* Co-sign except for spending hours in the car together…
This is some BS. I invite any reporter who would casually smear the people of Central & Southern Illinois like this to drive around the rural country roads with me. I’ve lived here five years and have never once seen a Confederate flag in a front yard. Far from “common.” pic.twitter.com/ygm45ikjvL
“I do think that he would make a viable candidate — if he can get past the primary — in the fall,” Edgar said. “The fact that he seems somewhat moderate; he’s well funded; he’s African American, so perhaps he can pull over some African American votes, which are really the key to the Democrats in Illinois.”
“But the Republicans, I think, have to realize that they’ve got to win a lot of independents and moderate Republicans back — and maybe what I call ‘thoughtful Democrats.’ And you can’t go too far to the right to do that,” Edgar continued. “That’s why Irvin would have a good shot because I think he will undoubtedly be perceived more in the middle than he will be to the far right.”
But even if Irvin emerges from the GOP primary, it will be an uphill climb in the general election, Edgar said.
“Well, I think an incumbent governor has the advantage going into an election — should have the advantage — unless they’ve been a terrible governor,” Edgar said. “And I don’t think Pritzker has been a terrible governor. I mean, he’s had some tough things to deal with, particularly the virus.”
That’s the thing about Irvin. He’s not afraid to try, likely well aware that even if he goes down in flames, this high-dollar, high-profile campaign can do nothing but add to his brand, whether that contributes to another run for higher office or, worst case scenario, more name recognition for his law firm.
Think about it. It took Irvin three attempts before finally becoming Aurora’s mayor and even then he beat his opponent by only 170 votes. Five years later, he’s aiming to be the state’s top general.
So even if you’re not a fan, credit Irvin with a healthy ego and/or boatload of confidence. Both are critical when taking on the Democratic governor of Illinois.
Along with a boatload of money, of course.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Today, the Lake County Building & Construction Trades Council, the McHenry County Building & Construction Trades Council, and their affiliates announced their endorsements of Judge Elizabeth Rochford in her campaign for the Illinois Supreme Court’s new Second District. The Lake County Building & Construction Trades Council is made up of 18 local affiliate trade unions, and the McHenry County Building & Construction Trades Council is made up of 26 local affiliate trade unions.
“Growing up in a union household, the values of organized labor have forever been a part of my foundation,” said Judge Elizabeth Rochford. “That’s why I am so honored to receive the endorsements of the Lake County Building & Construction Trades Council, the McHenry Council Building & Construction Trades Council, and their affiliates. My first job as an attorney was helping injured people who needed someone to fight for them, and I’ve carried that experience with me throughout my career. As a Supreme Court Justice, I will always work to make our judicial system one where everyone is treated with fairness.”
* I told subscribers about Chaplin’s impending withdrawal several days ago. Here’s the Daily Herald…
Almost a decade ago, Democrats first made significant gains in Republican-dominated DuPage County with the election of two women.
State Rep. Deb Conroy and county board member Liz Chaplin won their seats in 2012.
Conroy is now running for the highest office in DuPage, and Chaplin has dropped out of the race. The state lawmaker from Villa Park has picked up Chaplin’s endorsement in her bid to become the first county board chairwoman in DuPage history. […]
Chaplin’s departure leaves Conroy in a Democratic primary contest against county board member Lynn LaPlante of Glen Ellyn. […]
LaPlante is serving her first term on the board. During a blue wave in the 2018 election, LaPlante came within 7,314 votes of unseating longtime Republican incumbent Dan Cronin from the chairmanship. The violist with the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic had no primary opponent that year.
LaPlante most likely has some significant residual name ID from that super-close race. We’ve seen it before. But she only reported having $5,311.50 in her campaign committee’s bank on December 31, most of it from herself.
* We all know that Dick Uihlein has a long history of throwing millions of dollars at losers here in Illinois and elsewhere. His rigid ideology dictates his checkbook…
For instance, between January and May 2020, Uihlein contributed $1.25 million to the Conservative Partnership Institute, a right-wing think tank founded by former Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) where Trump campaign attorney Cleta Mitchell was serving as senior legal fellow.
