[Bumped up for visibility.]
* Press release…
Statement from Speaker Madigan on Tuesday’s Election Results
“Voters stated clearly that they wish to maintain a wide Democratic majority in the Illinois House of Representatives and maintain a strong check on Bruce Rauner and his anti-middle class agenda. Voters said they support the vision of the Democratic Party with the victories of Tammy Duckworth and Susana Mendoza.
“Democrats value the voters’ trust and we will continue to protect the middle class and those who don’t have access to billionaires and lobbyists.
“Republicans’ millions spent, coupled with the Trump headwind in downstate Illinois, created a difficult environment for many Democratic candidates. Rauner and his billionaire allies spent unprecedented millions – outspending Democratic candidates by wide margins – to push their agenda of increasing profits for big corporations at the expense of middle-class families.
“Illinois residents want strong schools, funding for domestic violence shelters and veterans’ homes, and a strong middle class with good wages. I hope Republicans will finally join us to protect these priorities and help deliver the services families are counting on.”
At the moment, Madigan is down a net three or four, depending on how the race goes in Rep. Andy Skoog’s LaSalle County-area district.
*** UPDATE *** House Republican Leader Jim Durkin…
“By handily breaking the supermajority, Illinois voters sent a strong message that it is time for Democrats to join Governor Rauner and legislative Republicans in enacting reforms to lower property taxes, create more jobs, address the pension crisis and place term limits on the career politicians alongside a balanced budget.”
- Big Muddy - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:43 pm:
=Voters stated clearly that they wish to maintain a wide Democratic majority in the Illinois House of Representatives=
See you in 2018 Mike!
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:44 pm:
Well, the loss of Munger is going to hurt. He also lost Kay, one of his most faithful.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:45 pm:
Unless Rauner manages to get a majority, it will not be enough to trade a budget for middle class weakening policies. Whether it is Madigan, Cullerton, or someone else…Dems will not negotiate with hostage takers.
And good riddance to Rauner’s wingman.
- Nony - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:45 pm:
My head is hurting from all this spinning
- NorthsideNoMore - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:47 pm:
maybe the voters just got sick of all the character assaults and negativity and decided to do something different this cycle.
- Ahoy! - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:50 pm:
Madigan just cracks me up, that guy will never realize how much people don’t like him.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:51 pm:
Madigan is going to lose 4-5 seats it appears. As far as Illinois goes, the biggest contest tonight was the Comptroller race. Rauner knew that and gave Munger 5 million. That one hurts.
- Consideration - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:52 pm:
Will we see Rauner propose an actual budget in January? He still has to have Dem votes to pass his anti-Union policies…which isn’t going to happen - Madigan or no Madigan.
- Whatever - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:52 pm:
Rauner lost Munger; Madigan lost a few seats. Meh. Nothing changes. IL lost again.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:53 pm:
Win the battle, lose the war.
“Rauner is a (wimp). He never could have outfought Madigan. But I didn’t know until this day that it was Trump all along.”
If the numbers hold up tonight, we’ve got much bigger problems than Bruce Rauner.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:54 pm:
I think he needs a better response to “because: Madigan” than “because: billionaires.”
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:54 pm:
Perhaps the Speaker should look in the mirror.
25% approval as the face of your party with another failed legislative session under his belt where budgets were not passed, pension reform was not addressed and no economic development proposed by the party he leads.
A little sanctimonious on the lobbyists and the millions spent on the election. I would call that part a draw.
His election message made no mention of the cuts he says are necessary. Given the map and the strong showing at the top of the Democratic ticket, the ads linking the candidates to Madigan were effective. You have to ask, how will the Speaker’s numbers go up? The ads will repeat in two years with a much more favorable mid term electorate.
Might as well blame Trump, who did great with unions and many in the middle and working class in other midwestern states.
Those that said taking back the GA was a two step process the other day were on the right track.
- earnest - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:55 pm:
Sorry, 11:54 was me
- Deft Wing - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:56 pm:
Rauner beat Madigan today, that’s beyond reasonable dispute. But it’s hardly the end-game. Expect more fighting and inaction in Springfield.
