Our Revolution Illinois—one of the largest grassroots progressive organizations in Illinois and the statewide chapter of the national organization, Our Revolution, that grew out of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign— is excited to announce its endorsement of State Senator Daniel Biss in the Illinois gubernatorial race ahead of the March 20 Democratic primary.
There has been a growing surge of support for Senator Biss’ people-powered campaign since Our Revolution Illinois’ gubernatorial forum last October which was co-sponsored by over 50 grassroots and progressive organizations across the state. Further, in a recent internal statewide poll of nearly 40,000 progressives across the state, Senator Biss was the overwhelming favorite.
“Daniel Biss and Litesa Wallace will bring fairness, reform, and middle-class values to Springfield,” said Clem Balanoff, Chair of Our Revolution Illinois. “For the first time in many years, working men and women have a true voice and champion in our next governor and lieutenant governor.”
Balanoff further added, “Daniel has been a longtime champion of increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour. He has been a longtime supporter of Medicare-for-All, because he understand that healthcare is a right and not a privilege. He has been a leader in the fight for education funding, including free tuition at public colleges and universities. And Daniel understands the need to get the state’s financial house in order by changing the tax system so that those who can most afford it will pay their fair share.”
“It’s an honor to receive the endorsement of Our Revolution Illinois,” said Daniel Biss. “We share a vision for this state: of a government accountable to middle-class and working people, and of universal healthcare, living wages, and tuition-free higher education. Just as importantly, we share a plan to make this vision a reality. By joining together in this election to organize our communities, we can transform our political system at its core and build a state that works for us.”
Rebecca Abraham, board member of Our Revolution Illinois and elected Sanders delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, added, “I am a nurse and mother of two. While some may be hedging their bets on the person with the most money to defeat Bruce Rauner, I am taking into consideration the lives of my patients and the future of my children. I am excited to say that I am voting for Daniel Biss and I strongly urge fellow progressives across the state to do the same. Daniel has the most progressive plan that will expand medical and social services for seniors, children, and families.”
Our Revolution Illinois is dedicated to building on Bernie Sanders’ core set of values — the values and agenda that electrified Illinois voters in the March 2016 primary and won Bernie Sanders 24 of 50 wards in Chicago, 79 of Illinois’ 102 counties, 11 of 18 congressional districts and almost a million votes across the state.
- SaulGoodman - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 1:26 pm:
Another good day for Team Biss.
When’s the last time Kennedy announced an endorsement (other than by Bruce Rauner)?
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 1:27 pm:
I love their beer.
Mmmm. Beer.
- Arsenal - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 1:30 pm:
A good get for Biss. Not sure it moves the needle much for him, but without it, he’d have been sunk.
- New Commenter - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 1:38 pm:
I wonder why it took them so long to endorse Biss.
- Just Observing - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 1:40 pm:
I’d rather have these endorsements than not, but the problem with endorsements like Our Revolution Illinois and MoveOn.org is that the activists within usually don’t get as energized and motivated for a Gubernatorial race compared to the race for POTUS or even Chicago mayor.
- SaulGoodman - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 1:49 pm:
**the problem with endorsements like Our Revolution Illinois and MoveOn.org is that the activists within usually don’t get as energized and motivated for a Gubernatorial race compared to the race for POTUS or even Chicago mayor.**
That is pretty much true for every organization and group of voters.
- Anonish - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 1:52 pm:
Would be news if it went anyone else in the field.
- blue dog dem - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 1:57 pm:
I really can’t believe this is an endorsement anyone wants. Decades of state mismanagement in terms of overspending,over promising and failing to pay bills and we want a system that promises more state government spending? Greece. Cuba. Venezuela. New Jersey. Aren’t we supposed to learn from history?
- Red - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 2:06 pm:
Finally Comrade Biss, those capitalist pigs will pay for their crimes
- Just Observing - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 2:12 pm:
=== That is pretty much true for every organization and group of voters. ===
I tend to agree with you, but I think some groups, like labor or pro-choice/pro-life, tend to get, more than lefty, youthful activists, the importance of state government. The Bernie-ites of the world tend to over-emphasize the importance and the impact of the presidency.