Mitchell, a veteran GOP operative, helped construct the campaign’s post-election legal strategy mostly behind the scenes. But she drew national attention in early January 2021 after she featured heavily in a taped phone call between then-President Donald Trump, his Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and Georgia’s top election officials. Trump pressured the election officials in that now infamous call to “find” enough votes for him to win Georgia. (Meadows joined Mitchell at CPI after he left the White House in January.) […]
Another right-wing outlet, Sons of Liberty—the media outfit, not to be confused with a militia group of the same name—pocketed $300,000 from the supply chain magnate. The radio broadcast, which promoted claims of fraud after the election, is run by anti-LGBTQ activist-pastor Bradlee Dean, who has suggested that “homosexuals” are to blame for most child molestations in the country. Most recently, Sons of Liberty has been on an anti-vax kick, pushing outrageous claims, like that the COVID-19 vaccine is causing AIDS.
Uihlein also threw a $25,000 bone to conservative watchdog Judicial Watch, run by conspiracy theorist Tom Fitton. That organization also challenged the election results.
* I told subscribers about this curious Jesse Sullivan D-2 entry the other day…
His campaign filing also appeared to incorrectly list that he had another $10 million in an investment account for his campaign, but that figure was not backed by reports of the funds that he raised since launching his campaign last September.
Campaign reports show Giannoulias raised more than $658,000 while spending only $82,244 during the last quarter. Giannoulias, attempting a political comeback after losing a 2010 bid for U.S. Senate, has seen his campaign fund boosted by nearly $2.3 million in family loans.
Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, also seeking the Democratic secretary of state nomination, reported nearly $900,000 in cash available for her campaign on Jan. 1, raising more than $331,000 while spending more than $156,000.
A third announced candidate in the race, Chicago Ald. David Moore, 17th, listed $81,539 in cash on hand after raising more than $44,500 and spending more than $61,400, reports showed.
* Press release…
Jesse Reising, a sixth-generation son of Decatur, Illinois, former federal prosecutor, and founder of a successful veterans service organization announced his campaign for Congress in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District today.
“I’m running to represent the people of Central and Southern Illinois because political insiders in Illinois and Washington are failing us, and we need new leadership,” said Jesse Reising, Republican candidate for Congress. “The America we know and love as the Land of Opportunity won’t exist just a few years from now if we don’t change course. Americans are seven percent poorer today due to inflation, seeds of division are being sown in our children, and we’re facing skyrocketing crime rates – all while China and other foreign adversaries exploit our current administration’s weakness to gain economic and military advantage over us.”
Reising is a lifelong public servant who knows how to get results against the odds. After a serious neck injury in college football prevented Reising from realizing his dream of serving his country as a Marine, he found new ways to serve and get results, at home and abroad. Reising went to Afghanistan as a contractor and launched a veterans’ service organization called the Warrior-Scholar Project that has empowered thousands of veterans to succeed in college. He went on to prosecute criminals as a federal prosecutor.
He’s already scrubbed his Twitter account to remove the word “Chicago.” Before and after…
Heh.
* Press release…
The Illinois State Board of Elections this week named longtime staff member Bernadette Matthews the agency’s executive director.
Matthews had served as assistant executive director since 2017 and had been acting executive director since April 2021. Matthews’ appointment was approved by a unanimous, 8-0 vote from the board at its Jan. 19 meeting.
A graduate of The Catholic University of America and Seton Hall University School of Law, Matthews joined the Board of Elections as legal counsel in 2009.
* More…
* Column: Gorman takes on Morrison in GOP primary; third Democrat seeks Sims’ county board seat
On my last trip down 55, there was a prominent one on a large flagpole outside a farm about 20-30 miles south of Springfield.
As for Mr. Reising, does he own a home or plan to in the district? Because he’s still listed as working out of the Chicago office of the largest, wealthiest law firm in the city.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 2:53 pm:
==Jesse Reising, a sixth-generation son of Decatur, Illinois, former federal prosecutor==
A former federal prosecutor just like one of Rauner’s GA enablers. Wasn’t his name Scott Drury or something like that.
If it’s Budzinski vs. Reising, it’s pretty depressing that the voters of the 13th will be stuck with a choice of two parachute candidates who only chose to live in Downstate Illinois out of political opportunism.
Please see email, Mike Pierce announced he’s ending his congressional campaign in IL-11 this afternoon.
