* This is the only notice I received that Davis and Pelosi were doing a thing together yesterday…
Pat Dowell Candidate for Secretary of State Sunday Schedule includes 47th Ward Kickball and House Speaker Pelosi & Congressman Davis […]
4;00 pm Pat Dowell will attend with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi & Congressman Danny K Davis a reception at The Chicago South Loop Hotel 11 West 26th Street, Chicago, Illinois
I’m told that Speaker Pelosi leaves it up to members to publicize joint events like that. Davis is a notoriously poor fundraiser, despite serving on the powerful House Ways & Means Committee. He had less than $300K in his account at the end of June, for instance. So, you’d think he’d want to try and boost attendance. Nope. We’ll see how much cash the soiree brought in, but here’s Politico with the only publicity the event received…
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, facing an extraordinarily busy week in Congress, made a trip to Illinois on Sunday to champion Rep. Danny Davis’ re-election campaign — and voice her support for state lawmakers as they embark on drawing congressional maps.
“She gave a real message of party unity,” Rep. Kam Buckner, chair of the Illinois House Black Caucus, told Playbook. “She was very congratulatory of the work we’ve done here in Illinois and she was staunchly supportive of Congressman Davis and the status and stature he holds in the House. She said we need to send him back because these next two years are going to be pivotal.”
Davis, the longtime rep of the 7th Congressional District, has been targeted by the Justice Democrats who are ostensibly working to replace centrist Dems with liberal candidates. The organization is backing activist Kina Collins, who lost to Davis by 46 points last year in a four-way primary.
It’s an unusual fight for Justice Democrats to pick. They helped oust Dan Lipinski last year, one of the last Democrats in Congress opposed to abortion rights. But Davis is a progressive in his own right who most recently was a co-sponsor of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Davis also voted for same-sex marriage in 2015 and against the Iraq War in 2002. And he co-sponsored the Green New Deal bill.
Pelosi’s visit to Chicago indicates Democrats are taking the challenge to Davis seriously, who she said was an important player in Congress as chairman of a House Ways and Means subcommittee and “a partner” in Biden’s Build Back Better plan.
Davis just turned 80 and has been in Congress for 24 years. He’s an institution, but Justice Democrats clearly have their sites set on him.
- thechampaignlife - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 12:31 pm:
I was shocked to read the headline, then realized you were not talking about Rodney.
- Dotnonymous - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 12:32 pm:
“Without promotion, something terrible happens… nothing!” - P.T. Barnum
- NIU Grad - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 12:52 pm:
“Davis just turned 80 and has been in Congress for 24 years.”
This makes him a “rising star” in Pelosi’s caucus…
- dave ristau - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 12:59 pm:
This group is what is wrong with current politics.
Demonize those who do not line up lock step.
It is a power grab by those that control the squad. To think Danny Davis is right wing is laughable.
Notice .. No Way to find the Justice Democrats
WHERE IS 10629 Hardin Valley Rd, #226
Knoxville, TN 37932 ???
- Give Me A Break - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 1:00 pm:
I’m ready for mandatory retirement age for lawmakers. There is no way, these people in their 80s can have any idea about what people are facing today. Sick and tired of the 70-90 age bracket deciding policy for the modern world. Take your pensions, your face lifts, your hair plugs, your hair color treatments and body shaping underwear and move off the scene.
- Regular democrat - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 1:01 pm:
I just saw Danny Davis a few weeks ago at Columbus Park. He looked pretty good for 80. They have bee going after Quigley too The far left just keep pushing nothing to lose.
- Lefty - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 1:08 pm:
==The far left just keep pushing nothing to lose.==
Which they should. Right now most of our American “left” major party would be considered conservatives in the rest of the developed world.
- olddog - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 1:14 pm:
=== Notice .. No Way to find the Justice Democrats
WHERE IS 10629 Hardin Valley Rd, #226
Knoxville, TN 37932 ??? ===
10629 Hardin Valley Rd #226 is a UPS Store in a strip mall between Knoxville and Oak Ridge, Tenn. I used to live there, and I don’t remember any great and abiding commitment there to good government in Chicago.
- Victor - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 1:16 pm:
Davis and Rush are two of the most useless Congressmen for their constituents, given their seniority. What is the point of voting for them, if he is your congressman? A point can be made that the majority of their constituency have gotten significantly worse since their first election into their posts.
