HDems will have 74 seats, SDems will have 40
Monday, Nov 26, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Let this sink in: Next year, Sen. John Curran of Downers Grove will be the only Republican Senator who will reside in the former GOP bastion of DuPage County. Sen. Curran was appointed to the Senate last year when Sen. Christine Radogno retired. Pate Philip would be spinning in his grave if he was dead (thankfully, he’s not)…
For context, 1964 was the “bedsheet ballot” year, when the Democrats won two-thirds of all House seats. The old three-member district process limited parties to no more than two members per district, so each party slated 118 candidates for 177 seats and they all ran on one statewide ballot after a redistricting standoff during LBJ’s massive Democratic landslide.
The House Democrats will hold about 63 percent of all House seats come January.
* Some of the last legislative races that were decided…
* Related…
* ‘Blue tsunami’ should be wake-up call for Lake County GOP: In a clean sweep, Democrat candidates won the sheriff, treasurer and county clerk’s office. Democrats flipped five Lake County Board seats held by Republicans and now control the County Board for the first time in history.
* Democrat Hebreard edges Republican Cantore in tight race for DuPage County forest preserve president: Hebreard’s victory extended the blue wave that swept traditionally Republican DuPage this fall and that already had resulted in Democrats winning seven seats on the 18-member county board and capturing both the county clerk’s office and, for the first time, a circuit court judge’s seat. Democrats had held only one county board seat before the Nov. 6 election.
* FINAL TALLY: Democrat Tony Brown wins Macon County sheriff’s race by 1 vote
* Democrat Ellman unseats Republican Connelly in state Senate District 21: Connelly, an attorney from Lisle, has held the state Senate seat since 2012. He previously served in the state House, on the DuPage County Board and on the Lisle village board.
* Republican Morrison holds on for 37-vote victory over Democrat Trevor in 54th House district: It’s the closest race yet for Morrison, a fiscal and social conservative first elected in 2010 after defeating 12-year incumbent Suzanne Bassi in the 2010 GOP primary. He’s faced a Democratic challenger every two years except in 2016.
* Democrat Edly-Allen defeats Republican Miller Walsh in 51st House District: “From the bottom of my heart, I want to extend a sincere thank you to the thousands of voters who have chosen to place their trust in me, as well as the hundreds of dedicated volunteers who helped me get my message out to the community and stood by my side as we fought to ensure every vote was counted,” Edly-Allen said. “Across the county, state and country, this election demonstrated not only that every vote counts, but most importantly, that the divisive rhetoric advanced by extreme politicians like Donald Trump will not go unchallenged.”
* Rep. Batinick still ‘hopeful’ going into Democratic governorship - As one of the few surviving local Republicans, official ready to get back to work in Springfield
* Bernard Schoenburg: McClure says GOP should stress economic policy
- Bobby T - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:35 pm:
So what does Rauner have to say about all this?
Is this — does this still make him — a “success”?
- Sue - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:36 pm:
Well that’s fabulous for our business climate. Interesting chart in the WSJ article summarizing the past decade of job growth in many of the Cities which didn’t get the Amazon HQ2. Austin 24 percent, Nashville 14, Indy 12 , Dallas 14. Chicago 1 percent. That’s right from 07 to 2017 the Chicago metro area had ONE percent job growth. Maybe we should just elect 100 percent Dems and give the Unions total say over the State’s fisc.
- Huh? - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:38 pm:
The large democratic majorities a repudiation of 1.4% or drumpf?
- Pick a Name - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:41 pm:
Well, the D’s are really in power. Let’s see what they can do to turn this state around. No excuses, time to perform.
- Demoralized - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:43 pm:
==Maybe we should just elect 100 percent Dems and give the Unions total say over the State’s fisc.==
Maybe you should argue like an adult.
- Demoralized - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:43 pm:
Well, I suppose the Governor had at least one major accomplishment. The President didn’t help during the midterms but the Governor pushed the needle even farther. Congratulations.