Republican candidates for IL-11 currently are:
- Catalina Lauf
- Cassandra Tanner Miller
- Dean Seppelfrick
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 2:59 pm:
Irvin’s value might be to enable down-ballot wins. The GOP is looking to crawl before it can walk - undoing the Dem supermajority or winning a statewide race would be a good first step. It’s not hard to envision the others turning off suburban voters in droves.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:02 pm:
==If it’s Budzinski vs. Reising, it’s pretty depressing that the voters of the 13th will be stuck with a choice of two parachute candidates who only chose to live in Downstate Illinois out of political opportunism.==
Budzinski is originally from Peoria. What could have been wrong with her instead going back home and try to succeed Cheri Bustos in the new 17th, where she could have had just as good of a chance at winning in the end than in the new 13th.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:12 pm:
No wonder we’ll have subzero temps tonight (and bitter cold into the weekend). It’s January 20th of an off-year election year and Pat Quinn hasn’t yet announced that he’s running for something. For the first time in 40 years.
The body politic of Illinois and the United States shouldn’t tolerate these young conservative candidates that like to pretend that planning on or thinking about joining the military is the same thing as serving in the military or working as a civilian contractor is the same thing as serving in the military.
This is just ridiculous.
The GOP has to stop this nonsense. It should not be tolerated, and yet here it is in a highly produced ad. Jesse needs to be honest. He was medically disqualified from serving in the military. Period.
AND — it is worth noting that just because the Marine Corps deemed him medically disqualified does not mean that he could not have attempted to join other branches of service which likewise have different criteria or attempting to join the reserves or pursuing a direct commission.
His job in Afghanistan was a civilian contractor for FLUOR government group where he was responsible for “construction and engineering projects.” His income was likely in the 6 figures. This is not the same as being in the military. Someone should also be asking him whether or not any of the projects he oversaw were actually completed.
Jesse does deserve some special commendation for the longest period of time a Harvard graduate has spoken about themselves without mentioning that they went to Harvard.
Sometimes when I read his words it’s as though he is reading what’s rattling in my empty little head and it makes me feel better that I can see some of my thoughts to this are a smidge of the real smart Edgar brings in analyzing what’s going on.
=== “But the Republicans, I think, have to realize that they’ve got to win a lot of independents and moderate Republicans back — and maybe what I call ‘thoughtful Democrats.’ And you can’t go too far to the right to do that,” Edgar continued. “That’s why Irvin would have a good shot because I think he will undoubtedly be perceived more in the middle than he will be to the far right.”
But even if Irvin emerges from the GOP primary, it will be an uphill climb in the general election, Edgar said.===
I’m with Edgar, all *day*, every day, twice on Sunday… once again.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:39 pm:
==Say his name two more times and he appears at your front door with a clipboard.==
Not only was he put on Earth to fix pensions (which he’s legally not allowed to do), but he’s apparently put on this earth to pass out clipboards.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:40 pm:
==But the Republicans, I think, have to realize that they’ve got to win a lot of independents and moderate Republicans back==
Edgar seems to be handicapping things correctly. Irvin appears to be starting things more or less in the middle. Not all that different than where Pritzker is. The challenge is that the middle of the GOP, as it stands right now, has been hollowed out. Could he stay there and bring along folks from the far right in a primary and then pulling in those “thoughtful Democrats” in a general election? Possibly, but it sounds like it would be quite a feat to accomplish.
Irvin needs, if he gets through the primary and takes down the likes of a Bailey, to secure the Trump folks follow him as the vessel to defeat Pritzker, even if Irvin is merely a user of Trump buzz words without embracing the cult… while reaching across to folks that may have been Republicans at one point but left because of Trump, and “conservative Dems” or “thoughtful” as Edgar states, without alienating Trunpkins that will leave him (Irvin) for staying moderate or in the middle… or alienating the moderate/middle by continuing to tell the Trumpkins to stick with him (Irvin) to beat their foe Pritzker… as both sides watch this dance.
Fascinating. It’s totally a fascinating run to try to build a constituency that at times (in actuality wholly defined *as*) are opposites in Republican coalition thoughts.
“Rare” is subjective. One Nazi flag on a lawn in a town, yeah, maybe rare. Two in a neighborhood? Not rare, arguably.
Confederate flags are not rare in portions of IL, I’d argue. In Pope county in the 2020 run up, they were MORE common than Trump signs. Granted, the population there is quite few.
Maybe, but I’m thinking those folks have been written off by the Irvin/Bourne campaign. She’s not gonna help ‘em there, which was the point of that silly article.
=Pretty sure he has a plethora of surrogates in Pope County.=
Darren Bailey will position himself as “one of us” with all the connotations and undertones that you want to attach to it. And why wouldn’t he? It’s basically been his strategy for the last few years.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 5:45 pm:
==Then I’d ask, “How’d that cutback thingy 40 years ago work out in the long run?”==
Forgot this earlier but I then ask Pat the ever-pressing question, “Why wasn’t the Senate size reduced in your cutback thingy 40 years ago?”
