WATCH: Illinois Gov. Candidate Daniel Biss Juggles Fire In Campaign Ad

Image by youtube

Politicians in a crowded primary field will try unusual things to get attention from voters. Daniel Biss, seeking the Democratic nomination for the Illinois governor’s race, went in an unusual direction: juggling fire.

Biss, a member of the Illinois state senate, juggles three flaming clubs while discussing his campaign platform as a way to stand apart from the more “high budget” ads from his competition. Biss referred to himself as a “middle class guy who doesn’t have millions of [his] own dollars to spend on TV commercials.”

Biss makes the case in the 43-second video that he’s the progressive candidate in the race, promising that he will “finally make billionaires pay their fair shares in taxes and will lead the fight for universal single-payer healthcare.”

Biss, who is Jewish, lost the endorsement of Rep. Brad Schneider after it emerged that his running mate, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, supported the anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. Ramirez-Rosa dropped out of the race soon after.

Biss’ main opponent is fellow Jewish Democrat J.B. Pritzker, who has spent nearly $70 million of his own funds on the race. Elections will be held on Tuesday.

Contact Haley Cohen at hcohen@forward.com

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly. 

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount