Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was at a news conference yesterday on Chicago's West Side stumping for Illinois 10th House district candidate Lance Tyson, a member of the ad hoc Unity Party who is running against federally indicted Derrick Smith, the Democratic nominee. Smith cruised to the Democratic nomination in March when he was still 10th district representative, even though the state lawmaker had been arrested on bribery charges just one week before the primary. The Illinois House expelled Smith in August, but the candidate is still on the ballot in an almost entirely Democratic district.

Quinn said yesterday that, "When we elect someone to office they must have an ethic of service, and that's what Lance Tyson is all about."

Other Democratic Party leaders, including Speaker of the House Mike Madigan and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, have decided against weighing in on the unusual race. Preckwinkle takes issue with Tyson's record as chief of staff for former Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.