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 2:53 pm:
-The flags do exist, but they’re rare.-
On my last trip down 55, there was a prominent one on a large flagpole outside a farm about 20-30 miles south of Springfield.
As for Mr. Reising, does he own a home or plan to in the district? Because he’s still listed as working out of the Chicago office of the largest, wealthiest law firm in the city.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 2:53 pm:
==Jesse Reising, a sixth-generation son of Decatur, Illinois, former federal prosecutor==
A former federal prosecutor just like one of Rauner’s GA enablers. Wasn’t his name Scott Drury or something like that.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 2:55 pm:
If it’s Budzinski vs. Reising, it’s pretty depressing that the voters of the 13th will be stuck with a choice of two parachute candidates who only chose to live in Downstate Illinois out of political opportunism.
- John Lopez - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 2:56 pm:
Please see email, Mike Pierce announced he’s ending his congressional campaign in IL-11 this afternoon.
Republican candidates for IL-11 currently are:
- Catalina Lauf
- Cassandra Tanner Miller
- Dean Seppelfrick
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 2:59 pm:
Irvin’s value might be to enable down-ballot wins. The GOP is looking to crawl before it can walk - undoing the Dem supermajority or winning a statewide race would be a good first step. It’s not hard to envision the others turning off suburban voters in droves.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:02 pm:
==If it’s Budzinski vs. Reising, it’s pretty depressing that the voters of the 13th will be stuck with a choice of two parachute candidates who only chose to live in Downstate Illinois out of political opportunism.==
Budzinski is originally from Peoria. What could have been wrong with her instead going back home and try to succeed Cheri Bustos in the new 17th, where she could have had just as good of a chance at winning in the end than in the new 13th.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:12 pm:
No wonder we’ll have subzero temps tonight (and bitter cold into the weekend). It’s January 20th of an off-year election year and Pat Quinn hasn’t yet announced that he’s running for something. For the first time in 40 years.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:13 pm:
-Pat Quinn hasn’t yet announced that he’s running for something. For the first time in 40 years.-
Say his name two more times and he appears at your front door with a clipboard.
- Fayette County - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:31 pm:
Ron Burgundy I almost spit my coffee out when I read you response. Thanks for the laugh today.
- Humboldt - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:34 pm:
speaking of Pat Quinn…we’re about due for a Willie Wilson announcement of some sort, aren’t we?
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:36 pm:
==Say his name two more times and he appears at your front door with a clipboard.==
If he did that I’d say, “Why look, it’s Homer Simpson.”
Then I’d ask, “How’d that cutback thingy 40 years ago work out in the long run?”
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:38 pm:
The body politic of Illinois and the United States shouldn’t tolerate these young conservative candidates that like to pretend that planning on or thinking about joining the military is the same thing as serving in the military or working as a civilian contractor is the same thing as serving in the military.
This is just ridiculous.
The GOP has to stop this nonsense. It should not be tolerated, and yet here it is in a highly produced ad. Jesse needs to be honest. He was medically disqualified from serving in the military. Period.
AND — it is worth noting that just because the Marine Corps deemed him medically disqualified does not mean that he could not have attempted to join other branches of service which likewise have different criteria or attempting to join the reserves or pursuing a direct commission.
His job in Afghanistan was a civilian contractor for FLUOR government group where he was responsible for “construction and engineering projects.” His income was likely in the 6 figures. This is not the same as being in the military. Someone should also be asking him whether or not any of the projects he oversaw were actually completed.
Jesse does deserve some special commendation for the longest period of time a Harvard graduate has spoken about themselves without mentioning that they went to Harvard.
https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP06/20140410/101761/HHRG-113-AP06-Bio-ReisingJ-20140410.pdf
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:38 pm:
To Edgar,
Sometimes when I read his words it’s as though he is reading what’s rattling in my empty little head and it makes me feel better that I can see some of my thoughts to this are a smidge of the real smart Edgar brings in analyzing what’s going on.
=== “But the Republicans, I think, have to realize that they’ve got to win a lot of independents and moderate Republicans back — and maybe what I call ‘thoughtful Democrats.’ And you can’t go too far to the right to do that,” Edgar continued. “That’s why Irvin would have a good shot because I think he will undoubtedly be perceived more in the middle than he will be to the far right.”
