* Press release…
Today, Illinois Congresswoman Marie Newman announced she intends to run for re-election to Congress in the newly drawn 6th District, where her current constituents make up more than 40% of the population, representing a plurality of voters.
“As someone born and raised on Chicago’s Southwest Side and a lifelong resident of its surrounding suburbs, fighting for workers, small businesses, and the middle-class in these communities is in my DNA, and that fight is not going to stop now,” said Representative Marie Newman. “Last year, we made history by bringing together a coalition of neighbors, working families, volunteers, and voters from every corner of our communities to stand up against decades-old Machine politics, billionaires, and deep-pocketed special interests — and, we are doing it again. I am proud to announce that I am once again running to represent the residents of Chicago’s Southwest Side and our neighbors in the surrounding west and southwest suburbs. The lion’s share of this new district is made up of the communities and residents I represent today and I look forward to continuing to serve them in Congress.”
“From our grassroots organizers to our door-knockers on the ground, our coalition is ready to deliver for the workers, working families, and communities of this new district. From Elmhurst to Orland Park, I’m looking forward to working with everyone to build a stronger, more equitable future for our residents of the new IL-06.”
Under the new congressional map passed by the Illinois General Assembly after midnight on Thursday, Illinois will have 17 members, just six of whom are women currently serving in Congress.
Thoughts?
…Adding… Politico…
As of the end of last month, Casten had $1 million banked, compared to Newman’s $440,000. Both are progressive, but Newman would likely try to run to Casten’s left.
Some Casten allies have wondered if AIPAC or Democratic Majority for Israel, two pro-Israel groups, might get involved in a matchup because Newman was one of only a handful of Democrats who opposed funding the Iron Dome defense project earlier this year.
…Adding… Casten…
U.S. Congressman Sean Casten has released the following statement regarding the 2022 elections:
“Since the beginning of the redistricting process, I have never wanted to see friends run against friends. I believe the shared goal of every House Member is to maintain and expand our House majority and work on behalf of all constituents and community members who fought tirelessly to elect us. As I said last night, I look forward to continuing to serve the people of the 6th district as we work to make historic investments in climate action, and for families and workers.”
…Adding… Sun-Times has a brief blurb about yesterday afternoon’s problems passing a map…
Sources told the Chicago Sun-Times that the initial lack of votes on the third congressional map proposal is partly due to Casten putting pressure on some state legislators in his congressional district to improve the map in his favor — or oppose the third draft map, released Wednesday night, because it heavily favored Newman.
…Adding… From Frank…
She’s got the home field advantage, for sure.
…Adding… Those may be her precincts, but she didn’t do so great in the ones that were moved to the new 6th…
- Now I'm down in it. - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:31 am:
I am not surprised, considering the reputation that Sean Casten has earned for himself. He’s not exactly known as a nice guy.
- Almost the Weekend - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:34 am:
She showed her true colors after she lost to Lipinski, Casten will be fine.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:34 am:
Two different styles, two different candidates, maybe two different ideologies, two different ideas of the Democratic politics…
It’ll be very interesting.
- Hannibal Lecter - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:35 am:
=== I am not surprised, considering the reputation that Sean Casten has earned for himself. He’s not exactly known as a nice guy. ===
And she isn’t exactly known for being a nice person either.
- Not a Superstar - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:38 am:
I hope this is not about “personality,” since neither has an unblemished record. OW is right: which vision for the Democratic Party is the best fit for the district?
- Yeah - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:39 am:
No matter who loses, we win.
- Tired - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:39 am:
It is unfortunate that with dems controlling the map we have this situation.
- TNR - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:40 am:
I wouldn’t count her out. The new district includes more of her turf than Casten’s. And her recent slaying of Lipinski makes her a hero among liberal activists. She might also be able to weaponize being drawn out of the district…”the political insiders tried to silence me” kind of stuff.
Casten will likely have a cash advantage. Newman’s vote against funding Israel’s missile defense system is going to come back to haunt her. His more centrist feel matches the district better than Newman’s firebrand progressive bent, but we’re talking a primary here.
- Just Me 2 - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:41 am:
===It is unfortunate that with dems controlling the map we have this situation.===
What “situation” is that?
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:44 am:
I am sure the reasonable and moderate residents of Elmhurst, Orland Park and other suburban communities will embrace the third most liberal member of Congress.
AOC and the rest of the Squad are in the mid 30’s
Casten doesn’t have a different ideology based on his progressive voting record.
https://progressivepunch.org/scores.htm?house=house
- Pundent - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:45 am:
= It is unfortunate that with dems controlling the map we have this situation.=
With the desire to create a 2nd Latino district it was somewhat inevitable. You can only slice the pie into so many pieces.
