Sen. Daniel Biss To Head Democratic Candidate Training Nonprofit

EVANSTON, IL — State Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) announced Monday will head a non-profit group to train Democratic Party candidates after his term in Springfield expires. In a message to supporters, the former assistant professor of mathematics at the University of Chicago and one-term Illinois state rep and senator, said he would become the executive director of the nonprofit group Rust Belt Rising.

Biss, 41, made the announcement four months before leaving office and nearly seven months after he was defeated in his bid for governor by JB Pritzker. Rust Belt Rising is a new group that said it will "bring the Democratic Party back to its roots as the party of working families," with a focus on training candidates in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The Rust Belt Rising group's board consists of a partner at the Chicago law firm of Mayer Brown in Chicago, a former CEO of the Better Government Association and an ex-chief of staff for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. It also includes an advisory and auxiliary board. Biss is the first staff member listed.

The group's website said it has partnered with the National Democratic Training Committee, Run for Something, Ragtag and the Emerging Leaders Project. The group was registered in Illinois as a nonprofit in October 20017, according to the Illinois Secretary of State. Biss is the first listed staff member.

Biss' statement:

I wanted you to be the first to know about the next step in my professional life.

In thinking about this job search, a few things were clear: I wanted to stay in the fight for justice, to do so in a context not far from electoral or democracy work, and to have a chance to help shape an organization doing good and important work.

That's why I'm so excited to have accepted the position of Executive Director at Rust Belt Rising, a young organization created to train midwestern Democratic candidates to lead on economic issues. The goal is to bring the Democratic Party back to its roots as the party of working families who have been left behind by a system rigged in favor of the top 1%.

Ever since Trump was elected, we've seen endless debates about whether Democrats should try to win back Obama-Trump voters or consolidate gains among Romney-Clinton voters. We've heard constant fighting about whether to focus on racial justice or economic justice.

In truth, these are all false choices. As we hopefully head toward a blue wave election this November, it's become clearer than ever that in a world with terrifying consolidation of wealth, power, and privilege in the hands of a very few, the path to success is to focus on an agenda and message that unites the many who have been left behind around a bold vision of the just society we can build together.

Rust Belt Rising is committed to helping candidates in the Great Lakes states do just that, and I'm very excited to lead that effort. Already in this election cycle we're training over 100 candidates, and this is just the beginning.

I'll be in touch with more information as this organization moves forward, but in the meantime please let me know if you have any suggestions, advice, questions, or interest in getting involved.

Thanks as always for your commitment to justice. Being in this fight with you has meant more to me than you can know.

Biss (D-Evanston) is unable to run for re-election to his 9th District seat after losing the gubernatorial primary to JB Pritzker by nearly 20 points.

"At this point" Biss told Capitol Fax, the state senator intends to serve out the remaining months of his term.

Before running for governor, Biss had reportedly intended to compete with Susana Mendoza for 2015 the Democratic nomination for Illinois Comptroller in last year's special election but withdrew.

He then formed a political action committee called Leading Illinois for Tomorrow, spending about $10 million while producing of blog posts and videos entitled The Road Back.

In his run for governor ahead of the March primary, Biss declared himself the "middle class" candidate, managing to finish as runner-up while spending about $7.2 million compared to roughly $70 million spent by eventual Democratic Party nominee JB Pritzker.

Running for Biss' Illinois Senate seat: Joan McCarthy Lasonde of Wilmette, a Republican former congressional candidate and founding member of the Policy Circle, and 17th District Rep. Laura Fine (D-Glenview). Both ran unopposed in major party primaries.

Related:

• Sen. Daniel Biss Enters Race For Governor
• Sen. Daniel Biss Names Chicago Alderman As Running Mate
• Biss Drops Running Mate Over Israel Policy Differences
• Biss Boasts Cure For 'BSBS' In Digital Ad
• Pussy Riot Rallies With Daniel Biss In Chicago Show
• Can A Middle-Class Candidate Defeat Millionaires In Illinois?

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