* Background is here if you need it. As you’ll soon see, there’s more to this Politico story…
Gov. JB Pritzker just gave $55,000 to outgoing state Sen. Melinda Bush, who’s running for the state Democratic Central Committee. The donation is jaw-dropping since Bush is facing Lauren Beth Gash, the incumbent member of the Democratic Central Committee in the 10th District.
Gash is also a former state rep who served at a time when she was the sole Democrat from Lake County serving in the General Assembly. She made it her mission to change that and the county has since transformed from red to blue.
Gash also voted to elect Congresswoman Robin Kelly as party chair over Pritzker’s preferred candidate. Kelly won but she’s now up for reelection among members of the Dem central committee.
Still, Gash was unfazed by Pritzker’s maneuver. “The reason so many community leaders and grassroots volunteers from the 10th District are supporting me is because they’ve worked side by side with me to turn the 10th Congressional District from red to deep blue at all levels of government,” she told Playbook. “People in the district know me well and they know I know how to win for Democrats.”
As y’all know already, Sen. Bush is also pushing Mary Edly-Allen for her former Senate seat. MEA is up against Rep. Sam Yingling in the primary. Yingling howled when Pritzker endorsed MEA. Late yesterday afternoon, MEA’s campaign reported a $55,000 contribution from Gov. Pritzker’s campaign.
According to Rep. Yingling’s campaign website, Lauren Beth Gash has endorsed Yingling’s Senate bid. As noted above, Bush and LBG are running against each other for state central committee. No love lost there between those two. Bush at one point talked about running against Gash for Lake County Democratic Party Chair, but didn’t pull the trigger. For a whole lot of reasons (many of them having to do with Statehouse politics), Pritzker has now come down firmly on Bush’s side.
* Sen. Bush is also backing Laura Faver Dias for Yingling’s current House seat. From an LFD press release…
“I am proud to endorse Laura Faver Dias for State House of Representatives in Illinois’ 62nd District,” said Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. “Her experience as an educator and small business owner has made her a fierce fighter for students, parents, and immigrant families. She has proven herself to be an effective leader and will deliver major progress for families in the 62nd District and across our state.”
“It is really special to be endorsed by our state’s governor. Governor Pritzker is an impressive leader who has managed to take meaningful action on a wide range of issues—from climate change to reproductive rights—all while ensuring Illinois stayed steady during both an economic and public health crisis,” said Democratic candidate for State Representative Laura Faver Dias. “My campaign is proving that people are ready for a fresh perspective and an authentic community leader. Through door-knocking, meaningful conversations, and a focus on real issues that impact everyday folks, a powerful coalition has been built.”
Laura Faver Dias has also been endorsed by State Senator Melinda Bush, Service Employees Illinois Union (SEIU), Personal PAC, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action PAC, Lake County Federation of Teachers, Vote Mama, National Association of Social Workers PAC, Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC), Brady PAC, Giffords PAC, Citizen Action, Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers District 1, Teamsters Joint Council 25, Stand for Children, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois National Organization of Women, Indo American Democratic Organization, and Illinois Education Association (IEA).
Just after 8 this morning, LFD reported a $55,000 contribution from Gov. Pritzker’s campaign fund. LFD is up against two fellow Democrats, Terry Wilke and Thomas Maillard. Neither has raised much money.
Maillard is also running for reelection to the state central committee. His opponent is Hal Sloan. Sen. Bush is backing Sloan. I’m told to expect another $55K from Pritzker to Sloan very soon.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 10:20 am:
Someone is flexing his financial muscles to strengthen his influence.
- The Real Downstate - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 10:32 am:
Agree with Norseman. Pritzker is smart to seize an opportunity to expand some influence and earn some political capital in Lake County. Well worth the attempt, especially if it means he can take out two Kelly supporters and replace them with allies who owe him a favor.
- Back to the Future - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 10:45 am:
Looks like Dem Unity lasted a whole day.
- vern - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 11:08 am:
Lindsey LaPointe: $5,000
Mike Kelly: $5,000
Mike Zalewski: $5,000 and a trip to the grocery store
Rob Martwick: $5,000
Omar Aquino: $5,000
Kathy Willis: $0
Denyse Wang Stonebeck: $0
Sonya Harper: $0
Melinda Bush Cinematic Universe: $200,000.
I don’t know what Pritzker is hoping to gain from this donation pattern, but I have a hard time seeing how it will solve whatever Statehouse political problem is driving it.
- Anon - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 11:19 am:
The corruption of “reformers” in illinois should never be underestimated.
- Surge voter - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 11:32 am:
On what planet does it make sense to start a civil war in Lake County? When you “win” you have a lot of unhappy democrats whose vote you want in November.
- vern - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 11:33 am:
Hmm, looks like my comment got eaten by a filter. I’ll try to restate it.