- Old and In The Way - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 2:34 pm:
Im betting there won’t be much grassroots support from those retirees and pensioners that Biss tried to rip off with his unconstitutional pension bill. Where does he stand on this now? How does he explain this to those “working class grass roots voters” he always talking about? Crickets.
- Actual Red - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 2:41 pm:
@Old
For better or for worse, Biss’s line on the pension reform bill is that he made a mistake, and that he would not support it again.
Whether that admission means anything is up to the voters, of course.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 3:32 pm:
“Actual Red - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 2:41 pm:”
It doesn’t
He is a lier and went against his oath to the Constitution. I will NOT vote for him in the primary.
I will either vote for Kennedy or Pritzker.
- AnneWith - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 4:33 pm:
Much as I would like the Democratic nominee for governor to have some actual government experience, this endorsement leans me away from Biss. I’ve grown to despise Bernie Sanders over the last couple of years, so I’m not at all fond of his political organization.
- City Zen - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 4:51 pm:
==I love their beer.==
You have them confused with the Revolution that produces something of value.
- Amalia - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 4:54 pm:
oh good, another reason for me not to vote for Biss.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 5:09 pm:
Endorsement took so long because the leader, CB (who was political dir for chuys mayoral campaign), had been hoping Kennedy would have gone somewhere. Team Kennedy couldn’t get their stuff together and finally our rev endorsed Biss.
- blue dog dem - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 5:13 pm:
It seems to me that Biss bought into this Bernie thing hook,line and sinker. We will never know, but me thinks Bernie would have gotten whooped by Trump as well. Free college plays to the young. Medicaire for all plays to some. Higher minimum wage plays to some. But at the end of the day, I think its many of the same people. Fervent for sure, but is it a majority? I guess we will find out. But I predict less than 20% in the primary. With or without Kennedy.
- Amalia - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 5:14 pm:
what kind of Democrats are they? Bernie Sanders has not given an interview to the largest paper in his state in over 1000 days. he just refused again because he will not go near what is happening with his wife’s investigation or his step daughter’s campaign for Mayor in Vermont. He is also doing his own State of the Union response stepping on both Maxine Waters and Joe Kennedy. He and Our Revolution are ridiculous.
- Blue Dogs are Blind, Deaf , & Dumb - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 5:45 pm:
“Medicare for All plays to some” says the Blue Dog that I am guessing already has Medicare. BTW - that is not applicable to this Governor’s race, but it is highly applicable to the Congressional Primary races in the 3rd & 5th, at minimum. The Governor’s race is all about a state public option which will help the state and voters lower health insurance costs.
- Blue dog dem - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 6:54 pm:
BDBDD. I believe SS and Medicaire should be means tested. We wont be able to afford the Medicaid expansion pickup. Dream on if you think the stae public option scores a break even. You, Biss and Bernie keep on making campaign promises. Somebody will believe you if you say it often enough. I am old enough to know bs when.I hear it. By the way, when.is that cadillac tax going to kick in and help that Medicaid expansion? Another ridiculous campaign.promise. I bet you believe that tax on financial transactions is going to happen as well.
- Illinois Resident - Monday, Jan 29, 18 @ 10:44 pm:
Blue dog dem - You don’t like Medicare for all or government paid college tuition but I assume you are just fine with $700 billion in annual military spending so our country can have bases all over the world.
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 7:12 am:
IR. Not really.
- Illinois Resident - Tuesday, Jan 30, 18 @ 10:05 am:
–IR. Not really.–
Blue Dog Dem - Glad to hear that. At least you are being consistent. I hear from a lot of conservative folks that we can’t afford universal health care (even though it is cheaper than our current system by far). Meanwhile they have no problem with spending $700 Billion annually on the military industrial complex.