* Illinois Review…
The question everyone interested in Illinois’ conservative politics is wondering is “Where’s Dick Uihlein?” and “Who’s the key influencer that is apparently steering Uihlein’s political investments away from Darren Bailey’s bid to oust JB Pritzker?”
It’s a fair question. Conservative gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey is fighting hard among the state’s grassroots to win support against Pritzker, who is nationally recognized as a Leftist COVID tyrant and a radical criminal comforter - exactly the kind of political figure Uihlein would be happy to defeat.
But nothing from Uihlein?
After all, Uihlein has been writing checks this summer to certain, specific House races, one specific Chamber leader, two statewide races (including Tom DeVore and Dan Brady), and a couple of countywide races.
* Open Secrets took a look at fundraising by Generation Z candidates and found that Nabeela Syed easily topped the list with $251,000…
At least 14 Gen Z candidates have collectively raised more than $734,000 for their state races so far this election cycle, an OpenSecrets analysis of campaign finance filings found.
A new generation of state leaders could challenge existing legislatures that remain predominantly male and white. The average age of all state leadership is 58, despite the average American being only about 38-years-old. […]
Run for Something recruits and supports young progressive Democrats running for city, county and state offices through mentorship and direct funding.
Two Run for Something-endorsed state House candidates, Nabeela Syed in Illinois and Joe Vogel in Maryland, are two of the three top Gen Z state candidate fundraisers during the 2022 midterm election cycle.
Syed raised over $251,000 for her primary race against Chelsea Laliberte Barnes to represent Illinois’ 51st District in the statehouse. After winning her June primary with over 73% of the vote, Syed will face off against incumbent state Rep. Chris Bos (R-Ill.), who has raised only about $34,000.
In an emailed statement to OpenSecrets, Syed said that her campaign spent the vast majority of money raised leading up to the primary election and is now pivoting to focus on the general election.
Gaining endorsements from several state senators as well as Everytown for Gun Safety, Syed has utilized her platform to advocate for gun violence prevention, access to abortion and empowering Muslim women to lead.
Syed said there was initial hesitation among some voters given her younger age, but her team knocked on doors and talked with the community. She’s received over $33,000 in political contributions of $150 or less.
She’s quite something.
* Press release…
Today, the Chicago Board of Elections released new ward and precinct maps for the City of Chicago ahead of the upcoming November 8, 2022 General Election. A ward-by-ward break down of precinct changes is included at the end of this press release.
The new ward boundaries were adopted by the Chicago City Council on May 19, 2022, as required every 10 years after the U.S. Census. The Illinois General Assembly recently passed legislation that gave the Board the authority to create new precincts containing up to 1,800 registered voters.
The Chicago Board of Elections is now creating 1,290 precincts across all 50 Wards in Chicago, for a reduction total of 779 precincts. The average number of precincts per ward is 26, and the average number of voters per precinct is 1,165.
Just previously, the City of Chicago had 2,069 voter precincts, with an average of 550-750 voters per precinct. For comparison during the last redistricting process in 2010, the Chicago Board of Elections reduced its precincts from 2,570 to 2,069, for a total reduction of 501 precincts.
Please click here to view and download the new City of Chicago ward and precinct maps
Text from Rickey Hendon, slightly modified by me….
The Chicago Board of Elections is trying to close 1,100 polling places!! It’s HORRIBLE!! People won’t know where to vote, Seniors can’t go far to vote and Black people lose. Meet me at 69 West Washington 9AM Wednesday (tomorrow) outside the Board of Elections with Willie Wilson for a press conference where we will have Attorneys there threatening to sue they *ss!!
If this was Georgia the Democrats would be screaming!!! Voter Suppression!! Racism!! Etc.
* IDCCA…
* Politico…
— Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic nominee for Illinois secretary of state, is getting an endorsement and campaign support from AFSCME Council 31, the public services employees union that represents more than 90,000 active and retired members in Illinois. AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch praised Giannoulias for his work as former state treasurer, saying “he’s experienced, energetic, and he values working people and their unions.”
