Lone Republican on Cook County State’s Attorney ticket, Bob Fioretti vows to ‘enforce the law’ if elected
CHICAGO — A former Chicago alderman is hoping to flip the Cook County State’s Attorney seat to the GOP this November.
Cook County voters who choose a Republican ballot will find just one candidate listed under State’s Attorney: Bob Fioretti.
“I’m going to enforce the law. Those who break the law will be charged,” Fioretti said. We’re not going to have a passthrough. We’re not going to have a revolving door.”
Without a primary opponent, Fioretti says he is looking ahead to the November general election, studying the Democratic field of Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris.
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“If you really look through what they’re both saying, they’re really saying the same thing,” Fioretti said. “There’s very little difference between them.”
Fioretti’s platform is all about accountability. He’s not looking for diversion, he wants suspects prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“If they’re minors, if they’re juveniles, we’re going to look at their parents – what have their parents been doing? Where’s the accountability? If there’s a way to charge parents under any of the acts for failure, then let’s bring them in, too,” he said. “We’ve got to give the discretion back to judges and their ability to hold the individuals.”
When WGN News asked Fioretti if he sought to end no-cash bail, Fioretti responded, “Absolutely.”
The former Chicago leader changed his party affiliation two years ago.
WGN News asked Fioretti why he decided to switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
“The Democratic Party left me like it left so many other people,” he answered. “It doesn’t stand for family values, fiscal responsibility, a good education for everybody here in this city and county.”
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Fioretti remains a perennial candidate, having run for State’s Attorney in 2020, state Senate in 2016, Chicago mayor in 2015 and 2019, County Board President as a Democrat in 2018, and as a Republican in 2022.
Struggling to win past elections, WGN News asked Fioretti why he felt November 2024 would be different.
“I see the sea change happening,” he answered. “I think what happened in the other elections, they cut me off from the power structure, cut me off from the money.”
Republicans have had a hard time winning in Cook County, with no officials holding countywide office, and only Sean Morrison on the Cook County Board. Former state party chair Pat Brady says the county is tough turf due to the current party standard-bearer.
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“It’s virtually impossible to run up in Cook County or even north of I-80 with Trump at the top of the ticket and not have a big drag,” Brady said. “But talk about lower taxes, public safety, and get an army of volunteers, and you can win.”
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