Jesse Jackson’s Dead But His Politics Still Haunting Family And State From The Grave
Activist and minister Jesse Jackson died in February, but his political ideas still haunt his family and the state of Illinois beyond the grave.
Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who is running in Tuesday’s Democratic state Senate primary, touted posthumous “endorsement” Saturday from the late civil rights activist. Stratton made the announcement after the Jackson family’s organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, distributed sample ballots recommending her as a candidate, Politico reported. (RELATED: Joe Biden told mourners at Jesse Jackson’s funeral, ‘I’m way smarter than most of you’)
“[Jackson’s] The example was a North Star for me, and I am deeply honored to have received his trust, support and approval before his passing,” Stratton said.
However, the quasi-endorsement has since been retracted.
WASHINGTON – APRIL 29: U.S. President Barack Obama (L) greets Jesse Jackson during the funeral of civil rights leader Dorothy Height at the Washington National Cathedral on April 29, 2010 in Washington, DC. Height led the National Council of Negro Women and marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Yusef Jackson, Jesse’s son and chief operating officer of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, said the Jackson family would not make any political endorsements this election cycle and that the sample ballot was “published without authorization.”
According to Yusef, his father “began the process of reviewing candidates and identifying those he intended to support in the upcoming primary elections” before his death. “Given his passing just over a month ago,” Yusuf said, “the process was never fully completed. Out of respect for my father, we decided not to make his planned selections public since the process was not finalized.”
Democratic Rep. Jonathan Jackson also told Politico that his father “never participated in black-on-black fights” and was only excited about his own race and the return of former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr..
“He wouldn’t do that,” Rep. Jonathan Jackson said. “He was always pushing the community forward. It smacks of desperation.”
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 17: Illinois Democratic Senate candidate Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton makes a campaign stop at Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen on March 17, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Voters in Illinois go to the polls today for the primary election. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Stratton’s campaign, however, claimed that Rainbow PUSH told them she had received his support.
“Juliana spoke at Rainbow PUSH for a Women’s History Month event on Saturday and officials told her she had received the endorsements. Organizers shared the sample ballot that was already being distributed and encouraged her to share the news,” they said in a statement.
Although Jackson is considered an icon of the civil rights movement, he also made provocative and racist statements against Jewish people during his 1984 presidential campaign, misused his campaign funds, and had an extramarital affair.
It’s well known that Jackson was filmed on a hot mic accusing Barack Obama of “denigrating black people” in 2008.
“I want to cut his balls off,” he told his guest during a show break.