*** UPDATE ***
The ad is here.
* More…
* Arlington Heights residents want the Bears — but they don’t want to foot the bill, poll finds: “Our polling shows Arlington Heights voters strongly believe they shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill as taxpayers,” added Costin, who tells Sneed the ARW survey was a phone poll of 300 voters living in the village — population 77,000 — with a margin of error of 5.6 percentage points.
* Koehler, Anderson make their cases for representing the new 46th State Senate District: Anderson said she thinks a decision on how what direction the state takes on abortion rights should be up to the citizens. “That’s the beauty of having a democracy like this: Voters get to turn out and vote on amendments they want, and you’ve got individuals that are running that should hopefully represent what their constituents want. That is up to the voters and whatever voters decide and whatever way that goes, and so be it,” she said.
* Illinois voting rights landscape widens with permanent vote by mail option - As in the last two elections, Illinois voters will be in for some changes when they hit the polls on Nov. 8, 2022.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:38 pm:
==who is nationally recognized as a Leftist COVID tyrant and a radical criminal comforter==
Another example of why the Illinois Review shouldn’t be considered legitimate media.
- fs - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:47 pm:
The, uh, “scribes” and commenters at Illinois Review beginning to question the strategy and motives of Proft? I might need to get some popcorn for this.
- Been There - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:48 pm:
In my ward the new precincts make a lot more sense. Most of them cut off at major streets, railroad tracks, etc and are box shaped. I will probably end up voting at a closer location than I do now.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:50 pm:
Uihlein, so like Elf on the Shelf, pix of him in various places. say like sipping a drink through a straw by the pool….
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:53 pm:
Proft gave up on Illinois Review long ago. As a radio host, and Floridian, the grifting is best when only fleecing one person, and it’s only one or two checks to cash.
Also, AFSCME is not a labor organization.
AFSCME continually and purposely went out of its way to NOT be the champion of safety and welfare for its members during the pandemic, a pillar, and more directly the foundation, of organizing and organized labor being born.
They are a pathetic lot, so of course lining up with Alexi makes sense.
Don’t give me the “but after Rauner”… there woulda been no Rauner if not for labor in the first place.
- Torco Sign - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:55 pm:
Chelsea Laliberte Barnes had Melinda Bush and LCDW behind her. Nabeela Syed had Ram Villivalam. Nabeela wiped the floor with Chelsea. She’s tough.
- Been There - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:55 pm:
====The average age of all state leadership is 58, despite the average American being only about 38-years-old====
I guess I am being picky but about 25% of the population is under the age of 18. Take them out of the equation and I would guess that the average American adult would be about 10 years older.
- Frank talks - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 2:10 pm:
Gen X smallest generation getting fleeced again. Told to wait their turn by the Baby Boomers (who still won’t leave) and now Gen Z wants to strangle them out.
Thank goodness they were all latchkey kids so they know how to fend for themselves. Lol
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 2:35 pm:
-Conservative gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey is fighting hard among the state’s grassroots-
A dozen rural white people at a time, apparently.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 2:37 pm:
Also, I remember the good old days when gubernatorial fundraising was a primary responsibility of, you know, the campaigns.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 2:48 pm:
Nabeela Syed is an impressive candidate and an Asian American who is making history before our eyes. She will be in our textbooks soon enough and I can’t wait to get a copy.
- MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 2:49 pm:
“a Leftist COVID tyrant and a radical criminal comforter”
How could they forget “tree-hugging girly-man extremist”?
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 3:00 pm:
To the update…
If Proft darken the skin of Lightfoot…
Should be easy enough to refute, right?
