* Darren Bailey’s new ad is here if you need it. The Tribune reports that Sen. Bailey isn’t advertising on Chicago broadcast TV…

State Sen. Darren Bailey has launched his first TV commercial of the primary campaign, joining two rivals for the Republican nomination for governor who have been airing ads for weeks.

But Chicago-area residents may not see much of the conservative from downstate Xenia on their TVs. Television station logs and cable ad buys show Bailey is focused on markets in areas where rural Republicans predominate.

In the expensive Chicago market, none of the city’s broadcast stations have reported a Bailey ad buy. But his campaign did purchase ad time on broadcast stations in St. Louis, Champaign, Peoria, Rockford, the Quad Cities and in the southern Illinois market that includes Carbondale, according to government and industry reports.

Bailey’s campaign also purchased 80 half-minute spots on the Fox News Channel in Chicago, part of a $63,762 statewide buy on the conservative cable news channel running through Monday.

* What a rookie mistake…

U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider improperly received homeowner exemptions on two properties at the same time for one year, but he recently paid the balance of what he should have been billed, Lake County officials said Monday.

Schneider, a Democrat serving the 10th District, visited the Lake County treasurer’s office Friday and settled a $510.25 debt that resulted from the recalculation of the 2021 tax bill for property he owns in Highland Park, Treasurer Holly Kim said Monday. County records acquired by the Daily Herald confirmed the payment.

Schneider, who is running for reelection this year, has said he’s in the process of moving to that Highland Park property from Deerfield. A statement issued by his campaign called the situation “an inadvertent error.”

Schneider immediately took action to correct the mistake after learning of it, the campaign said, “including paying the full amount of any mistaken benefit, interest, and penalties.”

Sloppy.

* Russ Stewart writes about Sen. Rob Martwick’s Democratic primary against Chicago police officer Erin Jones…

Jones, despite the backing of the FOP, may be knocked off the ballot for allegedly engaging in a “pattern of fraud” in her collection of petition signatures, based on a challenge to her nominating petitions.

Martwick supporter and former Alderman John Arena aide, Ed Bannon, has filed an objection petition alleging that Jones signed petitions as a circulator that she in fact did not circulate. […]

But on several sheets, said Martwick, the signers were sequential, meaning on the same street and meaning door-to-door solicitation.

Martwick sent workers with Jones’ picture to investigate, and many signers attested that it was an older White man, not Jones, who appeared at their door. They supposedly got affidavits. […]

Martwick intends to bring as many as possible of those 9-sheeter signers, as well as the purported circulator (which he has identified and is not a registered voter) to testify. A circulator need not be a registered voter, only a U.S. citizen. So if the petition challenge is upheld, why didn’t he, not Jones, sign his own sheets?

Under established case law, dating back to the 1988 Canter case, if a circulator can be proven to make a false attestation on a number of sheets, then that “pattern of fraud” invalidates all the circulator’s sheets. Jones is up by 100 as of now. If all of her 55 sheets, which contain at least 300 valid signatures, are stricken, she’s off the ballot.

Jones told Nadig Newspapers that she spent about 40 hours a week collecting signatures and that in some instances she was part of a team that went out gathering signatures.

She said that the claims in the challenge are not only false but show that Martwick is scared, given that he is using a team of “Madigan” attorneys to try to kick her off the ballot.

Jones adds that she received numerous messages from residents who say that Martwick’s campaign workers tried to bully them into signing affidavits that she wasn’t the petition circulator. And she said she now hears reports Martwick will go after her Chicago detective job if the challenge is upheld, with a complaint being filed with the police oversight agency - similar to what Arena did to numerous police and firefighters over the “5150″ housing controversy in Jefferson Park.

All this will unfold, or perhaps unravel, at the election board hearings throughout April. She will be subpoenaed to testify under oath, as will Martwick, an attorney, who scoffs at a possible Jones’ defense that she was within an “eyeball” of another team member while getting a signature. He noted the 2014 case of retired cop Joe Bembynista who filed petitions to oppose Martwick, then a state representative. Martwick filed a similar “pattern of fraud” objection to his petitions, most of which had him as circulator. He employed the classic I-was-sitting-in-my-car-and-watching defense. He got knocked off the ballot.

If Detective Jones did indeed pass those sheets, then she should fight back with everything she’s got. Otherwise, Jones would be wise to do some serious thinking right now. If Martwick can prove he’s right about a pattern of fraud (and he’s done it before), the consequences for her career could be calamitous.

* More like this, please. From a Daily Herald editorial…

It happens during every election cycle.

Candidates file nominating petitions to get on the ballot, then their political rivals scrutinize those documents to find a way to kick them off.

Last week, objections were filed in several congressional races in suburban districts. For example, five of the seven candidates running for the 14th Congressional District seat have been challenged.

But in DuPage County, there have been no objections against candidates in countywide, county board and forest preserve races. Even precinct committeeman hopefuls face no petition challenges.

Representatives for the county clerk’s office said this is unprecedented.

“We attribute this progress to simplifying and clarifying the candidate forms and instructions, along with providing workshops to educate candidates on how to avoid petition objections,” DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek said in a statement. “These changes have paid off.”

* Press release…

Illinois State Senator Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia), endorsed conservative outsider Jesse Sullivan for governor Tuesday.

“There is a crowded field of people running to carry the torch for our party and save Illinois for our families. Frankly, I wasn’t going to get involved in the primary because I thought any one of the candidates would be better than J.B. Pritzker. As we get closer to the election, I believe there is only one Republican candidate who can win our primary, unite our party, and defeat J.B. Pritzker in November,” Anderson said.

“That leader is Jesse Sullivan and I am wholeheartedly endorsing him for Governor.”

