* Jay just can’t stay away from the House…
Democrat Jay Hoffman has changed his mind about running for Congress and now plans to seek a seat in the Illinois House.
Democratic Party officials on Thursday endorsed Huffman’s run for the seat held until recently by Tom Holbrook. Holbrook announced plans to step down from the Illinois House after Gov. Pat Quinn picked him to head the Illinois Pollution Control Board.
A month ago, Hoffman had said he’d run for Congress in the newly drawn 13th District.
* It’s unclear who the Democrats will get behind in that 13th District now that Hoffman’s gone. It’s getting awful late in the petition process. Tim Johnson is surely smiling.
* And speaking of Congress, a bruising primary might be developing for Jerry Costello’s seat…
The St. Clair County Democratic Party is endorsing former county Regional Superintendent of Schools Brad Harriman to run for the seat held for 23 years by outgoing U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville. […]
Harriman, 57, had resigned Sept. 30 after five years as the regional superintendent — the only elected office he has ever held. […]
Madison County Chief Circuit Judge Ann Callis, 47, is expected to announce her candidacy within the next week, Madison County Democratic Party Chairman Matt Melucci said again Thursday night following the St. Clair Democrats’ meeting.
“At this point, we are waiting for Judge Callis to announce,” Melucci said.
When asked whom the Madison County Democrats would endorse when they meet next Thursday and in light of St. Clair Democrats’ endorsement of Harriman, Melucci said: “Our committee actually votes, so I cannot say they will do this or that. There is no doubt in my mind they would be for the candidate from our county.”
* And the US House Majority PAC has a new poll showing four Republican incumbents in trouble…
The poll sponsored by the House Majority PAC found that only 42% of those surveyed in the north suburban 10th District want to re-elect Winnetka’s Robert Dold, and 50% want a change. Just 35% have a favorable opinion of Republicans in Congress.
The numbers are similar with U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Hinsdale: 52% want a new congressman. But the figures are south of there for Reps. Tim Johnson of Sidney, who gets a 33% re-elect, and Bobby Schilling of Moline, at 39%.
The survey of roughly 600 voters in each of the districts was conducted by Public Policy Polling. The firm generally works for Democrats and left-of-center groups. But it also has a reputation of calling it the way it sees it, for instance recently reporting that embattled Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, has significantly boosted his odds of surviving any recall move.
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- unspun - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 10:20 am:
Just pulled the Hoffman bobblehead out of the bottom drawer. Weirdly, I think the doll is perfectly scaled.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 10:21 am:
LOL, unspun.
I was just explaining the nickname to Barton.
- Barton Lorimor - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 10:24 am:
Sheesh! If you guys are this brutal, I’m going to start wearing a ball cap to the Capitol :)
- train111 - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 10:47 am:
Hoffman has a better shot at House District #113 than he ever did at Congress or even in his former seat House District #112. His former district #112 voted for Brady by a 56.22%-43.78% margin, but #113 voted for Quinn by a 52.06%-47.94% margin giving Hoffman a far better chance of landing back into the House.
BTW the GOP complaint about not having enough AA’s in #114 is probably specifically aimed at this seat (#113). After all if you make #114 over 50% AA, then you have to move that population out of #113 leaning it more towards the GOP.
train111
- mokenavince - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 10:52 am:
Republicans should be in trouble they have gone
to Washington and passed a bunch of bills that
had no chance of passage. Sat back and admired their their work.What a usless bunch of back benchers. Where are the jobs?
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 10:54 am:
Does this mean Ron Stephens has to come back, too? They go together like peas and carrots.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 11:00 am:
So who is running in the 13th? Gill again?
Can Frerichs reconsider?
This is a winnable district for the Dems but of course the alleged Illinois Democratic Party chairman can’t lift a finger to actually party-build or help elect anyone except those that can help him maintain power in the GA so all candidates running for Congress (be it in the 13th or in the suburban districts) are on their own and thus the best candidates don’t bother getting into the ring for Congress.
Can’t say I blame Hoffman or that I even was that enthused about him for this district in the first place because of his Blago ties, but for the sake of the country I was really hoping he could take the 13th into the Dem column to help the Dems take back the House in DC.
Ugh.
- South Suburbs - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 11:49 am:
It’s not too late for petitions at all. Congressional candidates need only 600 signatures to get on the ballot, a little more than half as many as State Senators. Watch for Matt Goetten to get into this race in a hurry.
- walkinfool - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 11:58 am:
Hoffman’s got plenty of resources, now available for the state rep race.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 11:59 am:
Hoffman was not a good fit in the 13th CD. Three major areas in the new 13th - Springfield, Bloomington-Normal and Champaign-Urbana - were seemingly under a constant barrage from Blago. I don’t care how many times Jay reminds us that he voted to impeach Hot Rod - he was still Blago’s floor leader and a close friend. That would have caused him undue heartburn and maybe even wipe the smile off his face. The Dems have options - Frerichs, Jakobson and even someone like Mike Mathis come to mind - but it would be awfully late to start in the ever-important fundraising race.
- East Sider - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 12:04 pm:
Jay has to be one of the biggest political opportunists I’ve ever seen. He had to get the St. Clair County Dems’ endorsement first, because the Madison County Dems didn’t want to endorse him for anything, and now this puts the pressure on them.
I was really surprised that the St. Clair County Dems didn’t endorse Callis. To me, that shows the clear rift between the two counties, and it was evident in Melucci’s edgy remarks. I guess it will be a battle of the Judicial Hell Holes.
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 12:19 pm:
- Barton Lorimor - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 10:24 am:
Sheesh! If you guys are this brutal, I’m going to start wearing a ball cap to the Capitol :)
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Better be a White Sox cap or risk the Rath of Rich®
- Give Me A Break - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 1:05 pm:
I really think Rich look into the idea of having Rich and Barton bobble heads, they would look great on my desk.
- Barton Lorimor - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 1:28 pm:
C, I could try to respond to that, but can’t since any Cub propoganda I try to get on this blog will result in the banishment hammer of death coming down on my head.
GMAB - I think a better idea would be Rich Miller figurines with strings in the back that when pulled make him say, “Bite me.”
- Give Me A Break - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 2:32 pm:
Barton we all know you are really the power behind Rich and pull the strings.
- railrat - Friday, Oct 28, 11 @ 2:46 pm:
I hope Hoffman wins then Cross will have an allie