I’m thinking that the claim isn’t going to be a one-off
- U of I parent - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 3:29 pm:
Interesting comments from Jessica Hockett re: Pritzker campaign having an interest in @ewoodhouse7 being banned from Twitter. https://twitter.com/brownstoneinst/status/1562121903875178497?s=20&t=davx_wMUVS-_b2A69Ac9xQ
- StateEmployeeThatIsNotInAFSCME - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 4:22 pm:
==In my ward the new precincts make a lot more sense.==
Anyone know if there will soon be redistricted precincts for Sangamon County and Springfield? And the rest of the state?
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 4:37 pm:
–Interesting comments–
No they are not.
- Goodson Oddman - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 5:16 pm:
In the City, the number of polling places will not drop by nearly as much as the number of precincts.
In many cases, buildings were hosting 2-4 precincts, so in many cases it will simply be one set of judges and booths in a room rather than two (or two instead of four)
For example if I counted right, the old 7th ward had 46 precincts and only 25 polling places:
22 precincts were located at seven schools (4 at Bradwell, Coles, Burnham, 3 at Powell and Excel, 2 at Ninos Heros and Bowen High), four other venues were doing double duty, and two precincts had no address confirmed seven days before the election.
Even in the 43rd, three schools (Alcott Elementary Lincoln Elementary and Francis Parker HS) were home to 10 of 46 precincts and six other precincts were unassigned.
- (618) Democrat - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 5:21 pm:
Great to see Alexi get the AFSCME endorsement. Labor unions remember what Rauner did with the support of Dan Brady.
- StateEmployeeThatIsNotInAFSCME - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 6:05 pm:
== Arlington Heights residents want the Bears — but they don’t want to foot the bill, poll finds==
If AH doesn’t want the costs of getting the Bears and the McCaskeys no longer want Chicago and Soldier Field, Decatur would be happy to welcome them back home.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 6:15 pm:
“AFSCME is not a labor organization”
It’s one of the largest unions in the state. I don’t agree with what Council 31 did on behalf of the Prison locals in re: COVID, but that’s an absurd comment.
- ZC - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 6:16 pm:
For a good time check out the question wording on that survey of Arlington and the Bears stadium. I’m amazed more residents weren’t opposed:
https://americansforprosperity.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IL-Arlington-Heights-Poll.pdf
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 6:17 pm:
===Gen X smallest generation getting fleeced again. Told to wait their turn by the Baby Boomers (who still won’t leave) and now Gen Z wants to strangle them out.===
I’m all for generational equity, but Gen X is pretty well represented in State government. Start looking up the birth years of our statewides, the four tops, etc.
Darren Bailey is a Gen Xer even if you don’t want to claim him. Our gubernatorial election is between two Gen Xers. Old Man Bruce Rauner might be our state’s last baby boomer governor, and good riddance to him. Though I doubt his age can be blamed for the banality of repeatedly lying about where his grandparents were born.
If you’re grumpy about the grip baby boomers have had on the levers of power, I understand but you might want to recognize that the oldest Gen Xers are 57. If you use 1981 for the millennial starting point, the oldest millenials are 41.
What the average age from this post? 58? That’s pretty close to 57. Time for some of yall to take some ownership for how things are going since Gen X has been voting age for almost 4 decades now.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 6:27 pm:
===but that’s an absurd comment.===
The thing is you are wholly and utterly clueless as to what an organized labor organization is or why they were created.
Pick a name if you feel a need to continue, otherwise I’m moving on.
- Captain Obvious - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 7:01 pm:
Willy is actually correct about AFSCME. They are a political organization first and foremost. They do nothing without making a political calculation first. If that happens to coincide with the actual real life interests of its membership well that’s great but not their priority. I work in a covered position but am not a member. I have seen firsthand where their priorities lie and that’s why I will not ever be a member.
- Fivegreenleaves - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 7:44 pm:
“AFSCME continually and purposely went out of its way to NOT be the champion of safety and welfare for its members during the pandemic, a pillar, and more directly the foundation, of organizing and organized labor being born.”