- Jibba - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 1:17 pm:
===The far left just keep pushing===
For 30 years, the GOP has been pulling hard to the right without apology, and the Dems have been pulled along with them without much fight. About time there is a counterbalance to get the American middle back to where it used to be.
- thechampaignlife - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 1:24 pm:
===There is no way, these people in their 80s can have any idea about what people are facing today.===
Similarly, there is no way younger people have any idea what older people are facing today. There needs to be room for both at the table, but right now 13% of the population (65+) have nearly 50% of the seats in Congress (median age in Congress is 60). That is far too imbalanced, even when accounting for minimum age requirements. We need more statistical representation, but how do you make that happen?
- hisgirlfriday - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 1:44 pm:
The gerontocracy sticks together and refuses to let go of the reins of power and the rest of us suffer for it.
Just last week 89-year-old Chuck Grassley announced he is running again for Senate. Grassley has been in elected office since Eisenhower was president.
- huh - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 1:44 pm:
Davis wins this contest by 35+
- Roman - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 1:50 pm:
== Demonize those who do not line up lock step. ==
I agree with that sentiment, but it seems to me like Davis pretty much is in lock step with “Justice Democrats.” He’s certainly no Dan Lipinski. Are they targeting him simply because they see some vulnerability (little cash, up there in age, changing district) and want to claim another primary victim no matter who the heck it is?
- Amalia - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 2:06 pm:
I’m against anything that adds to the stock of AOC. May her losing streak continue.
- Loop Lady - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 2:09 pm:
Danny is in love with the sound of his own voice…this district
Needed new leadership 20 years ago…I guess Nancy is just supporting a long term member, but really?
- huh - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 2:12 pm:
==Are they targeting him simply because they see some vulnerability.==
Age + No Tik Toks or witty Tweets. That’s their oppo
- City Zen - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 2:26 pm:
==Are they targeting him simply because they see some vulnerability==
He’s vulnerable in Oak Park, but that vulnerability hasn’t yet to translate to anywhere else in his district.
- Telly - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 2:32 pm:
== “Davis just turned 80 and has been in Congress for 24 years.” This makes him a “rising star” in Pelosi’s caucus…==
That got me laughing. But given that the House GOP political operation actually deemed Jim Oberweis one of their “Young Guns” last year, the joke’s on both parties.
- Fav Human - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 2:37 pm:
13% of the population (65+) have nearly 50% of the seats in Congress
You need to account for the fact that you must be 25+ for the house. Going by 18+ (not great, but quick) shows that 65+ are 21% of the population 18+
Davis
They think he is vulnerable, and they can easily get a super radical in the seat. Hard to primary an existing rep, but easier than winning an open seat. And we know Rush isn’t easy to take out.
Even Obama couldn’t do that.
- Back to the Future - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 2:48 pm:
Congressman Davis has earned my vote and nothing the Justice Democrats say or do will change my mind.
Plenty of gas in the Congressman’s tank and a record of independence and service that goes back decades.
- Roman - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 2:56 pm:
== Danny is in love with the sound of his own voice…==
Can you blame him?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 2:57 pm:
===Can you blame him? ===
+1
- Yiddishcowboy - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 4:09 pm:
@Amalia: I couldn’t agree with you more. I truly dislike extremists…on the Left and Right. It’s been my experience, as a Jew that generally supports Israel (though I don’t agree with or support every single act/ policy that’s performed/implemented), that some on the Left will smile at me, pretend to be a friendly and then call me outside my name while “twisting a knife” in my back, while some on the Right will just outright “stab” me with no comments made.
- Huh? - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 4:18 pm:
Doppelganger at 2:14 strikes again.
- Amalia - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 4:24 pm:
@Yiddishcowboy, giddy-up.
- John Lopez - Monday, Sep 27, 21 @ 8:55 pm:
== “Davis just turned 80 and has been in Congress for 24 years.” This makes him a “rising star” in Pelosi’s caucus…==
Let’s see, Speaker Pelosi is 81, Whip Jim Clybourn is 81, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is 82. Davis fits right in.
And last week, 88 years old Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley announced he’ll seek a 6th term next year.
To show he’s still in shape, Grassley crunches out 30-40 push-ups with men less than half his age on stage.
Not just Democrats fielding octogenarians.
- Lynn S. - Tuesday, Sep 28, 21 @ 12:01 am:
@ TheChampaignLife:
I had that same reaction (banned punctuation).
Sat here for a few minutes trying to figure out how “Where’s Rodney?” could pull off an event with Madam Speaker…