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* The Sun-Times looks at the field if Jerry Weller does, indeed, announce today that he is retiring…
State Senate Majority Leader Debbie DeFrancesco Halvorson (D-Crete) is one of the more well-known Democrats considering a bid. She has already been contacted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) about getting in the race.
Jerry Weber, president of Kankakee Community College, has indicated he will run for the Democratic nomination.
On the GOP side, state Sen. Christine Radogno — the GOP nominee for state treasurer last year — said she was considering entering the 11th District race. Radogno now lives outside the district in Lemont but said she would move into it if she decides to run and wins.
“It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come along very often,” Radogno said.
Weber has proved a more adept campaigner than just about anyone expected. Radogno is up for reelection next year, so she’d have to give up her Senate seat.
* More…
New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann confirmed Wednesday he had been approached by Republicans seeking a replacement for Weller. Baldermann said he was considering entering the race. […]
Former Will County Executive Joe Mikan said he would think about entering the race, but he’d have to move into the district to do so. Mikan lives about three miles north of the district’s boundary.
The Green Party will also be competing in this district.
* The Tribune puts things into a larger perspective…
Analysts say at least one-third of the state’s 18 [sic] House seats could be hotly contested next year, several of them due to Republican retirements. It’s possible no other state will see as many competitive races.
“To say that Illinois will be a big battleground in the 2008 race for Congress would be a gross understatement,” said David Wasserman, House editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report in Washington. “This is going to be ground zero in the battle for the House, no question about it.”
Democrats and Republicans disagree on how likely it is that any Illinois seats will change parties in the election. But the map clearly puts the GOP on the defensive.
Six seats appear competitive already, five of them Republican-held. Three will be open due to the looming retirements of Republican Reps. Dennis Hastert, Ray LaHood and Jerry Weller. Three others feature incumbents in varying degrees of electoral consternation: Republicans Mark Kirk and Peter Roskam and Democrat Melissa Bean.
I agree with ArchPundit that Roskam won’t get a major challenge. That’s a stretch, added for dramatic effect. LaHood’s seat may be in play, but there’s only so much the Democrats can do. Still…
Former NBA and Bradley basketball coach Dick Versace hopes to add another win to his record with a bid for Congress.
“I’m all in,” Versace, a Democrat, said Thursday.
His confirmation ends several weeks of speculation about whether he would seek election for the 18th Congressional District seat held by Ray LaHood, who is not seeking re-election.
He said he’ll hold a news conference to officially announce his bid in the next couple weeks. After that, Versace will take off in a 38-foot motor home he will call “The Common Sense Express.”
* More congressional stories, compiled by Paul, who is studying hard for the LSAT this weekend…
* Billy Dennis: Schock playing fast and loose with election rules?
* Normal man joins fray for Weller’s Congressional seat
* Weller may state intention not to run
*** UPDATE 1 *** The Kankakee Daily Journal got an advance peek at Weller’s speech…
“For the benefit of my family, I can no longer seek another term in the United States House of Representatives. At this time, my wife, my child, my family, must come first,” Weller said.
He said the couple found it impossible to balance the demands of family life with both serving in their respective national legislatures. She was recently re-elected to a fourth four-year term, while at the same time caring for their daughter, Marizu Catherine Weller Rios. The couple, he said, decided this summer that he would leave the House when his term ends next year.
“When it was just the two of us, it was a lot easier, but, now we have a little one and we must balance family life even more. Frankly, it has been a difficult balance,” Weller said, adding that he plans to be a “full-time father and husband” and that they may have a second child.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The congressman’s complete speech can be viewed here.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 9:24 am
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“The Green Party will also be competing in this district.”
Thank God Rich covered his bases. I’m sure he doesn’t want Squid thumbing through his tax filings.
Comment by Greg Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 9:33 am
LOL
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 9:43 am
Assuming he is successful, why would Versace bother with becoming a 68-69 year old freshman congressman, whose time and schedule is not his own, life is not his own and has to raise tens of thousands of dollars a week, every week, for the rest of his political career?
Not to mention subjecting himself, his family and friends to immense and possibly unwarranted scrutiny?
Am I missing something? Or does he want to be an example of the non-professional citizen-legislature the founding fathers allegedly envisoned?
Is he inherently more trustworthy because he doesn’t need the job?
Comment by Basketball Jones Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 9:52 am
“Thank God Rich covered his bases. I’m sure he doesn’t want Squid thumbing through his tax filings.”
Not relevant–Rich runs a private, for-profit business. He’s not required to remain nonpartisan.
Nonetheless, although we obviously sometimes disagree on important issues, many Greens, including myself, have found Rich to be VERY fair and nonpartisan when covering elections.