But even if Irvin emerges from the GOP primary, it will be an uphill climb in the general election, Edgar said.===
I’m with Edgar, all *day*, every day, twice on Sunday… once again.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:39 pm:
==Say his name two more times and he appears at your front door with a clipboard.==
Not only was he put on Earth to fix pensions (which he’s legally not allowed to do), but he’s apparently put on this earth to pass out clipboards.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:40 pm:
==But the Republicans, I think, have to realize that they’ve got to win a lot of independents and moderate Republicans back==
Does that include the Cellinis?
- Blue Dog - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:53 pm:
Thoughtful Democrats. Now that’s a good one.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:56 pm:
Edgar seems to be handicapping things correctly. Irvin appears to be starting things more or less in the middle. Not all that different than where Pritzker is. The challenge is that the middle of the GOP, as it stands right now, has been hollowed out. Could he stay there and bring along folks from the far right in a primary and then pulling in those “thoughtful Democrats” in a general election? Possibly, but it sounds like it would be quite a feat to accomplish.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:08 pm:
- Prudent -
Think on this;
Irvin needs, if he gets through the primary and takes down the likes of a Bailey, to secure the Trump folks follow him as the vessel to defeat Pritzker, even if Irvin is merely a user of Trump buzz words without embracing the cult… while reaching across to folks that may have been Republicans at one point but left because of Trump, and “conservative Dems” or “thoughtful” as Edgar states, without alienating Trunpkins that will leave him (Irvin) for staying moderate or in the middle… or alienating the moderate/middle by continuing to tell the Trumpkins to stick with him (Irvin) to beat their foe Pritzker… as both sides watch this dance.
Fascinating. It’s totally a fascinating run to try to build a constituency that at times (in actuality wholly defined *as*) are opposites in Republican coalition thoughts.
Uphill climb, indeed.
But, that’s why we have elections
- EB - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:14 pm:
“Rare” is subjective. One Nazi flag on a lawn in a town, yeah, maybe rare. Two in a neighborhood? Not rare, arguably.
Confederate flags are not rare in portions of IL, I’d argue. In Pope county in the 2020 run up, they were MORE common than Trump signs. Granted, the population there is quite few.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:19 pm:
===In Pope county===
Maybe, but I’m thinking those folks have been written off by the Irvin/Bourne campaign. She’s not gonna help ‘em there, which was the point of that silly article.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:19 pm:
==Thoughtful Democrats. Now that’s a good one. ==
Our self-proclaimed independent, everyone.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:22 pm:
===Our self-proclaimed independent, everyone===
Hilarious.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:23 pm:
==Maybe, but I’m thinking those folks have been written off by the Irvin/Bourne campaign.==
I dunno, I don’t think they should be. I’m not sure anyone else is going to have the campaign to really compete for those voters.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:24 pm:
===to really compete for those voters===
lol
Bailey?
- Arsenal - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:27 pm:
==lol
Bailey? ==
At the rate he’s burning money right now, I am honestly unsure if he can get himself in front of a substantial amount of voters.
Although, OTOH, personal events are cheap, and he sure ain’t worried about social distancing.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:31 pm:
“Is you is, or is you ain’t my constituency?” keeps running in my head with Bailey and this Pope County discussion.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:33 pm:
===honestly unsure if he can get himself in front of a substantial amount of voters===
Pretty sure he has a plethora of surrogates in Pope County.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 5:01 pm:
=Pretty sure he has a plethora of surrogates in Pope County.=
Darren Bailey will position himself as “one of us” with all the connotations and undertones that you want to attach to it. And why wouldn’t he? It’s basically been his strategy for the last few years.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 5:45 pm:
==Then I’d ask, “How’d that cutback thingy 40 years ago work out in the long run?”==
Forgot this earlier but I then ask Pat the ever-pressing question, “Why wasn’t the Senate size reduced in your cutback thingy 40 years ago?”
- Amalia - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 6:28 pm:
why can’t we have the Wisconsin Uihleins, who appear to be progressive?
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 6:58 pm:
==Say his name two more times and he appears at your front door with a clipboard.==
Or one of his remaining supporters attempts to create a new office for him to run for. Such as “Commissioner of Lawn Care and Dog Poo Picker Upper.”
- Boom Shaka - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 9:16 pm:
“All day every day and twice on Sunday”
Of course you are bless your heart. One Love OW