This settles nothing.T
- Amalia - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:57 pm:
net 3-4 loss is still a loss. and w all know how that stings.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:58 pm:
===See you in 2018 Mike!===
With President Trump midterms? Be careful what you wish for.
- Ares - Tuesday, Nov 8, 16 @ 11:58 pm:
LBOs / private equity / hedge funds are shackled to public employee unions. Throw one off the cliff, the other will follow.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:00 am:
We will see if the Speaker learned from this when it is budget time. If they offer any budget at all, they will not have learned. They really need to sit quietly and force Rainer to lead.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:02 am:
With Madigan at 66, and the loss of Munger…
… and President Trump(?)
What did Rauner gain again?
Rauner needs 7 seats and green lights, and now Rauner can’t blame Madigan’s “Super-Majoriy”
Those 52 or so Raunerites will have to be Green for the Rauner Tax, running in Trump’s(?) off year.
It’s like ignoring 60 and 30 suddenly stopped.
It didn’t.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:04 am:
Rauner lost Kirk.
Rauner lost Munger.
Democrats still hold majorities in legislature.
No longer having super majority might play to Madigan’s favor.
None of the Democrats who lost in the House were voting for Rauner’s turn around agenda, nor were any voting for a tax hike, I don’t think. Not sure that any of their replacements are planning on voting for tax hike, either. I think the term is Pyrrhic victory.
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:04 am:
OW nailed it. The party in power in Washington regularly takes a hit in the midterms. Trump winning does not help Rauner in 2018, in fact it probably hurts him.
Rauner won tonight? Please explain. At a minimum he needed to halve the deficit in the Legislature, especially since 2018 is likely harder now with a Trump victory.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:06 am:
==Madigan is going to lose 4-5 seats it appears. As far as Illinois goes, the biggest contest tonight was the Comptroller race. Rauner knew that and gave Munger 5 million. That one hurts.==
That’s pocket change to Rauner. Dems lost a handful of seats in a Presidential year with the map in their favor, including supposed union strongholds (as they defined it)…2018…good luck…
- Reformed Public Servant - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:11 am:
a fearful Madigan will not be a good thing…
- Reformed Public Servant - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:12 am:
he adjourns next week, circles the wagons, and beats the WAR DRUMS for the next 2 years
- Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:13 am:
In order to win tonight, Rauner needed Clinton to win. Now he’s facing his own re-election in a Trump midterm where he’s on record as supporting the President, where he’s a candidate who’s just like the President. Midterms aren’t kind to the party in power in DC. MJM could win back some of those seats and knock out Rauner at the same time.
But ultimately I agree with 47th. We’re going to have much bigger problems than Rauner
- The All Knowing Oz - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:15 am:
BAZINGA!!!—-TRUMP WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Thoughts Matter - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:18 am:
Madigan at 66 seats means he is just fine.Rauner lost the Comptroller, and a US Senste seat and he has to deal with Trump as a non-endorsing Rrpublican Govermor in a state Trump lost.
- Big Muddy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:29 am:
How about those seats AFSCME, SEIU, IEANEA, etc. were going to flip? SWJ, Bourne and Hammond all won. Quite easily. Wouldn’t be too enthused about their impact and ground-game moving forward.
- The_Equalizer - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:29 am:
The presidential winner tonight was always going to deeply affect the gubernatorial race in 2018. Frankly, a Trump win tonight hurts Rauner, just as a Clinton win tonight helps him. Hard to feel bad for Billionaire Bruce, but he always was in a no-win situation on the presidential front. And losing Munger is, in my opinion, bigger than gaining 3 house seats.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:34 am:
- Big Muddy -
Who are you arguing with there?
If you look at predictions here, mine included, and many like me I’m guessing thought Clinton would win…
… a vast majority had Rauner picking up seats.
You’re pounding of your chest was what I thought the number would be and I thought it would be critical for Labor and Democrats to work tirelessly in the precincts.
And yet, I had it a Rauner gaining, and Madigan at an over/under 66.
Again, what was actually won?