Comment by Squideshi Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 10:03 am
Daily Southtown: “…but he’d have to move into the district to do so.”
Dear Daily Southtown (and Herald of Joliet), please read our United States Constitution. One needs only to live in the same state as the district for which they are running. One does not need to live in the particular Congressional District. Just ask Peter Roskam and Tammy Duckworth.
Cheers, Me
Comment by Rob_N Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 10:09 am
Here’s a name you may not have heard for the 11th:
Joliet Mayor Art Schultz (R).
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 10:28 am
Paul good luck on the LSAT. I take it on the 29th…although I want to do good on it..I cant wait til its over.
Comment by scoot Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 10:29 am
Paul: Good luck on the LSAT. I took the Kaplan course and pretty much got a perfect raw score…I scored a 42 out of 45. (That is not today’s scoring scale, I know, but you get the drift.)
Look where I am now! Waiting to see what you and Rich have to say each morning. Not a bad thing. LOL.
That test is the standardizer and equalizer. People went to different colleges and had different experiences, different majors, different cirricula, activities, etc. but the LSAT is their limiting device.
Good luck again.
Comment by No. 2 Pencil Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 10:49 am
Where did my earlier post go? I certainly dont think it was inappropriate.
Comment by 11th Dem Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 11:34 am
===”rumors” will be deleted or held for moderation. ===
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 11:38 am
The Tribune had the following names on the GOP side for consideration yesterday:
“Republicans floated several possible candidates: Joliet lawyer and Republican activist Dick Cavanagh; New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann; Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland or former Mayor Ray Rossi; James Roolf, president of First Midwest Bank in Joliet; Chris McNeil, a previously unsuccessful state legislative candidate; state Rep. Renee Kosel of New Lenox and state Sen. Christine Radogno of Lemont.”
While Radogno’s name is being floated, she doesn’t live in the district. I don’t think Kosel will run, as she’s been flirting with retiring from the House, though her opponent in 2006, Chris McNeil, seems as though he would be able to build on his Name ID from the last election.
The Joliet candidates would benefit from being from Joliet, but there’s too many in the race now and would split the vote.
Comment by Joliet Mike Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 11:49 am
—Analysts say at least one-third of the state’s 18 House seats could be hotly contested next year—
Shouldn’t these analysts know there’s 19 House seats from Illinois. Oh wait - they’re probably calling Lipinski’s seat an honorary Tennesse one, or whatever state he’s lived most of his adult life in. In that case, they have a point.
I can’t see Roskum getting a serious challenger this time. Duckworth’s out and I don’t think Cegalis [sic] has shown any interest. If you include primaries, Lipinski at the very least should be seriously challenged, though.
Comment by Some Guy Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 12:06 pm
Roskam looks very safe at this point as does Hare. 3 of the 19 are open though Schock looks very strong for 18.
Kirk will have a race and Lipinski has a serious challenger(s). Bean always has the potential to be serious race.
Regardless, other than Bean we are talking about Republican seats being in play. Any potential to use Springfield’s mess by Republicans is largely lost given the statewides aren’t running and there are several national issues that look to dominate the elections. It’ll be a fun cycle.
Comment by archpundit Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 12:31 pm
===Any potential to use Springfield’s mess by Republicans is largely lost ===
Unless Halvorson and/or Radogno run.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 12:36 pm
I am still stuck on the redistricting issue - assuming the Ds control after the 2010 elections, Illinois will probably lose another seat (not the honorary Tenn one Some Guy is talking about). When the time comes to carve up the state, why would the Democrats not take 14 of the remaining 18? The last time around there were 10 Ds and 10 Rs and all the incumbents gave up one D seat to insure their own districts were not touched. But that was when Pate Phillip controlled the Senate, Ryan was Governor and the Speaker was from Illinois, none of which is true now. If I were a Dem leader I would do that - or maybe be generous and go 13D, 5R. What do you people think?
Comment by paddyrollingstone Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 12:39 pm
As a Dem, I hate to see Weller go. Would have been an easy target…
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 12:47 pm
[…] Friday, September 21st, 2007 in Congressional Campaigns, Republicans by robnesvacil Tags: Congress, Jerry Weller, Republicans Now it’s official. WJBC and a slew of other District 11 media are reporting that embattled Rep. Jerry Weller (R) is stepping down. The Kankakee Daily Journal reports: “For the benefit of my family, I can no longer seek another term in the United States House of Representatives. At this time, my wife, my child, my family, must come first,” Weller said. […]
Pingback by Allegedly Corrupt GOP Cong. Weller Leaving DC « Illinois Reason Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 12:56 pm
Paddyrollingstone-
The reason why the current map was drawn the way it was, was not because of Pate Phillip, George Ryan, or anything else.