- wordslinger - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:44 pm:
That Rauner/IPI/tronc propaganda machine did just swell.
- Demoralized - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:45 pm:
==No excuses==
Says the guy who defended Governor Excuse for 4 years. lol
I guess it just depends on who is giving the excuses.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:45 pm:
No more excuses.
You got four years to show improvements.
Make us sparkle.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:46 pm:
But… Madigan!!!
- Tom Threat - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:46 pm:
You know Sue, for being a Republican I would have thought you’d be better at losing by now.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:48 pm:
Raunerism is partly responsible, as Rauner was so unlikable, and his voting base turned out to be, ironically, the Trumpkins type base… so Rauner aided in the contracting of the ILGOP.
At no time has Madigan and the Dems had such a majority in the House. Rauner gave HDems they’d biggest majority.
Rauner then let the SGOP twist in the wind, letting Cullerton get to 40 because staving off seats was running counter to depressing turnout.
Think about Rauner needing to depress turnout, and Dems maximizing every opportunity to take seats by VBM and Pritzker pushing turnout.
The biggest winner IS… Diana Rauner.
She just is.
As a Dem, she gave Madigan his greatest majority. She helped Cullerton reach 40, she made Bruce split the ILGOP with an uber-left, costal, limousine liberal social agenda, leaving the ILGOP broken, far worse than when Bruce found it, and Bruce and Diana Rauner forced out moderate GOP legislators… causing $&@#% problems.
Diana got HB40 signed… something any Dem Governor would’ve liked to have done…
If Diana Rauner is still a Dem… how happy she must be.
But she’s not a Dem.
Raunerism forced such a divide, DuPage, the collars, Raunerism was so inedible, it couldn’t offset Trump, it reinforced Trump.
Where does the ILGOP go from here?
Dunno. But I’ll know quickly if it wants to exist beyond Trump and to try to be relavant once again.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:49 pm:
The Republicans will not recover anytime soon. What are their fund raising plans? Who will contribute and why? No grass roots organization no money. If DuPage changed that much with at least an infrastructure of Republican Party what will happen state wide? And if the Republicans are totally financed by Uhline and Proft why run any candidate? It will be a race to the bottom
- The Captain - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:53 pm:
Sure, Blame Madigan 4.0 didn’t work but we’re only 708 days away from finding out if Blame Madigan 5.0 is path back.
- Huh? - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:58 pm:
“that’s fabulous for our business climate.”
How much of the lack of business growth and the associated employment growth can be attributed to the turmoil caused by the repugnant and misleading behavior of 1.4%? Rather than governing, 1.4%’s insistence on his disastrous economic agenda lead to 2 years without a budget. Rather than boosting about the State, 1.4% spent 4 years complaining about the “broken state”.
What business owner in their right mind would come to a state with a governor who refuses to accept responsiblity for his actions and tears down his state?
What business owner would want to set up shop in a state where there is no stability or assurance of a future?
- Norseman - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:58 pm:
=== a repudiation of 1.4% or drumpf ? ===
A combination of both.
The ball is definitely in the Dems court. Hopefully they’ll do something good with it.
- Annon3 - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:05 pm:
I wonder how the Trib and Sun Times endorsement game did in the close races?
- Pick a Name - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:09 pm:
Demo, you fellas have been in power a long time, just not as strong as now. So, belly up to the bar, and make things happen.
Solve the pension crises, cut down the exodus of people, don’t raise taxes, bring new jobs to the state. Fund those universities and keep all the IL kids instate.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:14 pm:
===Solve the pension crises, cut down the exodus of people, don’t raise taxes, bring new jobs to the state. Fund those universities and keep all the IL kids instate.===
So… “just let the Dems do it”?
Then why should anyone vote Republican if the GOP doesn’t want to be seen as problem solvers?
