Illinois News

[Green Line]

A fight is brewing in the Illinois Democratic Party.  JB Pritzker dropped a bomb today by calling for Michael Madigan to step down as head of the state party.  Democrats had a dissapointing Tuesday, with JB's "Fair Tax" constitutional amendment going down in flames after he spent over $50 million of his own money to pass it.  Now he's trying to pin the loss on the stench of Madigan corruption.

Madigan has already signalled he intends to run for Speaker in the next session and is gathering support.  It will be interesting to see what suburban Dems do.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/11/5/21551692/pritzker-madigan-election-resign-graduated-income-tax-durbin-democratic-party-chairman

[Green Line]

Thomas Kilbride, a Madigan ally on the Supreme Court, lost his retention election in a Northern Illinois district.  Kim Foxx also had a pathetic showing for a Cook County Dem, but her problems were more self-inflicted.

Dick Durbin also called on Madigan to step down yesterday.

[Green Line]

Finally, other notable happenings...

- I think Democrats finally flipped the DuPage County Board.  They needed a gain of 3 and probably have it, but can't confirm yet.

- Republicans picked up the McHenry County Board Chair, beating incumbent Jack Franks.  Democrats picked up the Kane County Board Chair (open seat).

The parties broke even in suburban State House seats:

- Democrats knocked off Grant Wehrli (Naperville) and Allen Skillicorn (Elgin outskirts).  Democrats also spent a lot of money to defeat GOP rep Brad Stephens (Rosemont/Northwest Chicago) but he won in a landslide.

- Republicans defeated Diane Pappas (Northern DuPage) and Mary Edly-Allen (Southern Lake).  They also also picked up two downstate house districts from Dems.

[Green Line]

Madigan needs to step down as House Speaker and Democratic Party chair.

In my home county of Madison County, The Democrats lost 3 county board seats (2 of which are in my home city of Granite City), lost all the countywide positions sans the incumbent coroner, and both 3rd Judicial Circuit seats.

Our former strongholds of Granite City and Wood River continue their sharp turn right. Alton, Edwardsville, and Madison/Venice seems to be where the Dems main strength areas are now. Glen Carbon and Collinsville are the swingy areas now.

The turn right in my county may have been driven by backlash against Pritzker (especially his COVID mandates and regarding bars/restaurants in particular) and Madigan.

Unfortunately for Democrats in your area, the IL Dems are increasily dominated by Chicagoland.  They're more than happy to trade Granite City for Naperville.  A Democratic Party so concentrated in urban Chicagoland isn't going to make a comeback down there.

And for that matter, Madigan isn't the reason Dems are hemorrhaging in Southern IL.  In fact, his style of politics probably plays better down there than JBs does!

[Green Line]

These loses are worth it. Get rid of Madigan and no more lock downs!

Madigan is not driving the lockdowns, far from it.  In fact, when the legislature came back into session for a brief period in May, they blocked Pritzker's plan to punish businesses who violate the lockdown orders.  Local legislators are much closer to their constituents on this and unwilling to take any heat or difficult votes to shut businesses down.

[Green Line]

I see no evidence that Adam Kinzinger has any interest in running for Governor.  Foreign policy is his main focus, by far and he rarely ever comments on state government in Illinois.  He might run for Senate if Duckworth is appointed to something, though, and I'd say thats still a stretch.

[Green Line]

Lightfoot is gonna lose the cop wards by Stalin-esque margins next time around, whereas she won them by the same in 2019 runoff.  Thats not enough votes to flip an election, but when you consider that, as stated above, she has no natural base she can’t afford to be pissing everyone off.  And thats what she’s managed to do.  Piss off every single person in this city, left and right, each in their own unique way.  Yes, with that said she will be fine with the Lakeview liberal meme crowd who loves her STAY HOME crap since they’re the only people in the city benefitting from it.

[Green Line]

Lightfoot is gonna lose the cop wards by Stalin-esque margins next time around, whereas she won them by the same in 2019 runoff.  Thats not enough votes to flip an election, but when you consider that, as stated above, she has no natural base she can’t afford to be pissing everyone off.  And thats what she’s managed to do.  Piss off every single person in this city, left and right, each in their own unique way.  Yes, with that said she will be fine with the Lakeview liberal meme crowd who loves her STAY HOME crap since they’re the only people in the city benefitting from it.

Democrats should recruit one of the Obama's to run against Lightfoot in 2023.

Nope

[Green Line]

https://twitter.com/ShiaKapos/status/1333773461693620225


Yes, that Alexi Giannoulias

Good. He is seen as the future of the Democratic Party.

He might not be as handsome as he was 10 years ago though.  That will hurt him.

[Green Line]

Bringing back school prayer, love it!  Endorsed.

Enforce the flat tax?  Uh, ok!

[Green Line]

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/12/10/illinois-legislative-black-caucus-endorses-michael-madigan-for-speaker-making-no-mention-of-comed-bribery-scandal/

Thank you, moderate and corrupt black caucus legislators!

[Green Line]

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/12/10/illinois-legislative-black-caucus-endorses-michael-madigan-for-speaker-making-no-mention-of-comed-bribery-scandal/

Thank you, moderate and corrupt black caucus legislators!

Great news! Hopefully Mike can win this vote and give us our glorious 14-3 map!

Yes!  And Destroy Marie Newman’s career.  It will be beautiful.

[Green Line]

Oak Park residents are voting on a question today:

“Shall the Village of Oak Park defund its Police Department?”

Joe Biden received 89% of the vote in the city last November.  Will be interesting to see if this passes.  It is a non-binding referendum.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/ct-oak-defund-police-ballot-tl-0325-20210323-xidm3ddfejalnmr3m5isjaq67a-story.html

[Green Line]

2 1/2 hours after the polls closed, Cook County has yet to report a single vote.

[Green Line]

Defund the Police losing 31%-69% in Oak Park, IL (voted 89% Biden).

Keith Pekau leading in Orland Park with 3 precincts remaining.

Indicted Crestwood Mayor, Lou Presta, winning reelection with 63%(!!!) of the vote.