* Former US Rep. Dan Lipinski’s new Tribune op-ed…
For 16 years, I had the privilege of representing the people of Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District until I was narrowly defeated in the 2020 Democratic primary. I lost that race because I dared to not always follow in lockstep with my party in an era in which extreme partisanship and polarization rule. In a number of primary elections on Tuesday, both parties continued to reject candidates willing to ever deviate from the party line, including Illinois’ 15th District in which Rep. Rodney Davis lost the Republican primary. This trend is causing more extremity, more intransigence and more gridlock in Washington. Both parties are failing our country and hurting the American people.
Last year, some Republican Party officials asked me to run for Congress as a Republican, but I declined. A few months later, some of my supporters from previous campaigns asked me to run in the Democratic primary in the 6th Congressional District because their analysis indicated I could win in a three-way race against the two incumbents vying for the nomination. When I responded that I was fed up with both parties and would only consider a run as an independent, they told me they would start a “Draft Dan Lipinski” campaign to get my name on the November ballot.
It is difficult for an unfunded grassroots effort to gather the 5,000 signatures needed to qualify as an independent for Congress — more than 12 times the 400 needed by a Democrat or Republican — but I understand that goal is within reach.
As I weigh my decision on whether to run now, or in two years, or find other ways to contribute to the fight to set our country on a better path, I want to explain the importance of running as an independent. The partisan gerrymandering of districts, the outsize influence of interest groups on elections and the concentrated power of congressional party leaders have created a situation in which most members of Congress no longer represent their approximately 800,000 constituents. Instead, they represent the small, often ideologically extreme minority of voters who cast ballots in their party’s primary.
Lipinski would be up against Democratic US Rep. Sean Casten.
* CD13…
This morning, Nikki Budzinski, the Democratic nominee in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, announced that her campaign is entering the general election with over $1 million cash on hand. Just 4 months from the general election, this puts Budzinski in a strong position to communicate with voters and run a strong campaign.
Budzinski made the following statement: “In my campaign, I am laser focused on finding solutions to fight inflation, tackle the rising costs of gas and energy, and help working families keep more of what they earn. My campaign has the resources to communicate that message to voters in Central and Southern Illinois.”
* Republican Attorney General nominee Tom DeVore is hosting a gun raffle fundraiser…
* From the WBEZ interview of Gov. Pritzker…
With Bailey’s primary win and the victory by downstate attorney Thomas DeVore in the attorney general primary — a lawyer who helped Bailey wage a legal fight against state public-health mandates during the pandemic — Pritzker said the Republican Party in Illinois has veered hard to the right. It’s a zone that general election voters will reject and a sign the state GOP has no room for moderate Republicans, the governor said.
“They’re going to continue to be a minority party if they’re going to continue to move farther and farther to the right. There’s an enormous schism within the Republican Party. They’re going to have to work that out on their own. But they’ve now nominated some completely extremist, Trumpy, MAGA Republicans to represent them for the governor’s race [and] the attorney general’s race.
“I mean, we’re going to have to fight to make sure that these people never see statewide office in the state,” the governor said.
* Back to the WGN interview with Sen. Darren Bailey…
Q: You and your wife are the founders of Full Armor Christian Academy. Is there a sign at the door of that school that reads: ‘Staff heavily armed and trained in any attempt to harm children will be met with deadly force’?
A: Well, you’ve done your research. There actually is, yes. We believe that the children are our most precious asset. And it’s interesting, when you go into a Target, or certainly a high-end fashion or jewelry store, you’ll usually see an armed guard there protecting that and in this day and age and climate, we believe that we need to do everything possible to protect our children.
Q: So you have guns throughout the school. Would you advocate that Chicago schools have guns easily available for teachers or others to use?
A: Well, I would certainly advocate under the current climate that is a plausible solution if the local school so chose. Obviously, lots of training, you know, handling the the gun itself, and then that training with local law enforcement agencies of which we do at Full Armor would be obviously mandatory. And I believe that that would, yeah, I believe that would certainly help be a step if a school so chose to use it to make schools and safer and protect our children. […]
Q: I think most working families in Illinois are right dab in the middle. I mean, the loudest people are in the left, and on the far right. Where do you see yourself on that spectrum?
