81 Comments - prairiestatedem - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:02 pm: One vote huh? Looks like some arm twisting by the Speaker at the 11th Hour. Working men and women need a true advocate not another insider in the shadow of Blago - The Captain - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:04 pm: That’s a lot of money that just got sidelined for the Democratic primary. Probably to the benefit of legislative Democrats next fall. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:06 pm: Needed 19, got 19. Might be worth $30- $40 million in aid to Labor. Let the reactions and fallout begin. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:07 pm: ==The 2/3 requirement was 19.== Surely just a coincidence - Sideline Watcher - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:08 pm: This may be a naive question. I know there are people who believe that literally all roads lead back to the Speaker. Is this just Republicans who conveniently forget that 70 million bucks came from only 2 people or is it just commonly accepted that all labor unions do what Madigan says. I just don’t see it. I mean people talk about Madigan like he’s literally a god with amazing super powers. I wish Madigan would go away too, but I just find that analysis supremely lazy. Its like the default fall back position on literally EVERYTHING. - Sideline Watcher - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:09 pm: Sorry for using the world “literally” so much. lol! - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:10 pm: ===Might be worth $30- $40 million in aid to Labor=== More likely it means labor can direct all of its financial resources to maintaining Democratic legislative majorities. They don’t want to bankroll House and Senate Democrats AND the Democratic nominee. The combined financial resources of organized labor, while considerable, are not unlimited. - Almost the Weekend - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:14 pm: Kennedy picked the wrong political team and fundraiser. He had a two month head start on JBs team to raise $ and rack up meaningful endorsements. His team did neither. Drop out date is Dem day at the IL State Fair. If his team doesn’t put in the work now and they are encouraging (or allowing) him to throw the Cook County Democrats under the bus I can’t see him getting thousands of valid petition signatures to get on the ballot. - ReadyforLosing - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:15 pm: Party insiders ramming a corrupt, scandal-plagued corporate Democrat down the throat of voters who want something better. I guess they learned nothing from Hillary’s failure. Some people have a very warped idea of what makes someone electable if they can hear the Blagojevich tape and still think Pritzker is a smart choice. Thankfully, Pritzker doesn’t have the personality cult Hillary used to pull her through the primary. Hopefully primary voters pick someone with a better shot at beating Rauner. - Anonish - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:16 pm: Effective small scale GOTV operation. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:18 pm: ===More likely it means labor can direct all of its financial resources to maintaining Democratic legislative majorities. They don’t want to bankroll House and Senate Democrats AND the Democratic nominee.=== Yep, agreed, I’m going next level… Pritzker, if he wins, and that is a big “if”, lots of daylight, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pritzker goes $30 million deep for the 2 Caucuses, especially if it gins up turnout. Like Rauner, funding the apparatus is as important as setting up the skeleton. You’re right, no worry if JB is the nominee, but I can’t imagine JB letting Labor take all that weight now. - Archiesmom - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:18 pm: When I see how much of our analysis of every political decision made in this state is driven by amounts of cash available and candidates with deep pockets having a huge advantage, three impossible words come to mind: Campaign. Finance. Reform. - Seats - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:19 pm: Have to assume the Supreme Court ruling against fair share dues in a few months is playing a big role in Unions backing the self funder. - Christopher - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:19 pm: Well, Politico did report that two sources again told them that if the vote was called today, that means the votes would be there for J.B. Pritzker. And, evidently, 19 were - which is what is needed. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:19 pm: Kennedy’s response was almost perfect. But then he had to add his own sour grapes to the mix. But hey, the Downstate County Chairmen’s endorsement wasn’t a backroom deal at all, unlike this and the Cook County endorsement and every other endorsement Kennedy doesn’t win. - illini - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:22 pm: Well reasoned and well worded response from the Kennedy Campaign. Is anyone paying attention? - Christopher - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:24 pm: I do have to admire the determination shown by the Kennedy campaign’s response. The eventual opponent for Pritzker or Kennedy will be Rauner, but I imagine Kennedy looks at Pritzker as his opponent, too - for the Democratic nomination. - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:24 pm: 47th- to me the reason for getting behind Pritzker is to allow every cent from this point to go towards the fight for survival that is Janus vs AFSCME and other anti union battles. We need every cent It may be a deal with the devil at midnight at the crossroads Time will tell Or It could save our critical resources to fight On other fronts No other candidate can offer that. Sorry Unions must fight to win or die It’s the only way I can see surviving. My opinion only I’m just a front ranker. A promachos - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:25 pm: ===It’s about Springfield establishment insiders who cut deals and circumvented the normal endorsement process. … not political insiders who are cutting deals behind closed doors.