Bottom line: Bill Lipinski brokered a deal protecting incumbents, with the exception of David Phelps, who he sold out.
Comment by Joliet Mike Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 1:37 pm
Senator Radogno would be a great addition to Illinois’ Congressional Delegation. She would bring a level of nicety and camraderie to D.C.
With Weller out of the way, some of the potential “headaches” for the GOP are now gone. It won’t help the national GOP, but it should help the state GOP and whomever follows him.
However, her senate seat would be in serious jeopardy. Can the Senate GOP capitalize on the current discord AND hold onto Senator Radogno’s seat? That will be tough and expensive.
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 1:39 pm
Paddy-
I think the practice of gerrymandering is unethical, and largely unnecessary due to our modern ability to use computers, census data and logical boundaries to create geographically and culturally sensible districts that do not slither all over the place. Then, let the parties and candidates be competitive in winning the voters’ affections. Incumbent laziness is one of our current political afflictions.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 1:41 pm
geographically and culturally sensible districts
“Not Representative of the US” Iowa uses computers to draw their districts, and I think they are all competitive.
Now, try that here, and see the lawsuits fly. You can’t make a safe black, competitive district.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 2:32 pm
Sorry about that, I posted the Iowa thing.
Comment by Pat collins Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 2:33 pm
SDoS, The use of computers has increased the occurence of extreme gerrymandering. Parties can try to maximize their votes at the block level in a way that was much more difficult before data was fully computerized.
Paddy, I suspect that the 11th and 14th districts are both going to be targets for splitting and merging in 2011. They have high growth compared to the state and nearby districts will need the population. Who holds those districts at the time will likely hold the key to their redistricting fate.
Comment by muon Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 2:50 pm
Muon,
Not to mention the state legislative districts where Kane, Kendall, Will, etc. will have shrinking districts and maybe more of them, and Southern IL will have expanding districts and maybe less of them. Cook might even lose a district.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 3:03 pm
“Joliet Mayor Art Schultz (R)”
I don’t think so. Mayor Shultz’s health ain’t all that great these days; although his daughter, Nancy Shultz Voots, the Republican County Clerk, does do an excellent job, in my opinion. (Everyone catch that? That’s praise for a Republican coming from a Green.)
Comment by Squideshi Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 3:18 pm
I wonder what former State Sen. Pat Welch is thinking? Bad campaign last time, but he has a lot of name recognition and that State Senate district has a lot of overlap with the 11th CD.
Whoever jumps in better hurry, the clock for petitions is ticking…
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 3:37 pm
SDoS, Indeed the best estimates for IL is that the population will divide 2/3 in Chicagoland and 1/3 elsewhere. To keep 6 seats downstate a map will need to grab the non-collar parts of IL-11 and IL-14 for those districts. That would reduce the Chicagoland portion to 12 seats instead of the current 13. Since the growth is at the outer edge it will make for interesting division within Cook.
Comment by muon Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 3:37 pm
Six Degrees: Gerrymandering may be considered by you (and even myself) to be unethical, but is legal and may even be required by the Voting Rights Act.
Look at El Gallito’s district for a textbook example.
These politicians generally protect incumbents and live and die by the map every 10 years.
Chicago’s wards change every 10 years but the Cook County townships are set in stone…hence some weird and incongrous results.
Look at some of the State Reps that were drawn out of their own homes like Jim Durkin and Bill O’Connor.
This happens all the time and will happen again.
He who draws the map wins.
Comment by Jerry Mathering Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 3:51 pm
Pot calling Kettle - earlier you posted that Weller would have been an easy target. Weller has consistently won re-election by sizeable in the 11th district. If Democrats could not pick him off in 2006 then I doubt they could easily do it in 2008. Nonetheless, the 11th district race should be quite a horse race.
Comment by JolietJake Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 4:02 pm
Joliet: A few days ago I pointed out that Weller’s numbers declined dramatically in the last few years while the Dem Party never recruited or stepped behind a candidate. On another of today’s threads, I bemoaned the fact that this stopped potentially competitive candidates from entering the race and prevented the candidates who did run from effectively informing voters of Weller’s many missteps. (And in ‘00 Bush got 50% and ‘04 53%, so it’s not like it’s hopeless)
So last year, we have Pavich, an under-funded political neophyte starting with zero name recognition getting 45%! If the DCCC had recruited and supported a veteran pol, who knows…
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 4:32 pm
Jerry: the computer drawing the map can certainly be given some simple instructions to accommodate the Voting Rights Act while still keeping districts compact and ignoring political preferences.
But who would want to jeopardize their seat?
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Sep 21, 07 @ 4:36 pm