It’s fun for a reporter to catch a candidate early in her political career, while she’s still feeling her way, wanting to say the right thing and not offend, while still conveying that she has substance. This week’s cover story by veteran journalist Scott Reeder is one of the first in-depth profiles of Erika Harold, the only declared Republican candidate for attorney general. We learn that she lives her faith by visiting people in prison. She’s been bullied. She comes from a biracial family and identifies as African-American, although not many African-Americans identify with her. She is an interesting, intriguing candidate. Now let’s see how she holds up when big money gets hold of her campaign, or when she’s treated unfairly, or when she’s asked to take a knee for racial justice. Illinois is looking for candidates with style and substance, and, when it’s called for, fire. –Fletcher Farrar, editor and CEO
This article appears in Oct 19-25, 2017.