- Altgelds Ghost - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:39 am:
How about we admit the truth Madigan lost tonight. Yes four seat matter. But what really matters is now the $$$ see he’s not invincible. Mendoza was a good win, but he lost 4 incumbents and 1 previously dem open seat today. Second worst night of his career. In 94, IL Dems lost every state wide race in addition to the legislative ass whopping. Tonight IL Dems won US Senate and Comptroller yet MJM lost 5 dem seats and was a net -4. Bad night for Madigan.
- Anon - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:43 am:
Some here make it sound like Munger had a chance. Seriously? Kirk didn’t either. The GOP cannot win a statewide race in a Presidential year in IL. Period. Gov. had to try, but it was never really expected. Neither was nearly a sweep in legislative races, but he did get that. Overall, he weakened Madigans hand. How that plays out will be interesting to watch.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:45 am:
So how soon does Donald Trump’s SCOTUS pick lead the majority in overturning public employee unions?
And once he does who is there to fight against Rauner’s millions upon millions?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:47 am:
===Neither was nearly a sweep in legislative races, but he did get that.===
What is this sweep you speak of, lol.
- Mal - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:48 am:
@Anon
Yes, many here stated over and over again that this election was Mungers to lose and that the inept Mendoza crew was underperforming.
Well here we are with Mendoza winning as I predicted.
#ByeMunger!
- Big Muddy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:52 am:
OW,
I’m not arguing anything. I’m noticing things that I didn’t expect. There is a lot going on I’m pretty sure no one saw coming. Thought the unions would have a bigger effect in those races. They did not. What’s the impact of that going forward? Thought Clinton was going to win in a landslide. Scratching my head on that one as well.
No arguments, just observations. Triage will be going on for months/years on this crazy cycle.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:53 am:
Honestly I only think labor succeeded in ousting Kay. Steelworkers, IBEW, AFSCME, and SEIU worked in unison to turn the tide.
I think labor failed everywhere else.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:58 am:
===There is a lot going on I’m pretty sure no one saw coming.===
Really? You sound go back to the prediction Post, not much difference in numbers. So…
===… that the inept Mendoza crew was underperforming.===
And yet… look at Clinton’s numbers, and Duckworth’s numbers, and where Mendoza came in.
Underperforming.
You know what that actually means… right?
Mendoza was dragged across by Denocrats that stuck around and Labor, not by her Crew. Mendoza is s very hard worker, but you need to get a grip as to why Dems running statewide in a POTUS universe helps even the lackluster of Crews.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:58 am:
But labor failed to protect the 5th District Appellate Court. Now all our legal options are off the table. Staggering loss.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:01 am:
I said earlier in the day that Rauner needed to net 8 seats to have a successful day, but predicted he would probably get 4 and a gentlemen’s C.
You offer the Dold Excuse. Republicans can’t be expected to do THAT well in statewide races in a Presidential year. Lame.
Truthfully, I would give Rauner more credit, but the seats he won are pretty Republican areas, aren’t they? miracle Democrats held as long as they did. If he flipped suburban seats, it would be a different narrative. And perhaps he will in 2018. I do not put much stock in the Midterm Effect when it comes to governors. Congress, sure.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:02 am:
===in two years with a much more favorable mid term electorate.===
Um, no. Just the opposite. Remember 2006?
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:03 am:
To the Update- Durkin can invite the Dems to the table all he wants, but he’s going to have to get his party to do some heavy lifting. Can’t blame the “super majority” anymore. Wonder which Repubs will be willing to fall on the sword for those hard votes that are coming between now and 2018?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:03 am:
===I do not put much stock in the Midterm Effect when it comes to governors===
lol
That’s one reason why Rauner was elected in the first place. C’mon, man.
- Dr X - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:06 am:
Wow 43% of union households voted for Trump. Gooodbye unions. Right to Work comes right from the Supreme Ct.
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:08 am:
Big Muddy hasn’t been paying attention. He’s crowing about Wojcicki, Bourne and Butler. All three ran in GOP Districts and were replacing GOP legislators who were appointed to other positions so that Rauner could appoint his own people. All three were expected to win and they did.
