Ryan

Topinka

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Among the many (many, many) candidates filing in the next week to run for statewide office in the Feb. 2 Illinois primaries are two familiar faces whose campaign slogans might aptly be something like, “I told you so.”

In the last 24 hours, two formerly prominent Republican ex-gubernatorial candidates — ex-Attorney General Jim Ryan, and ex-Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka – have formalized their expected bids to get back into office in next year’s elections.

Topinka yesterday formally announced her campaign for state comptroller. Ryan’s people are being quoted in Chicago media this morning saying he will file his petitions by the Nov. 2 deadline to join the long list of Republicans running for governor.

Aside from their party, these two have one thing in common: Both left state government the first time around after trying and failing to beat Democrat Rod Blagojevich for governor.

Ryan went up against then-unknown Blagojevich in the 2002 campaign for a seat left open by the ignominious exit of Republican Gov. George Ryan. (No relation — but it couldn’t have helped.) 

Four years later — as rumors were already rampant that Blago might end up joining George Ryan in federal lockup — Topinka nonetheless lost to him, in large part because Blagojevich succeeded in making her look like a closer pal to George than she had actually been.

Blagojevich was impeached in January and is awaiting trial on federal corruption charges.