A: Oh, gosh, I still say, I’d like to think that I’m in the middle. Because I believe the silent majority resides, we just want to be left alone, we want government out of our hair, we don’t want to be told what to do. We don’t want to be mandated, we want to be able to live, to keep most of our money, we want to make sure that we provide a future for our children and our grandchildren. We want to be able to send our children to school knowing that they’re taught how to live and thrive and work and get a job and, and then we want to be able to send our kids to you know, could be able to walk down the street to the store to go to that ball game or whatever it is down the street and to be safe.
* Let’s move on to the Brenden Moore interview with Gov. Pritzker…
Q: Here in Central Illinois, we saw far-right Rep. Mary Miller defeat Rep. Rodney Davis in the Republican primary on Tuesday. It’s a district that was drawn to pack in as many Republicans as possible — the map passed the legislature, you signed it. Is there any responsibility that you and Democratic legislators have for the increasing partisanship given how gerrymandered this district was where somebody like Mary Miller could win pretty convincingly?
A: “Look, if I had asked you a year ago and if I had asked most pundits and people who understand politics a year ago who was going to win the race in that district, almost everybody would have said Rodney Davis. So let’s be clear, an area where there are more Republicans than there are Democrats shouldn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to end up with the most right-wing, most extreme person getting elected. That is what happened. I think that’s evidence of what’s happened to the Republican Party.
“Look, Darren Bailey is evidence to what’s happened to the Republican Party. He’s too extreme for Illinois. He’s somebody that stood at the outer edge of politics (and) does not understand what average working people in the state really need and want. And he’s worked against those things. He says that he wants to help people, but then he doesn’t vote for the things that help people.
“So, again, I just want to say this extremism, you’re talking about Mary Miller beating Rodney Davis, I think the responsibility there is about Donald Trump MAGA Republicans and people like Darren Bailey who are driving the Illinois Republican Party off a cliff.”
* This was a big loss for the Senate Democrats…
In the race to fill the vacancy of State Senator Jacqui Collins on Chicago’s South Side, Willie Preston has emerged victorious - defeating his opponent by a margin of 54% to 46% (with a few precincts still left to be counted).
Despite being outspent by massive margins, Willie put together a winning coalition on the ground that helped carry him over the finish line on Election Day.
“This was a hard-fought campaign and at the end of the day I am just so proud of the work my team put in to help me pull this out,” said Preston, “we focused our campaign intently on the issues that plague our community the most: rising violence, the gun epidemic, and a lack of working-class jobs. I’m so thankful to the voters and supporters who made this victory possible. Now it’s time to go to Springfield and fight like hell for my constituents.”
Willie Preston is a community organizer and small business owner who was born and raised in the Englewood neighborhood (which is included within the 16th Senate District) and currently lives with his wife and Campaign Manager Brittany Preston and their six amazing children in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.
Throughout the entire cycle, Preston remained focused on the basics and executed perfectly on a thorough campaign plan including knocking on thousands of doors and running an aggressive Early Vote campaign. This plan ultimately resulted in his victory on Tuesday night despite tremendous resources and obstacles sent against the Willie Preston team.
Preston defeated Lamont Williams.
* More…
* Gay Weatherman Could Be First Out Congressman From Illinois: Illinois may get its first out member of Congress this year now that Eric Sorensen, a gay man, has won the Democratic nomination in the 17th Congressional District. Sorensen bested five other candidates in the Democratic primary, finishing with about 38 percent of the vote by the latest count. The district covers portions of central, western, and northwestern Illinois.
* How candidates aligned with Donald Trump did in the suburbs: Although all three downstate Illinois Republicans endorsed by former President Donald Trump won their primary races Tuesday, outspoken Trump supporters seeking nomination for statewide or federal seats saw mixed results in the suburbs. Such candidates were defeated in the 6th, 8th and 14th congressional districts’ GOP primaries, as well as in the U.S. Senate race. But they won nominations in the 5th and 11th districts.