Oswego Willy, I’m a proud member of AFSCME, and I couldn’t disagree with you more. AFSCME was in a tough spot in regards to the pandemic. I don’t know if you’re referring to AFSCME’s opposition to the vaccine mandates, but I’m guessing that’s what this is about. I’m vaccinated. My family are vaccinated and we got the booster shots as well. Thanks to the Janus decision, AFSCME could’ve lost thousands of members, and thousands of dollars if we took a pro-mandate position. Instead, we offered a compromise of mandatory testing for those who did not wish to get vaccinated, and we lost in court. There wasn’t a good solution, and having worked as a Correctional Officer in rural Illinois for over 10 years, there are a lot of anti-vax Trump fans who work in Corrections. They pay dues to AFSCME, and even though I may disagree with them, they’re entitled to the representation and respect for their viewpoints from the union they pay dues to.
As far as your personal hatred for my union, you’re entitled to your opinion, but I wouldn’t be where I am without AFSCME, and I’m proud to be a member.
- granville - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 9:01 pm:
@ZC - The wording on the tax issue is quite a mouthful. I think people are generally opposed to the impression of “paying” for stadiums (air quotes because there’s often some nuance to this stuff, like government expanding sewer access), but pitting a suburb against the city is a bit of a wild card.
Also, I haven’t seen her mentioned here lately, any reports of what Lauf is doing in IL-11? Her website is still geared to the primary and the last FEC report I saw had her at like $25k cash on hand.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 8:26 am:
Oh. Boy. lol
“Where to begin”…
===in a tough spot===
Let’s starter here.
No. They were NOT any any tough spot unless the charter by which ALL organized labor is founded, being the advocate for the safety, health, and welfare of its members, means ZERO.
Friend, it meant nothing to AFSCME. You say so yourself.
You remind me again, it’s about money, the foolishly powerful that are leading this group, and truly how embarrassing as a group AFSCME is, masquerading as a union.
===could’ve lost thousands of members, and thousands of dollars if we took a pro-mandate position===
I mean, you’re tattling on the ridiculousness. AFSCME only cares about the cash, the folks giving the cash, and how to appease them, even if it means trashing what organized labor is charged to do for members.
Continue? Sure.
===There wasn’t a good solution, and having worked as a Correctional Officer in rural Illinois for over 10 years, there are a lot of anti-vax Trump fans who work in Corrections. They pay dues to AFSCME, and even though I may disagree with them, they’re entitled to the representation and respect for their viewpoints from the union they pay dues to.===
See, here’s the thing, AFSCME was willing to forgo what is should do, to appease the worst of the worst in the pandemic… for money.
AFSCME is as awful and less of any type of union, like Bob Sugar in “Jerry McGuire” bad; “it’s about what money I can get, what deal I can make, and how much money I can make getting you things”
Slimy.
Y’all should just hire Bob Sugar next contract time, it’d be cheaper and far less phony.
This alone…
===they’re entitled to the representation and respect for their viewpoints from the union they pay dues to.===
Maybe do a little reading on organized labor.
When the membership is in favor of things wholly and completely against as to why unions even exist, maybe, you should consider that Bob Sugar idea… you said so yourself… AFSCME is not looking out for any greater good, but a greater dollar and to appease the phonies in the workforce so the leadership can continue to get their own pay
- StateEmployeeThatIsNotInAFSCME - Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 8:39 am:
==Y’all should just hire Bob Sugar next contract time, it’d be cheaper and far less phony.==
That plus the Governor may want to take a page out of the Quinn “How to Negotiate Contracts” playbook next year when AFSCME contract negotiations begin. And remember what their vax stance and disregard to public health was, and remember that very well when those same members come for more raises and bennies.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 8:59 am:
===Governor may want to take a page out of the Quinn “How to Negotiate Contracts” playbook next year===
No.
That’s unhelpful and dangerous to have any governor follow Quinn’s example when dealing with labor. Management and labor need to respect each other, understand the wants of both and negotiate in good faith.
===remember that very well when those same members come for more raises and bennies===
Let’s freeze your wages and benefits first.
What are you… 12?