- Bored Chairman - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:48 am:
Makes a Lipinski run more likely. He could win in a three-way contest, or deny Casten a win. And if the Republicans put up someone halfway decent, they’d have a good shot at taking out the far-left Newman. Fun times!
- Arsenal - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:49 am:
It makes a lot of sense. She only lives like right on the other side of the line, and the district includes a ton of her old turf.
- Kelly - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:50 am:
Is Cong. Newman supporting President Biden’s infrastructure Bill?
- Maddog - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:53 am:
MN is proudly a member of progressive caucus holding up the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Don’t need to tell you how many building trades members are irate that bill hasn’t passed yet. Nuff said.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:55 am:
===I am sure the reasonable and moderate residents of Elmhurst, Orland Park and other suburban communities will embrace the third most liberal member of Congress.===
Not many Republicans left in Elmhurst, friend. Dan Cronin, maybe…
You deciding to go after women of color to make a point too is on point in you devolution.
- Bored Chairman - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 10:55 am:
Kelly, Newman is on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, so she should be supporting the bipartisan infrastructure bill. But she’s also a member of the progressive wing that are holding that bill hostage for their social spending bill. She’s not helping Illinois or her district with her extremist posture.
- Blue Dog - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:00 am:
..going after women of color. Here we go again.
- Laborguy - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:01 am:
Umm, Newman has not taken the Progressive Caucus position on the bills and once they pass everyone will be fine not to mention Dem Primary voters are much more inclined to support the Progressive Caucus position. You all act like she didn’t win an election. Maybe you aren’t the best judges of what Dem Primary voters are thinking these days. And Casten has done little to nothing for organized labor including very reluctant support for the $15 min wage which looks really stupid in today’s economy. I put my money on Newman, literally.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:10 am:
As a member of AIPAC, you better believe some of us will be happy to help Casten.
- Anonish - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:11 am:
This seems to be escalating quickly. Maybe we should take a breath before this really gets out of hand.
- Not again - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:12 am:
If Casten believes what he said he should drop out of the race for his friend.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:12 am:
To the Casten update;
“See, your primary opponents come with smiles, they come as your friends, the caucus members who’ve cared for you all of your not completed first term. And they always seem to come at a time that you’re at your weakest and most in need to take you out next election”
- Also Casten, maybe
- Frumpy White Guy - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:15 am:
Republicans might have a moderate female candidate ready to go in the 6th district. After the brutal Democratic primary a short 4 months the beleaguered Dem winner could end up facing a moderate common sense Republican candidate.
- Graybeard - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:15 am:
Blue Dog, do you believe that Marie Newman is a woman of color?
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:20 am:
-the beleaguered Dem winner could end up facing a moderate common sense Republican candidate.-
Or an Art Jones. We’re just a few years removed from that.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:25 am:
-If Casten believes what he said he should drop out of the race for his friend.-
She’s the one switching to run in a district she doesn’t live in, not him.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:36 am:
=Republicans might have a moderate female candidate ready to go in the 6th district.=
Jeanne Ives would tell you that she checks that box. Kind of emblematic of the challenges the ILGOP is facing these days.
- Pundent - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:36 am:
Sorry. 11:36 was me.
- Seymourkid - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:37 am:
If Marie lives in the redesigned 4th, how can she run in the 6th?? Will she be a carpetbagger?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:38 am:
Ives in the 6th… Ives anywhere is likely a help to Dem prospects, let alone if Bailey got the nomination, which isn’t out of the question or in the same breath at all likely.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:43 am:
-If Marie lives in the redesigned 4th, how can she run in the 6th?? Will she be a carpetbagger?-
Nothing says you can’t run for or represent a congressional district if you don’t live in it, as long as you are a resident of the state. Of course, your opponents can also make sure everyone knows you don’t live there. She could partially defuse it by saying she would move in if elected, but it will be an issue.
- Pundent - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:48 am:
=She could partially defuse it by saying she would move in if elected, but it will be an issue.=
She would also have to explain why her ideas no longer resonate in the district she lives in.
- Mike - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:50 am:
Democratic members including some of Newman’s hometown of La Grange in the new 6th but not the sliver she lives in is incredibly petty. Did Casten’s allies really think barely carving her out would stop her from primarying him?
- Thomas Paine - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:50 am:
=== just six of whom are women currently serving in Congress. ===
Yeah, but Budzinski makes 7, that’s half the Caucus that will be women, more than likely.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:52 am:
===Democratic members including some of Newman’s hometown of La Grange in the new 6th but not the sliver she lives in is incredibly petty. Did Casten’s allies really think barely carving her out would stop her from primarying him?===
Politics… ain’t bean bag.
