* Press release…

On the heels of her husband’s historic election as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Attorney ShawnTe Raines-Welch has announced her intention to fill the vacant 4th Subcircuit Judgeship.

“I am on an incredible mission to serve the people of my community and my district,” said Raines-Welch, who has spent nearly a decade as an attorney litigating civil rights, labor, and employment law matters. She also serves on numerous boards and volunteers across the 7th District. “My ties to the 4th Subcircuit are deeply rooted. I grew up here. I am still here, and I am seeking to bring diversity and a committed focus to the judge’s seat as the first African-American and first female to serve.”

Raines-Welch specializes in legal work for municipal governments, including cities, school districts, park districts, and other local taxpayer-funded public bodies at an established municipal law firm. She has defended police officers in frivolous civil rights cases and represents local school districts.

A 2009 graduate of the John Marshall Law School, Raines-Welch began her legal career as a plaintiff’s attorney handling personal injury claims involving auto accidents, premise liability, FELA claims, and other general torts.

Her experience covers many aspects representing both plaintiffs and defendants and all aspects of courtroom litigation. When questioned about her husband, Emanuel Chris Welch’s support of her campaign, she says she is fortunate to have her family and community’s backing.

“I know that my husband’s name will be evoked in this election many times. It’s the challenge of having a high-profile family and husband. It’s the challenge of professional women everywhere. The way I see it, Chris is creating his imprint on history, but it in no way vanishes mine. I believe in justice–using laws to fairly judge and determine consequences especially in black and brown communities. I also believe in inclusion– the practice of providing equal access to opportunities and resources to all. My work is my own, and I look forward to making a difference for my children and all of the families in the 4th Subcircuit.”

Raines-Welch is married to Emanuel Chris Welch, the Speaker of the Illinois House, and they have two children, Tyler and Marley.
Raines-Welch is running for a vacancy in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County, filling the vacancy left by Patrick Rogers. The 4th Subcircuit includes 37 municipalities, including Bridgeview, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Lyons, and Willow Springs in the all of Lyons, Riverside and Stickney Townships, and portions of Leyden (western half), Palos (northeastern half), Proviso (west and South half), and Worth (northwest half) townships. Raines-Welch will hold her kick-off fundraiser on March 9th, 2022. To learn more, visit https://raineswelchforjudge.com/.

Her opponent is Chloé Pedersen.

* Rolling Stone has a story that is partly about US Rep. Danny Davis’ primary…

A pack of progressive candidates have crashed this year’s Democratic primaries, hoping to unseat incumbents and push the party to the left. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the fifth-ranking Democrat in the House, has other plans.

Jeffries and two of his House Democrat allies on Wednesday rolled out the first slate of endorsements from Team Blue PAC, a political action committee intended to protect incumbents from intraparty attacks. The endorsements and their attendant $5,000 campaign contributions are the strongest demonstration of support yet from Jeffries and his allies — and serve as a warning shot to primary challengers seeking to unseat incumbents as Democrats fight to hold onto their fragile majorities. […]

The lawmakers united in an effort to provide resources to the increasing number of House Democrats who face primary challenges — in particular, from the left. That circumstance faces the five incumbents who received endorsements on Wednesday: Reps. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.), and Dina Titus (D-Nev.). Davis and Maloney face opponents backed by Justice Democrats […]

“Democratic leadership should be spending every dime of our party’s resources on helping frontline incumbents in swing districts and protecting our majority instead of coming into a deep-blue district that is clamoring for new leadership,” says Kina Collins, who’s challenging Davis.

$5K ain’t much. Just sayin…

* DGA…

GOP Megadonors Take Opposing Sides, Escalating IL GOP Infighting

Far-right megadonor Richard Uihlein donated $1 million to Darren Bailey’s GOP primary campaign yesterday, just days after Ken Griffin confirmed he’d bankroll Richard Irvin at the top of his Rauner Reboot ticket.

Uihlein’s involvement fulfills the Chicago Tribune’s warning that Griffin’s backing of Irvin was “opening the door to further divisions within the state GOP.”

With the two megadonors taking opposite sides, Bailey and Irvin are set on a collision course that’s sure to escalate the already nasty GOP primary infighting. “Backing Bailey will put them at odds with Illinois’ richest billionaire, Ken Griffin,” wrote FOX 32.

Bailey has already slammed Irvin for not knowing his Republican talking points well enough, alluding to his flip-flopping on issues like abortion and supporting Gov. JB Pritzker.

Uihlein and Griffin both gave millions to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner as he decimated social services and tanked Illinois’ finances — and now they’re each hoping their chosen candidate will help drag Illinois backward.

The Uihleins’ non-profit has spent millions funding Big Lie candidates and bankrolling “right-wing extremist organizations, including ones designated as hate groups.”

It’s no surprise that Uihlein is now backing Bailey, who won’t answer whether he thinks the 2020 election results were valid. Last week, he refused to answer a reporter’s questions about the January 6th insurrection and whether he would accept the results of this year’s election.

“Richard Uihlein and Ken Griffin may be torn on which empty suit will best carry out their far-right agenda — but one thing they can agree on is wanting to undo Illinois’ progress,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “As Darren Bailey and Richard Irvin spout their donors’ talking points, they’ll have to duke it out with each other and the rest of the crowded field to win over a deeply divided base.”

* From Lynn Sweet…

On the Thursday “At the Table,” the Sun-Times political show I co-host with Laura Washington, we’ll be talking about Biden’s upcoming Supreme Court pick with author and CNN host and legal analyst Laura Coates, out with a new book, “Just Pursuits,
plus former Gov. Jim Edgar and WBEZ’s Dave McKinney. At 6:30 p.m. Chicago time. One click link to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7P_X-T3Zqs

*** UPDATE *** This could be important in the Republican primary against Rep. Mary Miller (R-No Relation)…

Farmer trustees representing county Farm Bureaus in the 15th Congressional District are endorsing U.S. Representative Rodney Davis for re-election.

County Farm Bureau leaders meeting as trustees for Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR® – the organization’s political action committee – unanimously endorsed Rep. Davis for his outstanding voting record and many other efforts in the 117th Congress on behalf of farmers in his district.

Congressman Davis has been a true friend of agriculture while serving in Congress. He continues to lead efforts on behalf of Illinois Farm Bureau to improve the lives of Illinois Farm Bureau members. Rep. Davis serves on the Subcommittee of Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research and the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit.

15th District ACTIVATOR® chairman Terry Ferguson said, “our trustees are proud to announce Rep. Rodney Davis will receive the Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR® endorsement. He has been a leading advocate for Illinois farmers. Not only has he been a voice for us on the two most recent Farm Bill conference committees, but over the years Rep. Davis has brought many agriculture leaders to the district to hear directly from us.

Rising input costs, supply chain crises and opportunities to expand the biofuels market are areas that need to be addressed. We are confident Rep. Davis is a fighter that will get the job done. Voters in the 15th congressional district should choose Rodney Davis.”

The endorsement by Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR® places Congressman Davis in a group of select individuals in the state. They understand the leading role Illinois agriculture plays in the global marketplace and the far-reaching benefits of its products. It proves he recognizes that agriculture’s benefits go beyond the vital function of feeding Illinois, the nation, and the world.