Well, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has announced she will not be seeking the Governor seat and US Senator Roland Burris has said today that he will not seek re-election.  This opens the playing field to all challengers.  The Chicago Sun-Times has compiled a photo set of who is in or will soon be in the race for Governor or Senate.  Candidates will be coming out of the woodworks this next few weeks...

Take specific notice that there is both a Kennedy and a Daley looking at a higher office.  Yes, apparently Illinois is also infested with Kennedys.  Spooked the heck out of me too when I found that out.  Not pictured and not listed are US Rep. 10th Congressional District Mark Kirk (GOP frontrunner) and Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole.  Cole is rumored to be eying the Lt. Governor seat

It should be an especially brutal and bloody primary season.  Not to mention expensive.  IL Sen. Bill Brady is the only candidate listed outside Brad Cole from downstate (Bloomington).  Everyone else in the race for Governor or Senate is from Chicago or the surrounding area.  There is most likely be a Third Party candidate that will mess everything up like in 2006.  Remember, the Green Party gathered 15% of the vote which helped put Blago in office.