* Berwyn voters endorse concept of ranked choice voting, an electoral method some call the future of democracy. Evanston might soon do it for real.
* Winnebago County Clerk looks into whether error affected Illinois primary election results: The error “has to do with the font and format in which the referendum questions were laid out in the ballots, which could have had an impact on the outcome. The election office is in the process of reviewing ballots and we expect to learn more in the coming days,” her email said.
* Voting rights advocates say it’s time to give convicted inmates the chance to vote: “While the people of Illinois are being subjected to heinous crimes, Democratic legislators are trying to ensure that the very perpetrators of those crimes will still have the opportunity to vote while incarcerated. This is another example of how out of touch the super majority party is with the issues facing the families of Illinois. They seem to be more concerned with securing votes for their party than protecting victims,” said Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield.
- Nick - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 1:55 pm:
Lipinski handing the race to the Republicans by launching an independent bid no one wants would be very on brand for the type of politician he is.
- New Day - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 1:56 pm:
Every Republican up and down the ballot will be asked whether they agree with the extreme positions of Bailey and Devore. Pritzker is clearly on message. Bailey won with 50%+ in a six way primary. The GOP is the party of Bailey. They need to own it.
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 1:57 pm:
Just in case anyone was wondering why Lipinski lost, he decided to remind everyone.
“because their analysis indicated I could win in a three-way race”
It’s not about you, Dan.
That’s always been your problem when it comes to public office, and I see it still is.
- Big Dipper - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:03 pm:
The timing of the gun raffle couldn’t be more tone deaf.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:05 pm:
===couldn’t be more tone deaf.===
It’s a signal to the base “we won’t be intimidated”
- Nuke The Whales - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:09 pm:
So now it’s the Democratic Party’s fault that Republican voters overwhelmingly chose Mary Miller over Rodney Davis? Is it the Democratic Party’s fault that voters opted for Jed Davis over David Welter in a district that should on paper should be more suburban Republican than rural Republican despite Davis running to cromulently conservative Welter’s right? Why is it that political observers believe only the Democratic Party has any agency in American politics? If a reporter gains fifteen pounds in their first non-COVID summer at the bars, somehow it’ll be the Democratic Party’s fault.
- Lurker - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:12 pm:
Thank goodness DeVore is only rolling up his sleeves to show that he is hardworking and ready to get down to business. /s
He needs flags and guns at each end of those tattoos to show he really cares about us.
- TJ - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:15 pm:
Illinois Dems: Here’s a GOP district. Go wild.
Illinois GOP: *sets own pants on fire*
Moore: How can the Dems do this to the GOP?
- Hmmmm - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:15 pm:
Gotta wonder what Harmon thinks about what went down in 16
- SAP - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:19 pm:
==we just want to be left alone, we want government out of our hair, we don’t want to be told what to do.==
Where are you on abortion Darren? Asking for a friend.
- Norseman - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:20 pm:
Is that $35 for every child slaughtered with a gun similar to the one he’s raffling?
- JS Mill - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:27 pm:
=Well, I would certainly advocate under the current climate that is a plausible solution if the local school so chose. =
Yep, nationally our trained, well equipped, well financed (better than all but 6 armies on the planet) hits about 23% of what they aim at when they fire a gun. So you want teachers to have guns? Why not just line the kids up and get this over with. What a (banned word).
Full Armor- what is with the just totally (banned words) name? Unless they are bullet proofing the kids the words do not make sense. Which is the least of what doesn’t make sense I guess.
I wonder, does darren have a ccl? or mrs. darren?
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:27 pm:
“It’s a signal to the base”
Nah. It’s just something that kinda happens in rural areas automatically when groups of people get together publicly. Like a frozen meat raffle at a bar. It’s more of an add-on to an existing event. In this instance it doesn’t seem to be the focus of the event as it’s secondary to the dinner.
Ainad Shriners hold events in southern Illinois that are nothing but gun raffles. Bailey is more the type for that type of explicit raffle, and will probably show up at or host one of those before November.