“Illinois needs more next generation leaders, with a vision for the future, the courage to fight honorably for it, and the integrity and conviction to see it through. Jesse will always stand with our police and first responders. He has concrete plans to restore safety to our streets and ethical leadership to our government. He shares the values of my district – faith, family, and service– and I trust he will be there to work with the General Assembly to lead us out of this mess.”

“At their core, Jesse Sullivan and Kathleen Murphy are two leaders who love Illinois and who value deeds more than words. Jesse has a proven record of delivering success, creating jobs, and growing companies in the kinds of corrupt war zones that make Chicago look tame. Kathleen is fighting for parents every day to make sure our children get a first class education no matter where they live, how much money their parents have, or what they look like. They are trustworthy and qualified and beholden to no man. That’s what we need, more land of Lincoln, less corruption of Capone.”

“Neil Anderson is one of the most genuine public servants I have met in Illinois politics,” Sullivan said. “From early on, it’s been clear that Neil and I share our commitment to faith, family, and service. He is a devoted husband, a great father, and a committed first responder. As a paramedic and firefighter, he runs to danger to protect others who are running from it. There couldn’t be a more apt description of what public service is at its best, and that’s why Kathleen and I are honored to have Neil’s support in this fight to Save Illinois.”

Sen. Anderson is unopposed in his primary and his new district is solidly Republican.

* Press release…

Today, the Illinois Pipe Trades Association (IPTA) announced its endorsement of Judge Elizabeth Rochford in her campaign for the Illinois Supreme Court’s new Second District. IPTA represents 19 United Association Local Unions, 1500 Union contractors and over 30,000 plumbers, pipe fitters, sprinkler fitters, welders and HVAC service technicians.

“Receiving the endorsement of the hardworking men and women of the Illinois Pipe Trades Association is extraordinarily humbling,” said Judge Elizabeth Rochford. “Throughout my decades in the judicial and legal systems, including the last nine years as a judge on the circuit court, I’ve always worked to ensure our courts operate with fairness and equality, and I’ll bring that same commitment to the Illinois Supreme Court. I am grateful for the IPTA’s belief in me as the right candidate for this seat and I will make them proud in this campaign and as a Supreme Court Justice.”

IPTA’s endorsement adds to Judge Rochford’s growing coalition of support from organized labor. She has previously been endorsed by the Illinois State AFL-CIO, IUOE Local 399, UFCW Local 881, Plumbers Local Union 130 UA, the Lake County Building & Construction Trades Council and its 18 local affiliate trade unions, and the McHenry County Building & Construction Trades Councils and its 26 local affiliate trade unions. Judge Rochford has also been endorsed by Secretary of State Jesse White, Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Iris Martinez, and a group of current and former state legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz, Senator Melinda Bush, Senator Sara Feigenholtz, Senator Elgie Sims, Assistant House Majority Leader Marcus Evans, former Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, former State Senator and State Representative Susan Garrett, and former State Senator Heather Steans.

“The Illinois Pipe Trades Association is proud to put the support of our dedicated members behind Judge Elizabeth Rochford for the Illinois Supreme Court’s Second District,” said IPTA Legislative and Political Director Rick Terven, Jr. “We believe Judge Rochford is not only the most qualified candidate for this seat, she is also the strongest candidate to win in November. We are pleased to join the growing coalition supporting Judge Rochford’s candidacy in this race.”

* Politico…

Rep. Brad Schneider has endorsed Alexi Giannoulias, who’s running for secretary of state. In a statement, Schneider said he likes Giannoulias’ plan to “strengthen ethics laws and place new restrictions on politicians and lobbyists by curbing corrupt activity and requiring more disclosure and transparency.” […]

— Rep. Rodney Davis sent out a statement saying he’s now visited all 35 counties that are part of the new 15th Congressional District.

— Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi has been endorsed for reelection by Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya and state Reps. Robyn Gabel, Will Guzzardi, Camille Lilly and Delia Ramirez. He is also endorsed by Network 49, an independent political organization in the 49th Ward.

— Jonathan Logemann, Democratic candidate for the 17th Congressional District, has been endorsed by the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois.

* DPI…

In a new 44-page ruling, a federal judge found it was “more likely than not” that former President Donald Trump broke the law and “corruptly attempted to obstruct” Congress in his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Despite these shocking revelations, the Illinois Republican Party and the GOP candidates for federal and statewide office have repeatedly dodged questions about the Big Lie and Donald Trump.

Every Republican running in 2022, especially those running for federal or statewide office, must be asked: Do you believe that former President Trump committed a crime in attempting to overthrow the election?

“If Dr. Eastman and President Trump’s plan had worked, it would have permanently ended the peaceful transition of power, undermining American democracy and the Constitution,” U.S. District Court Judge David Carter wrote in his ruling. “If the country does not commit to investigating and pursuing accountability for those responsible, the Court fears January 6 will repeat itself.”

Any politician who ignores this ruling is turning a blind eye to the ongoing effor to undermine our democratic institutions. Since the GOP gubernatorial candidates are staying silent, we’ve made it easy for them to let us know where they stand:

• Does Darren Bailey still believe Trump is a “a leader who understands what it’s like to take on the corrupt establishment and put the people first”?
• If “we’re looking for Donald Trump policies in the state of Illinois,” is Jesse Sullivan still our guy?
• Does Gary Rabine stand by his ranking as one of Illinois’ largest donors to Trump?
• And will Richard Irvin ever look the people in the eye and answer the simple question about whether he voted for Trump?

In the midst of rampant attacks on democratic elections, the silence of these candidates, along with the Illinois Republican Party, is deafening. There is no place for placating conspiracy theorists and election deniers in Illinois and anyone who propagates the “Big Lie” is unfit to serve in the state’s highest office.