Contests shaping up in 6th Subcircuit -- or are they shaking up?

Corrections made after posting on November 29

An outsider like me can't help but wonder whether the sudden withdrawal of Cong. Luis Gutiérrez from the 4th District Congressional race might have major ripple effects in 6th Subcircuit judicial races.

Let's start with what we know.

Longtime Assistant State's Attorney David C. Herrera (pictured at left) (who recently left that office and now works for the Luisi Legal Group) filed for the Chevere vacancy, setting up a contest with Judge Kent Delgado, who is seeking to hold the seat to which he was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court. (The links are to the candidates' websites; Herrera's is newly found, and just added to the blog Sidebar.)

In the race for the Cooke vacancy, newly appointed Judge Charles "Charlie" Beach filed to hold this seat. Edward J. Underhill (pictured at right) also filed for this vacancy. (Here, too, the links are to the candidates' websites; Underhill's is newly found and also just added to the blog Sidebar.)

Assistant Public Defender Linda Perez (pictured at left) filed for the Lopez-Cepero vacancy, setting up a contest with Judge Stephanie K. Miller, who holds this seat pursuant to appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court. (Again, the links are to the candidates' websites; Perez's is newly found and added to the blog Sidebar.)

We also know that the Democratic Committeemen in the 6th Subcircuit voted to endorse Delgado, Underhill, and Miller. Then the Cook County Democratic Party declared those endorsements void.

In addition, we know that, once the collective endorsement was withdrawn, the individual candidates began maneuvering for individual endorsements. Judge Delgado, for example, picked up endorsements from 33rd Ward Committeeman Aaron Goldstein, 32nd Ward Ald. and Committeeman Scott Waguespack, 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins, Secretary of State Jesse White, and 37th Ward Ald. and Committeeman Emma Mitts.

Some of those in a position to make meaningful endorsements are busy right now, eyeing their chances to replace Cong. Gutiérrez. First Ward Ald. and Committeeman Proco Joe Moreno and 35th Ward Ald. and Committeeman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa have both been mentioned as possible candidates. There will likely be others. Cong. Gutiérrez, for his part, has endorsed County Commissioner Chuy García as his replacement... but will this endorsement be sufficient to head off likely challengers? Congressional seats don't open up every day.

Just a week ago it seemed that the main action in the 6th Subcircuit would be between those supporting Herrera, Beach, and Perez and those supporting Delgado, Underhill, and Miller. (Nothing is ever quite black and white: 33rd Ward Committeeman Goldstein, who has since announced a campaign for Attorney General, has advised FWIW that the 33rd Ward Democrats are supporting Delgado, Miller, and Beach; the 47th Ward Organization has endorsed these three as well). But the point is this: Next week will last week's allies find themselves on opposite sides in the battle to replace Cong. Gutiérrez? How will any new alignments impact these judicial races?