- JS Mill - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:28 pm:
===we just want to be left alone, we want government out of our hair, we don’t want to be told what to do.==
Where are you on abortion Darren? Asking for a friend.=
Maybe he only meant that rhetorically? Cuz we know it ain’t for realz.
- Too cute by half - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:29 pm:
In an exercise of reading the comments before posting, I’ll just say that Nick and Nuke the Whales are on point today. Basically took the words out of my mouth.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:30 pm:
===Nah===
Not having them is then what?
When they get canceled what is usually that one reason?
- Da big bad wolf - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:34 pm:
“I lost that race because I dared to not always follow in lockstep with my party in an era in which extreme partisanship and polarization rule.”
And
“…have created a situation in which most members of Congress no longer represent their approximately 800,000 constituents.”
When you no longer represent the voters then they vote you out. Like they did to you, dear.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:36 pm:
-Lipinski would be up against Democratic US Rep. Sean Casten.-
Much like your nemesis Marie Newman, no one wants you now Dan. Everyone acts like their ego trip is because someone else drafted them to do it, you included. If you think after Dobbs that people are begging for you to come back you can’t read the room. If you do this, Pekau will win, not you, and you will have to own it as more of a pariah than you already are.
- New Day - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:40 pm:
“So now it’s the Democratic Party’s fault that Republican voters overwhelmingly chose Mary Miller over Rodney Davis?”
Cmon, man. You’re talking about a party that had zero cognitive dissonance as they bought into the idea that the election was stolen from Trump but that the thieves couldn’t trouble themselves in the exact same districts to also steal it for the D Congressmen and Senators. Logical consistency? Not in the GOP.
- Chris - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:40 pm:
Darren must go to some pretty darn scary places—I can’t recall seeing an armed guard at a Target store, anywhere.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:50 pm:
===You’re talking about a party===
No, he’s talking about a reporter.
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:51 pm:
== When they get canceled what is usually that one reason? ==
When they get cancelled it is usually because there has been a mass shooting of some significance in close proximity timing-wise. When that timing of proximity passes, the default state of events quickly returns where those things aren’t discussed or acknowledged. It’s not cancelled out of respect, it’s cancelled out of that same desire not to talk about or acknowledge the problem.
If there was a mass shooting and then immediately after there was a bold advertisement for a gun raffle, then I would agree with your point of sending a message.
Acknowledging how things are, does not mean I support how things are. I think it works well as an exercise to force myself to be more objective.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:55 pm:
===If there was a mass shooting and then immediately after there was a bold advertisement for a gun raffle, then I would agree with your point of sending a message.===
Are there days without mass shootings in this country now?
- Just Sayin - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:55 pm:
==Much like your nemesis Marie Newman, no one wants you now Dan==
If she stays in politics, what are the chances that Marie switches to the Green Party for future elections?
- jim - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 2:58 pm:
Wow, the Ds are really freaking out about Lipinski.
He could be formidable.
- Pundent - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:02 pm:
=Wow, the Ds are really freaking out about Lipinski.=
Doubtful. He wasn’t exactly formidable when he was formidable. And it’s hard to see who his base would be at this point. And if it’s pro-life Dems that seems to be a pretty small base. And exactly who’s lining up to fund a Lipinski campaign? I get it, he never got over the treatment he received from Newman and her supporters. But the voters seemed to have moved on even if Dan hasn’t.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:03 pm:
On June 8th, WaPo…
===There have already been more than 250 mass shootings this year in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Thirty-eight have taken place since a rampage at an elementary school in Uvalde, Tex., left 19 children and two teachers dead on May 24.===
Not knowing if there are mass shootings are happening, doesn’t mean mass shootings aren’t happening.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:12 pm:
-Wow, the Ds are really freaking out about Lipinski. He could be formidable.-
Not formidable as in actually winning. But enough to throw an otherwise winnable lean Democrat seat away, yes. The voters have a clear enough choice with Casten and Pekau.
