* Regarding Delia Ramirez via Kate Cuneo…
The leaked draft decision on Roe V. Wade sent a shockwave across our country, reminding us that elections have consequences, especially in the newly drawn 3rd Congressional District that is densely populated by Latinas, who will be severely impacted by Roe V. Wade being overturned. Alderman Gil Villegas’ record on abortion and reproductive rights has raised serious concerns about his ability to represent women and trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people who seek abortion access and reproductive healthcare.
Below is a statement by one hundred women in the 3rd Congressional District, including State Senator Karina Villa, State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Representative Maura Hirschauer, and Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, condemning Alderman Gil Villegas’ anti-abortion record and cautioning voters.
“This election is especially critical because the candidate we send to Congress has to be an unapologetic fighter for reproductive, abortion, and LGBTQ+ rights. Unfortunately, Alderman Gil Villegas has demonstrated that he is not a committed partner in protecting reproductive rights. His ties to anti-choice Republicans are troubling.
“In 2017, Alderman Gil Villegas voted to give $5.5 million of taxpayer’s money to subsidize clinics that banned women from obtaining abortions and access to birth control. It is reprehensible that he voted to use public dollars to fund inadequate healthcare access, knowing that Black and Brown women in the 3rd Congressional District would be severely impacted.
“Additionally, Alderman Gil Villegas has taken campaign contributions from anti-choice Republicans, including Gubernatorial Candidate Gary Rabine and Dan Cronin.
“The 3rd Congressional District can not afford to send a tepid Democrat to Congress when our freedoms are under attack by Republicans, so it is essential that we send someone to Congress who we trust will fight at all costs to ensure that Roe V. Wade is codified. We ask voters to support Delia Ramirez, a real progressive and champion for reproductive and abortion rights in this race.”
The full list of signatories is here.
* Another from Ramirez…
Today, IEA - NEA and SEIU Local 73 announced their endorsement of State Representative Delia Ramirez in her campaign for Congress in the newly drawn 3rd Congressional District of Illinois. Illinois Education Association represents 3,000 educators in the 3rd District; SEIU Local 73 represents more than 3,100 frontline, essential workers in the 3rd Congressional district.
“We are proud to endorse Delia Ramirez for Congress. As a state representative, Delia was instrumental in finally bringing an elected school board to the City of Chicago,” said Dian Palmer, President of SEIU Local 73. “Delia has dedicated her life and career advocating for working families. As an accomplished community leader and coalition
builder, we know we can count on her to fight for our members in Congress.”
“It is an honor to receive the endorsement of SEIU Local 73. Their commitment to fight for dignified, fair wages and working conditions for the thousands of frontline workers they represent is inspiring. I am proud to receive their support and look forward to working with them to continue this fight in Congress” stated Leader Ramirez.
Leader Ramirez is running in the newly drawn 3rd Congressional seat. The Democratic Primary takes place June 28th. She has been endorsed by Senator Elizabeth Warren, Congresswoman Schakowsky, Congressman Chuy Garcia, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, SEIU Healthcare, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Congressional Progressive Caucus, PODER PAC, Mijente, End Citizens United, EMILY’s List and the United Working Families and Working Families Party.
* Judge Rochford…
Today, Teamsters Joint Council 25 announced its endorsement of Judge Elizabeth Rochford for the Illinois Supreme Court’s Second District. Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents over 100,000 working men and women in Illinois and Northwest Indiana. The endorsement builds on Judge Rochford’s strong labor support, including the Illinois State AFL-CIO, Local 881 UFCW, Plumbers Local Union 130 United Association (UA), and the Lake County and McHenry County Building & Construction Trades Councils and their affiliates, which together include 44 local affiliate trade unions. […]
Recently, the Illinois State Bar Association released their rating of Judge Rochford as “highly recommended.” Judge Rochford is the only candidate in the Democratic primary for the Second District seat to be rated “highly recommended.”
* Politico…
Judge overrules Cook County Electoral Board, says rival to Sheriff Tom Dart should be put back on ballot: “Carmen Navarro Gercone’s successful appeal of a decision by the Cook County Electoral Board comes with little more than a month to go before the June 28 primary. Dart’s campaign had argued that she was ineligible to run under a controversial new state law that requires sheriff’s candidates to be registered law enforcement officers,” by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner. […]
— OPEN SEAT SCRAMBLE: The Democratic group VoteVets is launching a $360,000 buy supporting Chicago Ald. Gil Villegas in the open Democratic primary in IL-03. The ad, which will start airing today, highlights Villegas’ service in the Marines and his work on the city council. It is set to air for two weeks. The district is open after redistricting turned it into a Latino opportunity district in the city. […]
— Gov. JB Pritzker has endorsed Eileen Dordek in her bid for the 13th state House District seat now held by retiring Majority Leader Greg Harris. Four other Democrats, all men, are also in the race. […]
— Charise Williams has been endorsed by state Rep. Rita Mayfield and Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts in the IL-01 Democratic primary.