Bipartisanship when in the super minority is away to get out of… the super minority.
“Let them do it” will fail.
Doing nothing won’t get more Republicans elected.
Argue like an adult.
- Pick a Name - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:15 pm:
is Willy = to Demo?
Who knew?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:16 pm:
===is Willy = to Demo?
Who knew?===
Ignorance of thought need not let sit.
That’s how “fake news” becomes a narrative.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:18 pm:
Curran also lost the DuPage portion of his district.
- whatnowbrowncow - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:20 pm:
If only Dillard had another week in 2014…He’d most likely be going into his 2nd term….
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:29 pm:
===If only Dillard had another week in 2014…He’d most likely be going into his 2nd term….===
Narrator: Dillard didn’t have another week.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:30 pm:
Brown Cow is correct. If only.
To the post, Rauner hurt, bigly, but the national party isn’t doing the state party any favors. Rauner will be gone and maybe the Republicans will figure out vbm, but the national headwinds will be the same. What’s going to change in the collars? It’s up to state Republicans to answer that.
- Chris Widger - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:30 pm:
==Doing nothing won’t get more Republicans elected.==
It’s important for the moneyed interests of Illinois to set up this gaslighting for the 2020 and 2022 elections, so that when the state is still in pretty sorry condition, no one has to own the blame. (This is an indictment of not just Democrats.)
- Demoralized - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:33 pm:
==is Willy = to Demo?==
I’m pretty sure that’s an insult to OW.
I was just pointing out that the excuse defender is now harping about someone making excuses. It’s pretty rich.
And I’m not sure who “you fellas” is but for the millionth time being against Rauner doesn’t make me a “you fella.”
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:35 pm:
I agree, Democrats should not blow this platinum opportunity. This gives hope to put a progressive income tax on the 2020 ballot. Pritzker has the means to help the fair tax campaign, should it make it on the ballot.
From a poetic justice standpoint, it’s great that this happened to Rauner, that he is the biggest political fish on Madigan’s stringer, the biggest political carcass outside of Madigan’s office. He didn’t have to endlessly war with Madigan.
Madigan is smart and lucky. Instead of engaging with Rauner in PR fights, like some urged, he stayed low-key and let Rauner politically hang himself. When a bitter opponent is self-destructing, stay out of the way and quietly let it happen.
- Annonin' - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:36 pm:
batnick provided little so him being ready to go is of little signifigance. Some might notice he refers to $15 min wage as “far left stuff”
OW if there had been another week GovJunk would have open another OR file on Dillard.
- Sue - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:36 pm:
For Huh- and others- the WSJ job growth stats are for 2007 thru 2017- Rauner was only there for three of those years. Don’t think anyone objective can blame Rauner for 10 years of almost ZERO job growth
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:37 pm:
===It’s important for the moneyed interests of Illinois to set up this gaslighting for the 2020 and 2022 elections, so that when the state is still in pretty sorry condition, no one has to own the blame. (This is an indictment of not just Democrats.)===
Here’s the rub with that;
There seems to be no path, today, for the GOP to get a majority in 20 or 22, or who knows what the maps will look like.
If the GOP wants to be seen these next 2-4 years not engaged in governing, voters will notice.
Loyal opposition and bipartisan partners… that’s how you gain credibility.
Gaslighting Illinois backfired on Rauner.
Rauner’s gaslighting only reinforces Trump angst
- Demoralized - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:39 pm:
==Don’t think anyone objective can blame Rauner for 10 years of almost ZERO job growth==
I don’t think they have. But, as you say, he was Governor for three of those years. So I guess he’s included in that group of people to blame.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:42 pm:
===…if there had been another week GovJunk would have open another OR file on Dillard.===
- Annonin’ -
Considering I think the worst excuse ever by a campaign is “we needed another week”, it’s not me pining for Dillard’s extra 7 days. If anything, the narrator is mocking the “if”
If anything, it coulda turned into a circular firing squad yet again.
