Sen. Daniel Biss Enters Race For Governor

EVANSTON, IL — State Senator Daniel Biss announced he is running for governor Monday morning. Portraying himself as an outsider candidate who can change a "broken system" in Illinois politics, he made the announcement on Facebook Live before taking online questions from members of the public.

"We have to take the state back from a system" that favors "billionaires and machine politicians," he said, promising to build a grassroots movement and "restore democracy in Illinois."

Biss, 39, is an Evanston resident and former assistant professor of mathematics at the University of Chicago. He represents the 9th District in the Illinois Senate after having previously served a single term in the state House representing the 17th District.

Biss made the official announcement at 10 a.m. on Facebook Live.

In 2015, Biss had intended to compete with Susana Mendoza for the nomination to run for Illinois Comptroller in last year's special election but withdrew. He then formed the Leading Illinois for Tomorrow political action committee, which spent around $10 million. He also produced a series of blog posts and videos entitled The Road Back.

"People are hurting in every corner of the state," he said. "The people of Illinois can't afford to wait."

In the Illinois Senate, he has sponsored legislation to reform campaign finance, drone and cell phone surveillance. Last week, his legislation to require presidential candidates to disclose five years of tax returns in order to appear on the ballot passed through the Senate's Executive committee.

Others who have already announced their intention to seek the Democratic nomination to unseat Governor Bruce Rauner are Chicago Ald. Ameya Pawar, of the 47th Ward, and businessman Chris Kennedy. Billionaire investor J.B. Pritzker has also filed to create an exploratory committee.

Biss said he will start his campaign by meeting with voters across Illinois about the need for change in Springfield. His campaign also released an announcement video to coincide with today's launch.

His first stop will be an ISU College Democrats Town hall at 7 p.m. tonight at the Normal Public Library.

Top photo: Courtesy Office of Senator Daniel Biss