* Press release…
SEIU Healthcare Illinois is proud to announce the union’s endorsement of Illinois Senator Jacqueline Collins for the 1st Congressional Seat.
“The over 90,000 home care, child care, nursing home and hospital workers joined together in our union have benefitted from Jacqueline Collins’ dedicated advocacy on behalf of healthcare workers, care recipients and the communities within our state most in need of and dependent upon care,” said SEIU Healthcare Illinois President Greg Kelley. “Nearly 12,000 of our members live in the 1st Congressional District and would directly benefit from Collins’ advocacy in the nation’s capital. Additionally, her leadership in areas of concern to working families would have a positive impact for all the union’s membership, and for struggling low-wage earners across the state.
“Collins has shown exemplary leadership in Springfield standing up for nursing home reform—both in calling for safe staffing in long term care facilities backed by real consequences for owners who fall short and in advocating for living and sustainable wages and working conditions for workers.”
Frontline healthcare workers appreciate Collins’ grasp of the importance both of their work and of increased investment in wages and benefits. “Senator Collins gets that our working conditions are the care conditions of residents and patients,” said Francine Rico, a certified nursing assistant at Villa at Windsor Park, a long-term care facility. “She also understands that when we fight for higher wages and a voice on the job, we’re fighting for racial and gender equity. Like me, most nursing home and frontline care workers are women of color and our work has been devalued for too long.”
“Too often, our elected leaders will say the right thing when it comes to lifting wage and working standards but fail to act,” said Kelley. “But in Collins, we have a leader who has proven she has the courage and integrity to do the right thing, by fighting for real accountability for staffing levels in Illinois nursing homes—and for all of the issues that matter the most to working families. Her election to Congress would be a real win for frontline caregivers and for all those who receive care in the state and beyond.”
…Adding… Litesa Wallace…
First-term Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman on Tuesday announced his endorsement of former state Rep. Litesa Wallace for the 17th Congressional District Democratic nomination, citing Wallace’s history of advocacy and willingness to stand up to the establishment on behalf of everyday Illinoisans.
Schwartzman said he did not easily give out endorsements, but was drawn to do so for Wallace after hearing her personal story, her record of progressive advocacy and seeing her intent to focus on “real challenges,” ones that face all of us.
In an endorsement statement Tuesday, Schwartzman, a Knox College environmental studies professor, said:
“I don’t give out endorsements lightly or frequently, but Litesa has impressed me with her background, with her personal history and with her values. She’s not part of the Democratic establishment, but she has a strong sense of the everyday things we should do for each other. She understands that economic growth is true when it includes everyone. She’s a real person with a very high level of integrity.”
“We need people like her who are fighting for us, and not just for the special interests. This is a very important race and we’re at risk of losing this seat, so we need to put forward the best candidate–and that’s why Litesa Wallace has my endorsement.”
Rep. Wallace previously served three terms in Springfield as the State Representative from Rockford’s 67th District. She gained national attention in 2018 when she ran for Lt. Governor alongside Daniel Biss in the Democratic primary for Governor.
She previously has been endorsed by Indivisible, Our Revolution Illinois, SEIU Illinois, Winnebago County Citizens for Choice, the Collective PAC, Democracy for America, and a long list of elected officials in the 17th District and across Illinois.
Rep. Wallace is running to represent the newly drawn 17th District, which includes most of Peoria, Rockford, Freeport, the Quad Cities, Bloomington-Normal, Macomb, and Galesburg.
- Rabid - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 10:22 am:
Not part of the democatic establishment, 3 terms and LG run say otherwise
- Techie - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:38 am:
@Rabid
Serving in office itself does not make one part of the establishment. Ask Bernie Sanders how much a part of the establishment he feels like, given that the actual Democratic establishment pulled out all the stops to prevent him from winning the primary in 2 elections.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 12:20 pm:
In a sign of a serious campaign, Litesa Wallace’s campaign manager does seem to have updated at least her twitter profile to reflect her job. Perhaps they can scramble to a win.
