Illinois Statewide Mega-Thread: State has first budget in over a year

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Governor
Pat Quinn
Bruce Rauner
Toss-Up/Tilt R

Lt. Governor
Paul Vallas
Evelyn Sanguinetti
Toss-Up/Tilt R

Attorney General
Lisa Madigan
Paul Schimpf
Safe D

Sec. of State
Jesse White
Mike Webster
Safe D

Treasurer
Mike Frerichs
Tom Cross
Toss-Up/Tilt D

Comptroller
Sheila Simon
Judy Baar Topinka
Likely D

Why Likely D for Comptroller? Simon's name recognition is not as good and Topinka has some sympathizers among ILDems.

My bad I didn't realize Topinka was the incumbent.

Topinka also has most of the big union endorsements.

Cross also has much better name ID than Frerichs, and summer polls have shown Cross ahead.

Frerichs should pull it out, but Topinka will probably win a good margin (by the standards of numerically possible Republican victories in IL ).

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Frerichs has pulled ahead of Cross

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2014-11-18/frerichs-takes-lead-treasurer-race.html

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Madigan is the closest a human being can come to garbage

He's not that bad, aside from bankrupting the state.  The Illinois Democrats are pretty moderate thanks to him.

Madigan is not a moderate; if he was the legislature wouldn't be a gridlocked hellhole. I mean seriously, they can't even pass education funding despite rauner bending over backward? Madigan is a fierce partisan who wants to punish the state for electing rauner.

One can be a partisan moderate.

LOLOLOLOL. A moderate is the antithesis of a partisan.

You're wrong.  Madigan and his General Assembly Democrats have always governed conservatively.  They don't like to rock the boat, and have to be dragged kicking and screaming when it comes to passing progressive legislation.  They're not ideologically conservative, necessarily.

Okay, fine, they didn't pass the pet health care bill of the left, or whatever. I'm not going to call anyone who gridlock the legislature to the extent Madigan has for purposes of partisanship and/or punishment and/or not liking rauner as a person a moderate, period. If you want to, suit yourself. But if I lived in Illinois, I'd vote for a piece of gum over Madigan.

I'm sure Speaker Madigan will be devastated to learn that some random Republican in Minnesota doesn't like him.