=== A message that could resonate with the electorate. A message dripping in hypocrisy with every “establishment” endorsement Kennedy may seek and secure. “B” response, but it could come back to haunt in hypocritical ways. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:25 pm: Illini, check out Pawar’s response. Much, much better than Kennedy’s. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:27 pm: Response from Scott Drury: “I demand a recount!” - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:27 pm: Pawar’s response highlights Kennedy’s miscues. That’s a really good response by Pawar on its own merit. - illini - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:30 pm: @Willy and @47th - points well taken, but the Pawar response was not posted when I said Say It. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:30 pm: Chris Kennedy makes me laugh. But in an uncomfortable Michael Scott from The Office kind of way. Its uncomfortable and awkward. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:34 pm: The money should be something to really consider. Certain right wing multimillionaires and billionaires are trying to cripple unions and workers’ ability to have a political voice. Rauner is most definitely one of these people. He and two other billionaires poured over $100 million into Illinois politics since he ran for governor. These few people own the ILGOP. I hope union leaders did their jobs and vetted Pritzker. So much more than his wealth, I’m worried that Pritzker will turn out to be a dud as a candidate or has skeletons in his closet that will make him unacceptable. - Amalia - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:34 pm: I’m fascinated by the comparisons between various unions and the close understanding of management and rank and file. One election I observed recently had clear union presence on one side, unions of all kinds, super visible. but I got the feeling from how and where the vote came out that guys can put up signs but in the box their heart goes elsewhere. - 'Goose - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:35 pm: Almost the Weekend- are you joking? Kennedy could personally ask for a signtature from every 65 year old lady who wants to take a picture with him around the state and he’d have twice the minimum, which is all he’s allowed to turn In. That’s not even a little bit of an issue here. - Downstate - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:35 pm: The electorate is rarely led to an anointing. - George - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:36 pm: “It’s about Springfield establishment insiders who cut deals and circumvented the normal endorsement process.” The irony here is it’s Pritzker who’s running like a Kennedy. - Seats - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:37 pm: Honeybear - Maybe i’m pessimistic but no amount of money will be able to go towards resources to win Janis vs AFSCME. But they do need to be more careful with spending money moving forward until they can get a more clear picture as to what the result will mean in terms of membership % and money coming in. - Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:40 pm: @Archiesmom Agreed on the campaign finance reform. Because I find myself selling out. I don’t like it. Yet I don’t like the alternative of having a nominee that I like a lot better get trounced because he has no cash. I am not selling out to JB, I am selling out to defeat BR. - Anon0091 - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:43 pm: I’m so tired of Kennedy’s whining. Dude, you’re losing because you’re running a very bad campaign and you’re a very bad candidate. You keep not showing up for things - like this endorsement session. You phone it in (which he did today while everyone else showed up) or you just blow it off. Yes, Pritzker has the $$$$, but he’s also outworking you - showing up at endless events all over the state. Where are you? And how come you only pulled $50k from California? How come you’re raising chump change? Did you see how the ILGOP used your words today? Yup - you’re simply helping the GOP. Get out there and work harder. Define yourself. Then let the voters decide. Enough of the whining and attacking other candidates. Time to grow a pair big boy. Oh, and yea, Pawar’s statement was 1000% better than Kennedy’s. - Quiet Sage - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:49 pm: I see the breakdown of Democratic primary voters as follows: Pritzker: Voters who heed the party and union organization line. Voters who see Pritzker as a stronger choice because of his money and party connections. Voters who buy the line that Pritzker is now inevitable. (A similar roster to Hillary voters). Also, those who see Pritzker as preferable to Kennedy because they believe he is fundamentally more liberal. Kennedy: Voters who do not follow politics closely but recognize the Kennedy name (despite Pritzker’s non-stop ads, he has a big name recognition gap to make up). Older liberal voters with fond memories of John, Robert, and Ted and the idealistic era they embodied. AND–Most Sanders voters, if Kennedy makes a pro-Sanders LG choice such as Chuy Garcia and stresses his progressive positions as he did today. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:51 pm: In actuality, if you’re going to take a shot at Pritzker’s endorsement here, Biss dies it just about as best you can, without it looking like sour grapes. - Really? - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:52 pm: “not shifting more power and wealth to corporate class.” Does Carrigan not have the self awareness to understand how absurd this sounds when he’s endorsing a billionaire with a history of attacking union member pensions? How far up their ass does someone’s head have to be to hear the Blago tape and still think Pritzker is a good idea? - Almost the Weekend - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:53 pm: Goose, With that logic, CK only needs to take 7,500 pictures to be on the safe side. Does he also have access to vote builder to identify his key electorate: senior citizens? That’s asking alot from a team that had a two month head start and seems now to be two months behind. Thought Biss had a good response. Trades and private sector unions probably like his pension reform proposal too. He needs Kennedy to stay in to have a chance and Pawar drop out or join LG on ballot. - Come on Man! - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:54 pm: JB is doing a good job of getting bad press and pushing something to deflect from it. He just needs to hope that there is enough distractions to match the deluge of oppo on a guy who is a billionaire. I don’t think this ends the campaign for anyone especially if the no votes, abstentions, and non votes are the AFSCME, SEIU, IFT, IEA, and UNITE-HERE. Those unions have larger numbers among them than the building trade as well as a membership that will actually voter in the democratic primaries. The building trades and AFFI have the problem, or blessing depending on your view, that many of their members are also social conservatives who live in Republican districts and will vote in the respective primaries. - Alexander Paterakis - Your friendly neighborhood Candidate - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:56 pm: Too few Americans know the history of labor and how they have benefited from the efforts of unions. We have a 40-hour work week, defined benefits, higher wages, paid vacations and sick leave, because of union activity. Out of the ashes of WWII, unions built the middle class. Today unions are vilified, and that narrative imposed by the Republicans and Bruce Rauner has put the middle class in jeopardy. Everyday we will fight for workers rights and the rights of unions! - Anon0091 - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:58 pm: Really?, “when he’s endorsing a billionaire with a history of attacking union member pensions?” Please explain JB’s history of attacking union member pensions. Not his family. Not his sister/cousin/uncle. But his personal history of attacking union member pensions. I’ll be waiting… - Sheesh! - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 2:59 pm: A singularly unimpressive endorsement. Not at all sold on Pritzker being a friend of labor. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:05 pm: Lol Sheesh. I doubt you’ll see his name on your ballot when you vote in the primary. - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:12 pm: Brother/sister seats- we cannot stop Jamus from happening. We can neutralize/limit it’s effects. All effort and money must be thrown at the front line, especially stewards. We must rebuild the strength of union, the relationship of trust From the bottom up From the front line back to leadership Right to work is not a threat when Every union sister Every union brother Holds fast to solidarity and Pays their dues as full members. When all understand that they are most vulnerable Isolated from the strength Found in union “Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one” It is all about rebuilding from the ground up We must look to the promachos, the front ranker now That’s you seats and other labor sisters and brothers On this very blog Ductus exemplo - QCLib - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:13 pm: I’m having such a hard time understanding the appeal ofJB, beyond his money. He feels like such a “if you can’t beat em, join em” response to Rauner. If I tell you there’s a billionaire running for governor who is buying the election, at this point it would be a multiple choice guess as to who I’m talking about. - Sheesh! - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:15 pm: @47th: I have mixed it up in primaries before. - QCLib - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:17 pm: I don’t mean this to sound like name calling, but am I the only one who gets a dishonest Blagojevich type of feeling from Pritzker? - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:24 pm: Hey Rich could you copy and paste Alex Paterakis statement up top where the candidates are. He’s a declared candidate and I like his response. Thanks - downstate dem - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:25 pm: Chris Kennedy will continue to pound away on the big issues, like the need for property tax reform, criminal justice reform, government reform and economic development. His campaign is gaining momentum, larger crowds (largest in some county’s history in the case of downstate) and genuine enthusiasm. I liked his statement about supporting organized labor, because he has his entire professional life at the Merchandise Mart and with Wolf Point where he teamed up with the AFL-CIO. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:26 pm: ===He’s a declared candidate=== lol On Facebook. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:28 pm: == I’m worried that Pritzker will turn out to be a dud as a candidate or has skeletons in his closet that will make him unacceptable. == Illinois voters elected Blago and Rauner with all their baggage … - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:29 pm: ===largest in some county’s history in the case of downstate=== Lots of tourists. But, yeah, no denying the crowd sizes. - Commonsense in Illinois - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:32 pm: Hope the ghost of Blair Hull isn’t lurking in JB’s closet. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:33 pm: - Downstste Dem - ===Unfortunately, today’s endorsement isn’t about the members. It’s about Springfield establishment insiders…=== I will expect Kennedy to refuse any endorsement that can be construed from… “…Springfield establishment insiders…” I hope you don’t decide to make hay of further Kennedy sought and secured politically attributed endorsements. - Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:36 pm: I don’t have a dog in this hunt, I will, as I believe soccermom said on another thread, be proudly voting for Anyone But Rauner. But… Kennedy and Biss are seriously losing respect with this Democrat. Pritzker isn’t the enemy, gents, the guy burning down the state is. Further… Kennedy needs to stop whining. Not only that, he needs the stones to send out a statement from Chris Kennedy, not from someone with the Kennedy campaign. He’s not that big-time… And I always liked Daniel, but I’m beginning to seriously question both his judgment and whether he’d just prefer Rauner win again if it can’t be him. The ego is large with this one. Finally, I’m impressed with Pawar’s statement. As someone who lives in the 47th, I’ve never understood the hero worship many of my neighbors bestow upon him (and I’ve never found him to be personally engaging), but that statement is all class - Honeybear - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:40 pm: Sorry Rich my bad. You’re right. I didn’t realize that he hadn’t gone further I made an assumption I apologize - Arsenal - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:57 pm: When you don’t get endorsements like this, you’re best to take the Clinton line: “You may not endorse me, but I endorse you.” ‘Cause one way or another, the Democratic nominee for Governor is going to be working with the AFL-CIO next year, and hopefully for the four years after that, too. To that end, Pawar’s response was best. Kennedy has to stop sniping at potential allies. Biss, too, but Biss already had problems with labor. - JohnnyPyleDriver - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:58 pm: bummer, i was looking forward to voting Rauner out. It seems obvious at this point the Dems are going to ram Pritzker down our throats. He won’t beat Rauner, and I’m not going down with the ship. I wonder if Sheldon Schaefer is running again - Big Union Boss - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:59 pm: My enemy’s enemy is my friend. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:01 pm: ===the Dems are going to ram Pritzker down our throats=== Um, there’s a primary election next March. And it’s a Democratic primary. Democratic primary participants will decide. If you’re a Democrat, you get to vote. If you’re not a Democrat, then vote in a different primary. - Shytown - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:03 pm: Biss: sour grapes Pawar: sour grapes Kennedy: sour grapes ‘Nuff said Let’s be honest - any of them would have bent over backwards to get this endorsement. And I’m sure they each did all they could behind the scenes to prevent this from happening, but for the most part labor are political pragmatics. They know the Dems not only need a candidate with a strong message but one who has a chance in hell of beating Rauner and shoring up the rest of the ticket. I know this is a primary, but the more they beat up on JB and one another the more they weaken the party heading into the primary. Lastly, if I were JB’s opponents I’d downplay this instead of giving it as much play as they are. I know they have to respond to reporter questions but they’re further elevating this endorsement with these responses, IMO. - Sic semper tyrannis - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:03 pm: “not shifting more power and wealth to corporate class”! …..cause JB already has enough of both already! - Horst Cabal - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:20 pm: Pritzker is the only Democrat Rauner can beat. Two billionaires slugging it out, both with godawful resumes and more scandals to come. - JohnnyPyleDriver - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:27 pm: ==Um, there’s a primary election next March. And it’s a Democratic primary. Democratic primary participants will decide. If you’re a Democrat, you get to vote. If you’re not a Democrat, then vote in a different primary.