Through Munger, Rauner decided who got paid and who didn’t. He lost some leverage tonight. The Democrats never did have a true supermajority this year as anyone who is paying attention would tell you. They never once were able to override a Rauner veto with their supermajority. Now they lost a few seats but still have a solid majority. Both sides will spin this as a victory but in reality not much changes. Munger losing has a bigger impact though than those 4 seats IMO.
- baloneymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:16 am:
and Dems never had a true supermajority in the House, so Durkin’s comment is rather goofy. more of the same from both sides.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 1:24 am:
On the State level, not a lot really changed in the House in terms of the balance of power. Madigan never had 71, but he still has a reliable 60. Rauner can’t get to 60 without Madigan’s help, so picking up the seats, as a practical matter, doesn’t change things this year or next year. It only matters if Rauner can get reelected in 2018 AND flip the Illinois House also.
The lose of the Comptroller’s Office is a big blow to Rauner because he will no longer have a co-conspiritor controlling the flow of State funds.
- anon - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 2:14 am:
=== See you in 2018, Mike. ===
The midterm election usually hurts the party of the president. Since the president will be a Republican, it is a tad premature to assume 2018 will be a big GOP year.
- Grayson - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 4:54 am:
===The midterm election usually hurts the party of the president. Since the president will be a Republican, it is a tad premature to assume 2018 will be a big GOP year.===
And the Republicans control everything so they better get some things done.
- Ghost in the Machine - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 5:14 am:
Do we have a ballpark dollar amount on what Republicans spent to win 5 House seats (and lose 1 seat) and 2 Senate Seats but mot win majorities in either chamber?
How much did Comptroller Munger spend?
- CT - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 5:52 am:
Good luck with your revenue enhancements MJM
- foster brooks - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 6:24 am:
comptroller? isn’t that the office everyone is trying to eliminate?
- Deft Wing - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 6:33 am:
Remember this was a Dem year, and they did fine to a point: Duckworth, Mendoza, Schneider & others.
But let’s be clear: Madigan lost to Rauner in the legislative races. Period. And … the 2018 races begin today. Advantage Rauner but this is another marathon, meaning the gridlock/fighting continues in Springfield.
This settles nothing.
- Sue - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 7:17 am:
Sunk
- Etown - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 7:21 am:
Madigan made the campaign finance rules and now he is whining
Poor baby
- The_Equalizer - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 7:32 am:
Dear Mr. Durkin: Please provide a balanced budget so that the House may vote on it. All I hear from you and Bruce is complaints about balanced budgets, but you’ve had two years now to submit your own. Get busy.
- Quiet Sage - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 7:37 am:
Madigan is actually in a stronger position than yesterday. He will have a unified majority with no supermajority/betrayal issues. Rauner has thrown all and everything at him, and only picked up a maximum of four seats. This is not a great enough loss for the Democrats to be considered overall losers. In two years, the off-year election can be expected to break for the power out of national power. For the same reason, Rauner will have a much tougher task at re-election than would be true if Hillary won.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 7:41 am:
==Madigan is actually in a stronger position than yesterday.==
https://youtu.be/yfAeMtcURg0
- Gooner - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 7:43 am:
I agree with Quiet Sage.
This was not a good result for Gov. Rauner. He did not win enough for any real control, yet he gave away his best card (blaming the super-majority).
This has the potential to really bite him, if Democrats play it right.
- Angry Chicagoan - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 7:48 am:
A primal scream at Rauner. A sternly worded warning to Madigan. Kind of a nice pat on the back to John Cullerton (not to mention his DuPage cousin) and to the idea of Democrats.
- walker - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 8:03 am:
Durbin knows that losing the “super-majority” is a symbolic win for him at best, with little real impact.
However, Madigan down to 68 was a modest victory for Rauner in a presidential year. And to show that movement, combined with his financial takeover of the party, strengthens Rauner’s hand.
- A Jack - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 8:06 am:
Rauner lost in the statewide races. In Munger’s case by a fairly wide margin. Sure, Madigan lost a couple seats, but he never had a true super majority.