I believe that Pritzker has made the decision to spend this much money in Lake County because of Statehouse politics, though I don’t understand exactly what his Statehouse-related goals are. Regardless, he’s spending 200k on this particular intraparty fight while only giving 5,000 each to incumbent state reps with primaries. I don’t understand how that combination would solve more Statehouse problems than it creates.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 11:33 am:
===to start a civil war in Lake County?===
1) Don’t use that imagery;
2) That battle was already started.
- SpiDem - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 12:01 pm:
While there is a lot focus on Pritzker and the intraparty fight in Lake, not mentioned is that the Senate Dems and organized labor were way out in front of all of this many many weeks ago. In this sense, Pritzker is late to this fight by comparison.
It says a lot that the Senate Dems and organized labor are taking an opportunity to prevent Yingling from moving. And it’s more than just Yingling not playing well with others. For the past couple years, the House Dem members from Lake have been making a big show of supposedly holding up major bills, claiming concessions, and then issuing self-congratulatory press releases. (CEJA and Judicial redistricing are a couple that immediately come to mind). This always struck me as very weird. Smart politicos cut their deals quietly and don’t undermine their party leaders publicly like that.
My sense is that a lot of interest groups and party leaders have grown tired of the games. Yingling was the one who stuck his head up, so he’s getting the brunt of it. But there is a bigger message being sent here, I think.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 12:05 pm:
Will the Durbie crew join in, counter?
The geezers will remember the days when the lone D electeds were folks like Grace Mary Stern and John Matijevich (yes we looked it up) now there are Ds on every corner.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 12:07 pm:
===CEJA and Judicial redistricing are a couple that immediately come to mind===
Fair tax, cannabis trailer, etc., etc., etc. They’ve been begging for this fight and they got it and now they’re howling.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 12:24 pm:
=They’ve been begging for this fight and they got it and now they’re howling.=
And I, for one, am here for it with popcorn.
- SpiDem - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 12:28 pm:
@Joe Bidenopolous
Indeed, its times like this that I wish the comments would allow us to embed GIF’s, because there are so many good ones to express that sentiment.
- vern - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 12:35 pm:
=== They’ve been begging for this fight ===
So the Lake County party get a six-figure brushback because their House members negotiate on bills, get to yes, and then tell their constituents what they accomplished.
By that standard, Pritzker should be able to find a spare million to go after the leadership of the Democratic Party of Oak Park. After all, Harmon kept the brick on CEJA far longer than the House did. And his caucus never did get to yes on those parole board nominees.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 12:48 pm:
$5000 to Martwick, who is running both for the Senate and for a State Central post against Cullerton. what?
- Surge voter - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 2:31 pm:
Rich….even if it’s already a civil war, does it make sense to take a side now ?
- The Real Downstate - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:17 pm:
It makes perfect sense for JB to get involved, Surge. That’s two more votes for him on the central committee, an ally in the Senate, and two allies in the House. This is a fantastic opportunity for him to invest and earn some loyalty up there. Why on Earth would he stay out?
- Realtalk - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:45 pm:
So he is depending on Melinda to help him in November when she couldn’t get enough Precinct Committeemen to vote for her for Chair….yea I see a big problem in November
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:47 pm:
===So he is depending on Melinda to help him in November ===
Huh?
- The Real Downstate - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:48 pm:
November? This is about JB making sure he wins the DPI vote in July and has allies during the legislative session next Spring. JB doesn’t need political help in Lake Co for November.
- Lake County Voter - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 3:57 pm:
It’s puzzling Pritker is choosing to meddle in Lake County Politics. He’s choosing the minority side because his candidate lost for chair of the party. People in Lake County aren’t interested in the Madigan Style politics and games Bush and Pritzker are playing. Wonder what Bush is giving in return for Pritzker funding all her puppets. It’s got to be more the just a vote for dem chair. And to be clear Bush didn’t choose not to run for county chair. She didn’t have the support and didn’t want to be humiliated. If she had the votes she would have stayed in the race. The party division is on Bush and her minions who don’t know how to play well with others.
- Shytown - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:14 pm:
Pritzker is the gov of this state. He can play wherever he wants. It’s not surprising that those who don’t like where he’s spending his money are complaining about “meddling.”
And Reaktalk, Bush’s record in Lake county is pretty outstanding in electing women. So put a cork in it.
- The Real Downstate - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 4:30 pm:
===Wonder what Bush is giving in return for Pritzker funding all her puppets===
Google “political capital.”
- Ruth Dakin - Tuesday, Jun 7, 22 @ 7:38 pm:
===Melinda Bush Cinematic Universe===
Sophisticated, respected, likeable and successful. That tracks.
- sideshow - Wednesday, Jun 8, 22 @ 9:08 am:
It’s to bad that some unaffiliated but still very viable candidates will get trampled in the process of these folks (none of whom are very serious policymakers) having a P-ing match in the middle of all these problems