- Skeptic - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:49 pm:
” it’s not me pining for Dillard’s extra 7 days. ” What’s the old saying? “If wishes were horses, we’d all have to walk a lot more carefully.”
- DuPage Bard - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:51 pm:
McKinney’s point about 20 women is interesting.
That gain is big but what he didn’t say is that of the 20 women in the Senate only 2 are from the GOP. They had 5 at the start of the 100th GA. 3 were replaced by men in this election.
Maybe someone can tell the GOP that not running women and looking like you have an anti-female agenda doesn’t win more seats. Bigger tent makes you look like you can govern with all people. Until the GOP can attract more women and people of color to run they will not make significant gains.
When you have the GOP downstaters harping to build a wall and damn immigrants yet upstate the GOP needs minorities to become part of the base you have a problem. When you have upstate LGBTQ issues and are trying to bring them into the tent yet downstate calls them immoral you have a problem. When you have suburban GOP who vote for gun laws but downstate they’re called traitors to America you have a problem.
2 different states for the GOP yet one party platform.
- Sue - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:51 pm:
Demoralized- with Rauner gone and Madigan crowned king when are you changing your name.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:56 pm:
===crowned king===
Cite please. Thanks.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:57 pm:
Abraham Lincoln would not recognize this GOP, either in-state or nationwide.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:05 pm:
===I’m pretty sure that’s an insult===
I wouldn’t say that, bud. Ever.
===That gain is big but what he didn’t say is that of the 20 women in the Senate only 2 are from the GOP. They had 5 at the start of the 100th GA. 3 were replaced by men in this election.
Maybe someone can tell the GOP that not running women and looking like you have an anti-female agenda doesn’t win more seats. Bigger tent makes you look like you can govern with all people. Until the GOP can attract more women and people of color to run they will not make significant gains.===
Spot on to the problems. Well said.
The fracture in the regional GOPs is spot on too.
Good stuff.
- Demoralized - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:07 pm:
==with Rauner gone and Madigan crowned king when are you changing your name.==
I see the adult is still missing in action.
- Nick Name - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:15 pm:
===Well that’s fabulous for our business climate.===
As opposed to two solid years without a budget and barely avoiding junk bond status?
- 17% Solution - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
“Interesting chart in the WSJ article summarizing the past decade of job growth in many of the Cities which didn’t get the Amazon HQ2. Austin 24 percent, Nashville 14, Indy 12 , Dallas 14. Chicago 1 percent. That’s right from 07 to 2017 the Chicago metro area had ONE percent job growth.”
Where did the numbers come from, and what was the MOE?
- Flapdoodle - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:28 pm:
@Tom Threat 1:46 — *Zap* You win.
- City Zen - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:31 pm:
==…past decade of job growth in many of the Cities which didn’t get the Amazon HQ2. Austin 24 percent, Nashville 14, Indy 12 , Dallas 14. Chicago 1 percent.==
How about LA, NY, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, etc or cities of comparable size to Chicago?
- The Dude Abides - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:42 pm:
Back in 2015 I thought to myself that the ILGOP was playing a dangerous game accepting Rauner’s money and with leaders Durkin and Brady giving their members marching orders to stay in line with Rauner’s wishes. It has all come to a head now. Rauner has damaged the GOP brand in Illinois but the two GOP leaders, who both have been reappointed to their leadership posts, had a hand in it too.
- Just Me - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:43 pm:
The Republicans deserved to lose those seats. I don’t even know what they stand for anymore. They talk about business climate, yet they embrace chaos and disorganization which is far worse for businesses than anything else.
- Amalia - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:47 pm:
Republicans should run on economic policy rings hollow on a day when it is announced that a car company will lay off 15,000 people. The national tax cut was for rich people. Dems were elected in Illinois because people can’t stand Trump and because they see through the economic policies that he…and Rauner….front.
