Right up front, let’s just stipulate that the recent appointment of state Rep. Christian Mitchell (D-Chicago) as the Democratic Party of Illinois’ interim executive director will not usher in an immediate sea-change.
First, this is a temporary, part-time gig. Rep. Mitchell told me he has no interest in staying on after the election and will continue with his part-time law schooling through the fall campaign.
Second, House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is also the state party’s chairman, has already installed Mary Morrissey as the state party’s chief operating officer. Among other things, Morrissey ran Madigan’s Chicago political operation before moving over to Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s campaign and government staffs. She is smart, capable, knows just about everybody in the business and is a nuts-and-bolts person who, Mitchell said, will handle the day-to-day functioning of the party. She’ll likely keep an eye on Mitchell for Madigan.
Third, Madigan promoted Emily Wurth, the party’s former operations manager, to chief financial officer. Wurth is a highly capable former House Issues (campaign) staffer who moved up to DPI five years ago. She’ll be one more set of eyes on Mitchell.
Fourth, Madigan has installed his most trusted attorney, Mike Kasper, as treasurer of the state party.
And, finally, as the duly elected state party chairman, Madigan can likely veto anything Mitchell wants to do.
All that having been said, this Mitchell appointment is an important move by the all-female committee tasked with naming Tim Mapes’ replacement. Mapes had to resign as Madigan’s chief of staff and state party executive director after being accused of sexual harassment.
Think of this move as a foot in the door for the next generation.
For the first time, the state party will have a young African-American standing right out front. A calcified, overly white, constantly under fire and very unpopular state party leadership has simply become a drag on every Democrat. Mitchell is a normally pleasant fellow, but he’s an amateur boxer who isn’t afraid to verbally punch you hard in the nose. So, an attack on Democrats by the Republicans can be met with a quick and stinging response from its new and fresh public face. Even though Mitchell wasn’t Madigan’s choice, the House Speaker is smart enough to know this can be an advantage he’s never had before.
An early supporter of J.B. Pritzker, Mitchell has unofficially advised the campaign for months. He reportedly helped the candidate deal with the uproar after the Chicago Tribune published a story about those now-infamous FBI surveillance tapes on which Pritzker said some highly unkind things about various African-American politicians to Rod Blagojevich, in an effort to convince the governor to appoint Jesse White to the U.S. Senate. The Pritzker folks have always been impressed by Mitchell and that’s a big reason why they actively engineered his appointment. Madigan simply could not stand in the way of his party’s nominee, who, as of this writing, has poured $5.7 million into Democratic coffers since late May with more to come. Mitchell is basically Pritzker’s guy at DPI.
Rep. Mitchell is also a close political ally and personal friend of Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), who has fought several public and private battles with Speaker Madigan over the past several months on #MeToo issues. And according to numerous sources, Mitchell has privately advised Alaina Hampton, who is suing Madigan’s political operation after making her own sexual harassment allegations. Both women heartily endorsed Mitchell’s ascension. That might give Madigan some heartburn, but the party most definitely needs a bridge to the other side after the recent debacles. Mitchell has a lot of allies in the state’s #MeToo movement, and all seemed quite pleased last week.
Mitchell hasn’t spoken publicly against Madigan. That could be seen as a sign of weakness or even obsequiousness by outsiders, but others know better. Attack Madigan and his members and allies will always rush to his defense. Blagojevich found that out the hard way, so did Pat Quinn and, of course, so did Bruce Rauner. Mitchell, on the other hand, is one of the smoothest guys I know and he’s a person of his word, which are big reasons why he’s been able to work with so many different Statehouse types, including Madigan.
The Mitchell appointment isn’t the beginning of the end for Madigan by any means. The big guy holds too many cards. It might, however, be the end of the beginning.
After endless months of wrenching turmoil, the Pritzker campaign is finally exerting its will on the party chairman. Expect that to continue if Pritzker is elected this November.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 9:18 am:
“A calcified, overly white, constantly under fire and very unpopular state party leadership has simply become a drag on every Democrat.”
Most definitely time for a change.
