Citing Israel Stance Of Running Mate, Rep. Brad Schneider Withdraws Endorsement Of Sen. Daniel Biss

DEERFIELD, IL — Congressman Brad Schneider said he has withdrawn his endorsement of state Sen. Daniel Biss, citing concerns over Biss' running mate's positions on Israel. Schneider endorsed Biss in June, and Biss on Thursday announced Chicago Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa as his pick for lieutenant governor and running mate in the race for the Democratic nomination to challenge Gov. Bruce Rauner. Schneider said he was surprised by the pick and immediately concerned about Ramirez-Rosa, noting his past comments about the U.S.-Israel relationship and membership in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) that endorsed a policy of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel at a recent convention in Chicago.

"This decision is not taken lightly. I remain hopeful that as Alderman Ramirez-Rosa learns more about the importance of the US-Israel partnership to both our nations, the unique challenges Israel faces as the only democracy in a very dangerous neighborhood, and the commitment of the vast majority of the Israeli people to peace and a two-state solution," Schneider wrote in a social media post Sunday. "He will reconsider his positions."

The likely Republican candidate for Schneider's 10th District seat in Congress, Jeremy Wynes, criticized Schneider's endorsement of Biss with an online post soon after the news broke of Ramirez-Rosa's selection.

Biss's agenda "already included an endless array of job-killing tax hikes, impossible wage mandates driving people out of Illinois and unaffordable single-payer health care," Wynes wrote. "Now that it includes a Socialist who is against Israel, Brad Schneider needs to answer if this is still the agenda he supports for Illinois."

According to an interview with the Chicago Reader, Ramirez-Rosa joined the DSA in March and explained that he had remained closeted about his socialist inclinations until last year.

"Bernie Sanders opened up that door for me," the self-described "Bernie Bro" told the Reader. "I said, if someone could run for president of the United States and say 'I'm a democratic socialist,' then, hell, I can come out of the closet. I've come out of the closet before." Ramirez-Rosa, 28, is the first openly gay Latino on the Chicago City Council and since 2015 has represented Chicago's 35th Ward, including parts of Logan Square, Hermosa, Avondale and Irving Park.

Related:

• Schneider Endorses Biss For Governor
  
• Biss Names Chicago Alderman As Running Mate
• Ex-AIPAC director Jeremy Wynes declares 10th District candidacy

_{Top photos: Sen. Daniel Biss announce Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa as his running mate Aug. 31, Rep. Brad Schneider | Courtesy Biss for Illinois, Official portrait}