorsements, nor do Rainbow PUSH or the Rainbow PUSH Coalition,” Jackson added.
The primary includes Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi, with most polls showing either Stratton or Krishnamoorthi leading.
“And I just got notice that he made final personal endorsements before he passed away, and in his personal endorsement he endorsed me for United States Senate,” Stratton told MSNOW on Saturday while at the Rainbow/PUSH office in Chicago.
“That’s the kind of fight we need, someone who’s really gonna put the people at the center, I learned that from Rev. Jackson, and now I look forward to continuing to fighting for the people of Illinois when I get to the Senate,” she added.
In an X post promoting the MSNOW hit, she added that she “will work day and night to carry on his legacy for the people of Illinois when I get to the United States Senate.”
The Stratton campaign told The Daily Wire in a statement that “Juliana spoke on Saturday at Rainbow PUSH for a Women’s History Month event and officials told her she received the endorsements.”
“Organizers shared the sample election ballot that was already being distributed and encouraged her to share the news,” the campaign added. “Juliana is spending the final hours of this campaign talking to voters and making sure every Illinoisan hears how she plans to take on Donald Trump and bring their voices to Washington.”
The primary election is on Tuesday, and the November general election is ranked as “Solid Democrat.” Whoever wins will be replacing retiring Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). The Daily Wire reached out to the other two Democratic campaigns, but neither were immediately available for comment.
“You know, I’ve talked to a couple of his kids. They don’t know anything about it, so I don’t know. It is what it is,” Kelly told Politico on Sunday when asked about the endorsement.
Kelly was reportedly contacted by Jackson’s widow to apologize for the mix-up, according to NBC 5 Chicago.
Jackson’s funeral was on March 6 in Chicago, and it featured remarks from former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton, as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris. Jackson himself ran for president unsuccessfully in 1984 and 1988, and he was the shadow senator for Washington, D.C., from 1991 to 1997.