“Mitchell is a normally pleasant fellow, but he’s an amateur boxer who isn’t afraid to verbally punch you hard in the nose. So, an attack on Democrats by the Republicans can be met with a quick and stinging response from its new and fresh public face.”
This right here.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 9:19 am:
Let us not forget Juliana Stratton as well. She is a rock star.
- JS Mill - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 9:22 am:
Terrific column Rich. In my experiences with Mitchell I think you describe him perfectly.
Like you, I do not think he is a “Madigan” guy but will deftly navigate that territory. He also has some strong relationships with a few GOP legislators which could help to grow bipartisanship.
His ties to Obama don’t hurt either.
- Just Me - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 9:49 am:
Let’s not forget that Mitchell is also aligned with Alderman Brendan Reilly, who is Madigan’s former campaign director and currently his liaison to the City Council.
- bored now - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 9:52 am:
thanks for this column…
- City Zen - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 9:54 am:
“An early supporter of J.B. Pritzker, Mitchell has unofficially advised the campaign for months.”
Can it be unofficial when JB uses Mitchell’s employer for voter outreach services? Outside of JB’s media buys, it looks like his campaign’s largest expenditure at $3 million and counting.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 10:03 am:
===Madigan’s former campaign director===
Um, no.
And at one point, Christian and Brendan had a major falling out.
Maybe wanna check more than Raunerbot talking points before commenting again.
- Soapbox Derby - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 10:18 am:
A temporary Executive Director isn’t much of a “foot in the door” in my opinion.
I’ll wait to see who is named to the post following the election and, if the leadership of the Democratic party in Illinois will finally reflect that fact that the majority of its members are persons of color.
- walker - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 10:48 am:
“”the majority of its members are persons of color.”"
Citation please.
- Soapbox Derby - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 11:18 am:
I’ll rephrase.
The majority of its members are women, and persons of color.
- Loop Lady - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 11:38 am:
Great appointment by Madigan…he’s smart, young and energetic…
- Arsenal - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 11:43 am:
==Mitchell hasn’t spoken publicly against Madigan. That could be seen as a sign of weakness or even obsequiousness by outsiders, but others know better. Attack Madigan and his members and allies will always rush to his defense. Blagojevich found that out the hard way, so did Pat Quinn and, of course, so did Bruce Rauner.==
This is, in it’s way, a pretty good summary of recent IL politics.
- nonBeliever - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 11:53 am:
Sounds like Mitchell can be an effective attack dog against Republicans.
As usual the GOP has nothing like this and won’t under their ineffective ‘leadership.’ Thus they will slide even further in Illinois.
- Wow - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 12:28 pm:
Even though the Pritzker folks will try to exert pressure on the Speaker, there’s a reason he’s survived and kept power for so long. Deal making. I’m sure there was a deal with Pritzker to keep his loyalist Morrissey, plus Wurth, at DPI if he went along with Mitchell. Just like he made a deal with incoming Gov. Rauner to keep his “people” in place at various state agencies if he agreed not to call legislation to increase the minimum wage at the end of 2014. Nothing really changes-just different folks to make deals with and keep power.
- Centennial - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 1:08 pm:
Not gonna lie. I like Christian. He’s more than qualified. But I’m still surprised the committee picked a man, even for a temporary position.
Wallace was NOT the answer, nor in my humble opinion did she have the campaign chops to be considered qualified, but there wasn’t any other woman they could find to fill this role?
- Shytown - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 4:43 pm:
This is not the right position (interim ED) to argue which gender is filling the role. Right now Dems need a solid and experienced steady hand. Mitchell is that guy. All of that aside, he’s impossible not to like or admire.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 5:14 pm:
The DPI has a lot of catching up to do, as far as modern messaging. Judging by Rep. Mitchell’s social media presence, this is a step in the right direction.
- Centennial - Monday, Jul 16, 18 @ 7:18 pm:
“Now is not the time to argue which gender is filling the role… Dems need a solid and experienced steady hand.”
As far as arguing whether gender matters in leadership roles - our body poitic appears to disagree with your assertion. Further, to my point, there are women who are solid and experienced too. I’m surprised one of them were not chosen given the series of events that brought us here.