Nationally the Republicans will be running everything. If they fail to deliver on a set of nearly impossible promises, 2018 will not be kind to them.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 8:10 am:
After sleeping on it, I still don’t see how Madigan benefits from last night after the results of the federal election.
A Republican Supreme Court will kill AFSCME once and for all while at the same time upholding Citizens United ensuring Republicans have the cash advantage in elections AND Dems have no ground game under their old way of operating. Wouldn’t be surprised if federal right to work becomes a thing under Trump either. That’s exactly what they did to bring down Democrats in Wisconsin, right?
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 8:10 am:
As others have been saying, Rauner has not been helped at all by the results of the election either nationally, or statewide. But supermajority, or not, he’ll still blame Madigan for all of his failures to lead.
- Deeda - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 8:17 am:
Illinois will lose thousands more residents and business because of bad politics. Last year Illinois lost more residents than any other state, and it will only get worse. Madigan and all his puppets will be the only people left in this state. Good Luck.
- Mal - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 8:18 am:
No more supermajority for Rauner to blame Madigan with. Now lets see if Rauner stops campaigning and starts governing. Either way this Trumps win makes a Rauner loss in 2018 easier.
- Anon - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 8:30 am:
OR
“By handily holding on to the majority, Illinois voters sent a strong message that it is time for legislative Republicans and Governor Rauner to join Democrats in …”
The more things change the more they stay the same.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 8:42 am:
It would be nice if partisans on both sides could take a breath for maybe a day or two to contemplate what went on yesterday (both right and wrong for them and their candidates/causes) and try to honestly evaluate some of that data before cranking up the old spin machine and rushing right on for battle in 2018. I’m glad to see some of that is going on here and elsewhere this morning—but there’s not nearly enough. It’s fun to look and point at what the other side missed and where they went wrong or failed. But so much harder to look truth in the face and admit one’s own party’s possible mis-calculations and mis-reads of the public sentiment.
- Taco Cat - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 9:02 am:
He spent $45 million and rode the trump wave and gained (drum roll please) a couple of seats! Bright side: at least we’ll get a record for not having a budget for four years.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 9:13 am:
Rauner creates the myth of a Super-majority then defeats it by winning a couple of races.
This is the kind of governor who’d buy a nursing home, gut it of services, sell it off, then claim to be a jobs creator and businessman.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 9:25 am:
The supermajority was not broken by this election. Rauner broke the supermajority 2 years ago by purchasing one democrat representative’s votes.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 9:27 am:
Has anything fundamentally changed on the state level?
The veto-proof super-majority never existed with Dunkin, Franks and Drury.
Is there a reason to believe that there are enough House and Senate Dems who will flip to Rauner to provide a working majority for his agenda?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 9:29 am:
“Rauner needs 7 seats and green lights, and now Rauner can’t blame Madigan’s “Super-Majoriy””
OW - Rauner will simply find a weak Dem and purchase his/her votes like he did before.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 9:33 am:
===OW - Rauner will simply find a weak Dem and purchase his/her votes like he did before===
Really? Which one?
Dunkin was easy to cull from the herd…
- Fairness and Fairness Only - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 9:35 am:
“Illinois residents want strong schools”… per the votes and the school funding, we’ve proven the opposite is true.
- Simple Simon - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 9:42 am:
No one told Durkin “you break it, you bought it.” So how about introducing a balanced budget now? Start governing!
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 9:45 am:
The way he’s going, Rauner should be in good shape in 2024.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 10:06 am:
This is nice spin but it doesn’t change much of anything. The numbers are still 67-51 in the House and 37-22 in the Senate. I hardly think that is the voters telling the Democrats they need to work with anyone.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 10:17 am:
We now have constitutionally protected roads and pensions. Schools and social services take a back seat to the powerful special interests
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 11:22 am:
@LuckyPierre - Technically Pierre the constitution is supposed to protect schools too. Courts just don’t bother enforcing primary responsibility provision.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 12:38 pm:
43% of Union Households voted for Trump, yep, witness the McAuliffe race.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 9, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
Illinois voters chose Mendoza/Madigan over Munger/Rauner, so the people have sent a strong message to Rauner to pass a budget now.