- low level - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 12:28 pm:
Whoever loses the 3rd district may actually be the winner. Currently Ramirez is 1 of 118 members and part of the majority party. Villegas Is 1 of 50 and also part of the majority.
When either goes to Congress, they will be 1 of 435 and very likely in the minority. Being a backbench minority member isnt much fun and your influence is next to nothing.
- low level - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 12:34 pm:
==Ask Bernie Sanders how much a part of the establishment he feels like==
That’s why he is now Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, right? You far out Sanders people really amaze me sometimes…
- SaulGoodman - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 12:48 pm:
**In a sign of a serious campaign, Litesa Wallace’s campaign manager does seem to have updated at least her twitter profile to reflect her job. **
Ah, yes, the twitter bio of a staffer is what TRULY matters in a campaign.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 1:09 pm:
1 out of 435 stills pays roughly twice as much as the salaries of 1 out of 50 and 1 out of 118 combined.
So there’s that, which is not nothing.
- Amalia - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 1:27 pm:
has Delia Ramirez said she would join “the Squad?” I seem to recall something. she’s a Jan Schakowsky endorsed candidate and MC Ayana Pressley practically grew up with Jan.
- hahahahaah - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 1:31 pm:
=pulled out all the stops to prevent him from winning the primary in 2 elections.=
Uhhh, the establishment was responsible for Bernie’s unwillingness/inability to win the support of Black voters? I don’t think so, buddy.
He lost those races fair and square. You sound like a fan of another politician I know who refuses to accept the results when they don’t get their way.
Toddler tantrums.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 1:39 pm:
=== You sound like a fan of another politician I know who refuses===
There’s very little difference in that fan base.
- low level - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 1:45 pm:
==has Delia Ramirez said she would join “the Squad?==
She probably would, and we can just imagine how effective the Squad will be with Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. Villegas is a better choice.
- Shytown - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 4:31 pm:
Villegas is never going to vote down choice if given the opportunity. Let’s get real. This hit is a political move to leverage the moment we’re in on choice. Also, the vote they’re referring to was to actually add healthcare clinics to underserved communities on the west side that weren’t designed to provide abortion services either way - not every healthcare center provides abortion services. SMDH
- Dave - Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:31 pm:
Villegas is the better candidate for this district. You know you are the front runner when they start attacking you. And besides two of the most prominent Latinas are backing Alderman Villegas - they being State Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Iris Y Martinez. Ramirez is not the right person for this seat. Vote for Gil.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, May 25, 22 @ 1:23 am:
===Ah, yes, the twitter bio of a staffer is what TRULY matters in a campaign. ===
To add some context, Rich shared some polling data from that congressional primary which had Litesa Wallace performing far worse than I would have expected a former state legislator who had exposure as a state wide candidate for Lt. Governor and fundraising that should be a pause for concern given both her political and legislative back ground and the expectation that a candidate in a competitive district will likely need to raise anywhere between 1.5 and 3 million dollars in order to be successful even with the more affordable media markets in the state. Add to this the press release announcing that the campaign manager was being hired a couple of months ago and several weeks after the news of that hiring, they still hadn’t updated their twitter bio which actively tweets, or their LinkedIn profile and never mind that there’s also the appearance of maintaining a separate job from being a congressional campaign manager less than a month out from the election.
My comment was concise because dwelling on the particulars in a second post regarding a candidate I personally running a campaign that seems to have missed its opportunity to get out of the gate isn’t something I like doing — but the fact that the campaign manager is willing to advertise their role on twitter is a good sign.
Former congressional staffers and campaign staffers love to collect such credentials on their twitter profiles to demonstrate their bonafides to their insular and self aggrandizing campaign staffer social circles. Choosing not to update it to reflect your current employment is a red flag in those circles because the ones listed in the bio are usually curated to send whatever signal you think is important.
- Misery Loves Company - Wednesday, May 25, 22 @ 11:31 am:
Actually, people on the ground respect Wallace and have observed the “establishment” turn their backs on her. Maybe it IS because she ran for LG when it wasn’t her “turn”; during that race she was critical of some now in power and others who’ve since been federally indicted but built sn institution of minions and henchmen. In the 17th District the establishment favored candidate (with the staff/ consultants of the current seat holder/former head of the DCCC) has raised a fraction of the favored candidate in the 13th; that’s the real apples to apples comparison. Wallace seems to be maintaining despite less traditional support.