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:14 pm:
== Are there days without mass shootings ==
Which is why I added in the ‘of some significance’. If it’s in the public consciousness like a few dozen children being gunned down, yes those thankfully do not happen every day, and that’s why they are harder to ignore. If it’s nameless people the news never reports on consistently for weeks at a time, and are much easier to ignore, then no. How easy a situation is to ignore is the variable I see as what is changing behavior, not how many people are dying overall.
The concept of raffling off a firearm at a political event to whoever gets a lucky number seems utterly bizarre to me for many reasons independent of the timing. But I’m not trying to understand my behavior, I’m trying to understand someone else.
There are nuances in these types of behaviors I find more useful(and interesting) to identify than just painting with a broad brush.
The equivalent phrase on a suburban fundraiser would be;
“valet parking available”.
You wouldn’t think twice about it. It’s just something that’s there by default in the suburbs.
Give Devore a day or two. There will be no shortage of things he does just to throw in someone’s face. I just don’t see this as one of those things. We seem to disagree on that, which is fine.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:16 pm:
The Devore picture is more along the lines of something you see on a personal injury lawyer’s billboard on the highway than on the campaign materials of a serious person running for Attorney General.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:18 pm:
=== Which is why I added in the ‘of some significance’===
Tell that to the victims’ families.
What makes something significant?
It’s signaling having these gun things at all.
The signaling ends when people think lives are more significant at their choosing.
- JoanP - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:23 pm:
I was just in a Target store this afternoon. No armed guards visible.
- Big Dipper - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:30 pm:
=I was just in a Target store this afternoon. No armed guards visible.=
Maybe the name of the store and its logo confused him.
- Roadrager - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:35 pm:
Sorry, Dan, but there are lots of women in this here district, and the vast majority of them aren’t the strain of Catholic you need to build a voter base.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:48 pm:
Who is Dan Lipinski to accuse anyone else of representing a small, ideologically extreme minority of voters in their party?
That’s the whole reason you lost, pal.
- Dotnonymous - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:52 pm:
There are secret armed Target Police…in Bailey’s mind…heh.
- Steve Polite - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:53 pm:
=Full Armor- what is with the just totally (banned words) name?=
I have no direct knowledge, but my guess is it has nothing to do with the teachers being armed and trained. Rather the name is probably derived from the Bible passage in Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” - NIV
- Steve - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 3:54 pm:
Petitions are due next week. If he’s gotten this far, he’s going to run.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 4:00 pm:
I wonder if Darren Bailey has ever been in a Target. There isn’t one near Xenia and I cannot imagine anyone who has ever been in one claiming it has armed guards or comparing it to a high-end jewelry store.
Maybe he’s thinking of Tar-jay.
- Tungsten - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 4:01 pm:
There’s something very narcissistic about holding such extreme beliefs, but thinking you’re “in the middle.”
“Oh, it’s the SILENT majority that agrees with me. How could I have an extreme idea?”
It feels VERY much like an old ex. Everything I worried about was because of my anxiety disorder, and everything she worried about was “you know, normal people would be worried about this too”
- Just Sayin - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 4:09 pm:
==I wonder if Darren Bailey has ever been in a Target. There isn’t one near Xenia==
The Evansville, IN and Metro East locations at least 90 minutes away would be the closest Targets to Xenia.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 4:11 pm:
===There isn’t one near Xenia===
Ya think he never leaves the farm? I mean, he comes to Springfield for session. We have Target here.
- Pundent - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 4:21 pm:
I’m sure that Darren’s been to a Target. The more important question is where is this Target that has an armed guard? Or are we simply supposed to imagine where that might be?
- Just Sayin - Friday, Jul 1, 22 @ 4:21 pm:
==I mean, he comes to Springfield for session. We have Target here.==
Good luck trying to get to Springfield’s Target, and trying to traverse Parkway Pointe. One of the worst, if not the worst, and most poorly planned shopping center highway networks in both Springfield and the state.
Was Cellini also a highway infrasture planner back in the day? It seems like his fingerprints are all over that example of infrastructure incompetence.