== No foolin? judging by all the behind the scenes machinations, i never would have known that. Not sure why they bother with all these high profile endorsements if it’s so simple though. ::shrugs:: ::blank stare:: - JohnnyPyleDriver - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:29 pm: ==Pritzker is the only Democrat Rauner can beat.== Exactly. Are people not listening to the people of this state? Rauner is vulnerable, but only to the candidate that can separate himself from what the people perceive as a corrupt Democratic political establishment. They’re going to play the Blago tapes over and over and over and over and nobody is going to miss the message. The commercials won’t even need text to make that connection. - A guy - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:29 pm: == The Illinois AFL-CIO represents nearly 900,000 members across the state and is a powerful voice for Illinois working families.=== And 19 votes were cast on their behalf. Exactly 19 needed, exactly 19 received…nothing to see here. Oy. - Arsenal - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:31 pm: ==No foolin? judging by all the behind the scenes machinations, i never would have known that. Not sure why they bother with all these high profile endorsements if it’s so simple though.== Sorry you feel bad that unions get to endorse candidates. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:36 pm: ===judging by all the behind the scenes machinations=== You ever watch a campaign before or is this your first one? - A guy - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:49 pm: It’s getting very close to the time where one asks: Who has enough money and enough energy to stay in? Whoever that is will benefit from some backfire resentment. Time will tell. - Alex Paterakis - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:53 pm: Honeybear, Rich is trying to deceive. Its more than facebook, Alex was just at the Dem central chairman’s meeting. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 4:55 pm: - Alex Paterakis - Are you going 3rd person. If you are, that’s adorbs and you’ll be my favorite! - Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 5:09 pm: This is starting to resemble the recently concluded GOP Presidential primary. Multiple candidates. One candidate with tons of money and lots of early key endorsements (Pritzker playing Bush). One constantly squeaking and complaining and acting holier than thou. (Biss playing Ted Cruz). Extreme over confidence (Hardiman playing Ben Carson). Going to the political extreme of the party (Pawar playing Rand Paul). Not having a chance (Paterakis playing Santorum), “I’m a former Federal Prosecutor!” (Drury playing Christie) and “if elected I’ll drain the swamp (Kennedy playing Trump). Who did I miss? LOL! - Veil of Ignorance - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 6:12 pm: Hey Rich, I think you mentioned before but are the votes weighted by number of members for each union? Would love to understand how that works. - Mad dog - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 6:36 pm: All unions will be united vs rauner. Rauner never campaigned on rtw agenda, and Quinn didn’t get anyone excited. Rtw gets the trades war paint on. They have the influence. - Alexander Paterakis - Your friendly neighborhood Candidate - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 7:37 pm: Oswego Willy, George loves the kung poa - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 7:39 pm: Whew… You should drop the mic - Hottot - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:50 pm: The only way I’ll vote for Pritzker is if he’s the Democratic nominee. I don’t feel comfortable with someone who has enough money to buy the Democratic party. How can I trust Pritzker to not do to the Democrats what Rauner did to the Republicans? I don’t care what the AFL-CIO did today, I’m going with Kennedy. - Rabid - Wednesday, Jun 7, 17 @ 6:21 am: Pawar continues to impress with the road not taken - PublicServant - Wednesday, Jun 7, 17 @ 7:12 am: I wish all the democratic candidates for governor luck. I will be voting for the winner of the democratic primary against the worst governor Illinois has ever seen, bar none. We can’t dump Bruce Rauner, that Koch-clone fast enough. - DeseDemDose - Wednesday, Jun 7, 17 @ 10:00 am: JB Pritzker is the only Democrat actually fighting against Rauner so far….this campaign started a while back and Rauner campaigns every minute. The old days are gone of waiting to engage. The enemy of Illinois Rauner. - JohnnyPyleDriver - Wednesday, Jun 7, 17 @ 10:45 am: =Sorry you feel bad that unions get to endorse candidates.== Not at all. I’d love to hear how their membership feels - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 7, 17 @ 10:48 am: ===I’d love to hear how their membership feels=== Union leaders are elected. If their members hate this, they can vote ‘em out. - JohnnyPyleDriver - Wednesday, Jun 7, 17 @ 1:35 pm: ==If their members hate this, they can vote ‘em out.== or they can vote for Rauner again. Yippee! Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.