- whatnowbrowncow - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:48 pm:
Let me say it another way…
If only labor came around a week earlier….
They wouldn’t have needed to send Quinn a message (3/5 Homes - OW)
Now with Pritzker they got their cake and now they have to eat it too
To the post - long is the way of the Moderate Republican. Due Page?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:53 pm:
===If only labor came around a week earlier….===
No… that was Rutherford holding labor until the end, and never withdrawing.
Rauner had their number. The ILGOP was ripe for a hostile takeover.
There was no “week” extra thingy that woulda stopped Rauner.
Sorry.
- Al - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:59 pm:
Big thanks to the Lung Association for making sure Voters knew who voted against SB 2332 which raises the sales age for tobacco to 21.
- Popeye - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:59 pm:
On a National note, how about the Dems introduce a bill to bring back the SALT and in the same bill introduce the elimination of Carried Interest. Bring in Trumps own quote how he thinks it is time to eliminate that 1% tax break. Let’s have a column of ideas that dems can come up with to increase businesses, higher ed, lower property taxes!
- Honeybear - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:11 pm:
I’m so sorry you missed the coronation OW.
CSO and Chorus did Zadok the Priest,
big throne, scepter and orb,the whole nine yards.
It was so cool.
Madigan was resplendant
- Rich Miller - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:23 pm:
===If only ====
If wishes were horses you couldn’t walk outside.
- Pundent - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:25 pm:
=McClure says GOP should stress economic policy=
What a novel concept. As a resident of District 51, a district that has always been reliably Republican, this resonates. So why pray tell did the Republican party decide to foist Helene Miller-Walsh on the district? Did they really believe her values represented the district she was appointed to serve?
- The Way I See It - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:31 pm:
Am I the only delighted that Helene Walsh lost?
- Steve - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:39 pm:
Offering the dime store version of Mike Madigan isn’t going to win the GOP anything. Why not vote Democrat? If the GOP wants to win , they will have to offer a reasonable economic plan and run on it. Pension reform should be at the top of the list. Along with term limits on all elected officials in the state of Illinois.
- Person 8 - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:43 pm:
Rauner got 39% and the Republicans now control 37% of the house. Trump got a high 38%.
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 5:18 pm:
Republicans need to accept that they lost the culture war. Abortion rights and gay marriage are settled law in Illinois. We live here n a multi cultural state and Christian Conservatives are a minority. That is how the Church started back in Roman times, so Christians can adjust.
Smart tax and spend policies can help the Republican image. Just saying “No new taxes. “ Didn’t work for Bush 1 and work today.
Stay away from Pension reform. There is little money to be saved, so quit pretending. (Refinancing the debt is different, though we have missed the best opportunity for that. )
- Anon1 - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 5:45 pm:
More taxes, more corruption, more Chicago-style politics.
- Whatever - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 6:01 pm:
Because . . . Rauner.
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 6:08 pm:
Won’t work today.
- wordslinger - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 8:06 pm:
==with Rauner gone and Madigan crowned king when are you changing your name.==
Spoken like a true troubled, drunken child.
When did you alleged “conservatives” land on that state government controlled the “economy?” And that in an American democracy the leader of one chamber “controls” everything?
Last year, Gov. Rauner awarded $63 billion in managed-care Medicaid contracts. He wrote the specs, put out the RFP, and picked the winners.
That’s $63 billion, on one round of contracts.
That’s one example of the enormous power of the most powerful office in the state, bar none.
- Anono - Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:13 pm:
Hey Sue - do you have actual numbers to go with those percentages?
Chicago is a heckuvalot bigger than Austin or Nashville.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 6:27 am:
==Hey Sue - do you have actual numbers to go with those percentages? Chicago is a heckuvalot bigger than Austin or Nashville.==
You raise a good point. 1000 jobs added to a smaller population town will raise the percentage increase more than 1000 jobs to a larger population town.