Petty maybe, one person’s petty could be another person’s savvy?
- oy vey ... - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:53 am:
Is Newman still paying off Iymen Chehade with campaign funds from her settlement with him? I’m amazed that story wasn’t bigger. She (allegedly) attempted to bribe a potential primary opponent in 2020 by offering him a government job, then reneged. In her last FEC filing, she paid him $29.5k of her donor’s money. Why would anyone donate to her campaign when it just goes to pay off her bribe settlement?
- Thomas Paine - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:53 am:
=== where her current constituents make up more than 40% of the population, representing a plurality of voters. ===
I only care where the Democratic primary voters are and how well she performed in those precincts against Lipinski who can tell me that?
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:54 am:
-Did Casten’s allies really think barely carving her out would stop her from primarying him?-
Doubtful if they have any sense, but it gives him an issue and makes it look like she is the one running in a district she doesn’t live in for political survival, which is exactly what she is doing.
- Hannibal Lecter - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:55 am:
=== I only care where the Democratic primary voters are and how well she performed in those precincts against Lipinski who can tell me that? ===
You can always look it up yourself.
- Kelly - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:57 am:
=Did Casten’s allies really think barely carving her out would stop her from primarying him?=
I agree with your sentiment. Casten may have handed Newman an issue.
That said, Casten does have a solid reputation of being a good organizer, easy to work with and helpful to fellow Democrats. This seems to be shaping up as a Regular Democrat versus outsider race. Maybe Gov Pritzker or Pres Biden can help “manage” the ballot by appointing one of these members of Congress to a plum position after things cool down a bit?
- Amalia - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 11:58 am:
three strikes of a map not working for her and what does that say about Newman?
- ChrisB - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 12:00 pm:
==Democratic members including some of Newman’s hometown of La Grange in the new 6th but not the sliver she lives in is incredibly petty.==
There’s more of LG in the 4th than there is in the 6th.
- Ricco - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 12:32 pm:
Where will party Chairman Kelly’s support go?
- Wheaton - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 12:36 pm:
==Sources told the Chicago Sun-Times that the initial lack of votes on the third congressional map proposal is partly due to Casten putting pressure on some state legislators in his congressional district==
Is this also the reason that all of the announced Republicans have been drawn out of the District, as well as Jeanne Ives and Evelyn Sanguinetti? In the case of Ives, Casten should have had her drawn in.
- Politics is a dirty business - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 12:42 pm:
Newman is a poor sport. She continues to throw fits and make enemies. She doesn’t have a great chance against Casten who has more D voters in his part if the district.
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 12:48 pm:
I looked up the AFL-CIO score card. Casten has 100%. Newman has not been rated because the ratings are from 2019 which I found interesting.
Labor will probably back Casten
- anon2 - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 1:31 pm:
-the beleaguered Dem winner could end up facing a moderate common sense Republican candidate.-
It may not be Art Jones, but a loud Trumper would likely beat a “moderate common sense Republican” in the primary.
I wonder which district Dan Lipinski lives in?
- Sharia Capo - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 1:43 pm:
If State Rep. Carol Ammons hops into the 13th, perhaps it won’t be represented by Budzinski, albeit by another woman.
Newman should comfortably turn back a challenge from Sean Castein, AIPAC support notwithstanding.
- Tired - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 1:46 pm:
Tired: It is unfortunate that with dems controlling the map we have this situation.=
Just me2: What “situation” is that?
My response … Seated Dems running against each other.
- Roman - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 2:02 pm:
The Republicans best move in that district would be to nominate Lipinski.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 2:18 pm:
===If State Rep. Carol Ammons hops into the 13th===
As Will Caskey would say, research issues.
- South Chicago - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 3:04 pm:
==== She’s got the home field advantage, for sure=====
Interesting that they put most of Beverly back in the district when they were moved over to Rush’s district. A lot of the people who testified at the committee hearings were Newman supporters. They appeased them then re-mappped her out. But I am not sure about her advantage. Lots of labor folks in those SW suburbs that I would think will back Casten.
- Amalia - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 3:14 pm:
Home Field advantage if no home. hmmmmm….
- Pundent - Friday, Oct 29, 21 @ 4:15 pm:
Splits on Newman and Lipinski are very interesting thanks for posting. Lipinski is about the closest thing you can find to a moderate Republican today (yes I know he’s not). Seems to be reflected in those splits.