Illinois State Senator Kwame Raoul announced on September 20 that he will run for Illinois attorney general.

Raoul has represented Hyde Park in the state senate for 13 years, but decided not to seek re-election following current attorney general Lisa Madigan’s surprise announcement that she will not run in 2018. He lives in the Hyde Park–Kenwood area.

Raoul is a practicing lawyer who specializes in employment and labor litigation. In a filmed statement, he said that he was motivated to seek the state’s highest legal office in order to ensure the equality of all Illinois residents under the law.

“The attorney general is the state’s chief advocate,” Raoul said. “It’s an office that can be leveraged to protect taxpayers across the state of Illinois.”

According to Raoul, his top priorities as attorney general would include combating the opioid crisis, expanding consumer protections, and protecting voting rights.

Four other candidates have declared their intention to run for attorney general. Three are Democrats: State Representative Scott Drury, 33rd Ward Democratic Committeeman Aaron Goldstein, and State Senator Mike Hastings. Attorney Erika Harold is the sole declared Republican candidate and the only woman currently in the race.

The Illinois general election will take place on November 6, 2018.