{"id":2580822,"date":"2026-03-17T11:16:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T15:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jesse-jackson-family-says-endorsement-of-illinois-democrat-was-unauthorized\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T11:17:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T15:17:20","slug":"jesse-jackson-family-says-endorsement-of-illinois-democrat-was-unauthorized","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jesse-jackson-family-says-endorsement-of-illinois-democrat-was-unauthorized\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesse Jackson family says endorsement of Illinois Democrat was &#8216;unauthorized&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjesse-jackson-family-says-endorsement-of-illinois-democrat-was-unauthorized%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2580822&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports that Jesse Jackson\u2019s family says an endorsement attributed to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/civil-rights-attorneys-submit-letter-to-manhattan-da-claiming-nypd-fbi-conspired-in-malcolm-x-assassination\/\" title=\"Civil rights attorneys submit letter to Manhattan DA claiming NYPD, FBI conspired in Malcolm X assassination\">late civil rights leader<\/a> in Illinois\u2019 Senate primary was released without authorization. A Rainbow PUSH Coalition staffer circulated a draft ballot suggesting Jackson\u2019s endorsements, but the family emphasizes that no final endorsements were made before his death and that releasing the draft was a miscommunication during a bereavement period. Jackson\u2019s son Yusef says the family decided not to publicly announce any selections, while another family member notes the staffer\u2019s claim about an endorsement was not authorized, and Jonathan Jackson criticizes the situation as desperate. The piece also provides political context: the Illinois Democratic primary to replace retiring Sen. Dick Durbin features <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-harris-michelle-obama-2024-front-runners-if-biden-doesnt-run\/\" title=\"Poll: Harris, Michelle Obama 2024 Front...Runners If Biden Doesn\u2019t Run\">front-runners<\/a> including Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, with Stratton backed by high-profile endorsements from gov. JB Pritzker and Sens. Tammy Duckworth and elizabeth Warren. Voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Jesse Jackson family says endorsement of Illinois Democrat was &lsquo;unauthorized&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2508178\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The family of the late Rev. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jesse-jackson\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2647\">Jesse Jackson<\/a> clarified on Monday that a supposed endorsement claimed by one Democratic front-runner in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illinois\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"206\">Illinois<\/a> Senate primary after the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >civil rights activist&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s death was released without authorization.<\/p>\n<p>The family&rsquo;s statement came days after Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JulianaStratton\/status\/2032866055048040454\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JulianaStratton\/status\/2032866055048040454\">announced<\/a> Jackson had endorsed her before he died last month. One of Jackson&rsquo;s sons, Yusef, states the contrary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4493175\/john-cornyn-greg-casar-clash-dhs-funding-austin-airport\/\">John Cornyn and Greg Casar clash over DHS funding at Austin airport<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4493134\/massie-touts-previous-trump-endorsement-ad\/\">Massie touts previous Trump endorsement in latest campaign ad<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4491134\/immigration-ads-battleground-states\/\">Kayla Hamilton murder spotlights illegal immigration in battleground Senate ad blitz<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Yusef explained that his father had begun reviewing candidates to support in the state&rsquo;s upcoming primary election, but he died before he could complete the process.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Out of respect for my father, we decided not to publicly release his intended selections given the process had not been finalized,&rdquo; the youngest of Jackson&rsquo;s three sons <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RevJJackson\/status\/2033692882637324704\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RevJJackson\/status\/2033692882637324704\">said in a statement<\/a>. &ldquo;However, due to an internal miscommunication, a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/f\/?id=0000019c-f3ab-dd96-a9be-f7bbd1ca0000\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/f\/?id=0000019c-f3ab-dd96-a9be-f7bbd1ca0000\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-expect-in-the-illinois-democratic-primary-to-replace-durbin\/\" title=\"What to expect in the ... to replace Durbin\">draft sample ballot<\/a><\/a> was released by a staff person who did not have authorization.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The staffer for Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Jackson family&rsquo;s organization, told Stratton on Saturday that she had won the late reverend&rsquo;s support.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;She kind of came over to me and said, &lsquo;I wanted you to know that Reverend Jackson, we all discussed this before he passed, and these are his endorsements,&rsquo; Stratton <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/post\/illinois-election-2026-senate-candidate-lt-gov-juliana-stratton-says-rev-jesse-jackson-endorsed-before-he-died\/18718395\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/post\/illinois-election-2026-senate-candidate-lt-gov-juliana-stratton-says-rev-jesse-jackson-endorsed-before-he-died\/18718395\/\">told the Chicago-based ABC affiliate<\/a>, recounting her conversation with Rainbow PUSH political director Betty Magness. &ldquo;And it was a sheet of about 100 different people, but I was on the list for United States Senate.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The family dialed back the staffer&rsquo;s relay of an endorsement, stressing that one was never formally given by Jackson in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I want to be very clear. We did not withdraw or retract our endorsement of any one candidate,&rdquo; Yusef said. &ldquo;Instead, we made clear that the document shared this weekend was not final and out of respect for my late father and in our family&rsquo;s time of bereavement, we would not be confirming nor issuing political endorsements in this cycle.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Jackson&rsquo;s second-oldest son, who is a congressman, also weighed in on the endorsement controversy.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;My father never got in on black-on-black fights,&rdquo; Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/illinois-playbook\/2026\/03\/16\/when-endorsements-raise-questions-00829476\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/illinois-playbook\/2026\/03\/16\/when-endorsements-raise-questions-00829476\">told <em>Politico Playbook<\/em><\/a>, referring to the Senate race. &ldquo;He wouldn&rsquo;t do that. He was always pushing the community forward. This smells of desperation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Stratton is one of three prominent Democratic politicians running to succeed Senate Minority Whip <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dick-durbin\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1010\">Dick Durbin<\/a> (D-IL), who is retiring at the end of this year. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) are seen as the next front-runners, although the latter hasn&rsquo;t been performing as well in polling.<\/p>\n<p>Kelly&rsquo;s run for the open Senate seat has left her own district open for the taking. In that congressional race, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jesse-jackson-jr\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4617\">Jesse Jackson Jr.<\/a> is the most well-known Democratic contender and likely winner.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4493079\/what-to-expect-in-the-illinois-democratic-primary-to-replace-dick-durbin\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4493079\/what-to-expect-in-the-illinois-democratic-primary-to-replace-dick-durbin\/\">WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TO REPLACE DICK DURBIN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Stratton&rsquo;s advantage over her primary competitors rests in high-profile endorsements from Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jb-pritzker-2\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17676\">JB Pritzker<\/a> (D-IL) and sitting members of Congress, including Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tammy-duckworth\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2523\">Tammy Duckworth<\/a> (D-IL) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elizabeth-warren\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"250\">Elizabeth Warren<\/a> (D-MA).<\/p>\n<p>Illinois voters are heading to the polls for the statewide primary elections on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jackson family says endorsement was unauthorized<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2580823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26051060225554.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[13348,73527,73939],"class_list":["post-2580822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-endorsement","tag-illinois-politics-2","tag-jesse-jackson-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26051060225554.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2580822"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580822\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2580826,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580822\/revisions\/2580826"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2580823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2580822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2580822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2580822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}