* Tina Sfondeles…
It took 174 years for Chicagoans to elect the first Asian American to sit in the City Council – and nearly two centuries for Illinois voters to send the first member of the community to Congress.
Today, at least nine Asian Americans hold elective offices across the state — two of them representing Illinois in the nation’s capital. And voters will get a chance to dramatically increase those previously slow-growing numbers in elections this year and the next.
At least 22 Asian American candidates are running for offices in the November election and the city elections next year, not to mention others running in other local races across the state.
It’s part of a nationwide trend already unfolding in Virginia, Michigan and Indiana — and reflective of a 2020 Pew Research Center study finding that Asian Americans are becoming the fastest growing segment of eligible voters out of the major racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
This is a very significant shift, and one I’ve been trying to point out for months. It’s possibly as important as the days when Latino politicians were being elected in large numbers. The difference here is that Asian American candidates are not running in majority, or even near-majority districts.
* Center Square…
Bailey said that if elected, he would undo the things Pritzker has done while he’s been in office.
“Commonsense tells us to repeal everything that J.B Pritzker has signed into law,” Bailey said. “That is why we are having these problems.”
* Regarding the Proft ad…
* From a letter sent last week by Rep. Tom Demmer to Treasurer Michael Frerichs…
With Labor Day behind us and the summer coming to a close, the residents of Illinois are beginning to focus their attention on the upcoming General Election. I firmly believe that the remaining 62 days should be about the Illinois voters, and ensuring they are given ample opportunity to hear directly from candidates regarding their vision for our state and the office they are seeking.
To that end, I am asking that you join me in participating in three impartial, public and robust debates. Each occasion should provide voters with our detailed visions for the State Treasurer’s Office, and plans to better the lives of all Illinoisans.
To keep the process simple and transparent, and to limit delays to the planning process, I am proposing to use a generally agreed upon format and set of rules for these debates that you will find attached to this letter. Further, I believe each debate should take place a week apart from one another, should be held in geographically diverse locations across the state, and that the media and members of the public should be invited to attend.
More here. Demmer had requested a response by yesterday at 5 pm. Nothing. So, I reached out to the Frerichs campaign…
We are already scheduled to debate in front of the Daily Herald editorial board on September 28th. We are looking forward to it.
I asked if that was really a debate…
When two or more candidates appear together, with a moderator and journalists asking questions, it is a debate.
Thoughts?
* Casten…
U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) has released the following statement regarding the cancellation of the upcoming Drag Queen Bingo program at the Downers Grove Public Library:
“I’m incredibly disheartened to hear that the Downers Grove Public Library is canceling their upcoming event — one meant to celebrate self-identity and self-expression — because Keith Pekau and Awake Illinois created an unsafe environment in our community. They should be ashamed of themselves. They have used their platform to promote hatred, homophobia, and bigotry.
“Let’s be clear. This event was canceled because, after my Republican opponent and his far-right allies at Awake Illinois publicly issued a call-to-action to their supporters, the library received severe threats that endangered our community.
“The 6th District is a place for kindness, love, and decency. Hate has no home here. The fact that Keith Pekau disagrees shows he has no place in public office.”
* CD13…
Last night, it was reported that Senator Lindsey Graham and Senate Republicans planned to introduce legislation mandating a national abortion ban later today. Senator Graham plans to do so with the backing of the radical, anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List, an organization whose endorsement of IL13 Republican congressional nominee Regan Deering proudly promotes.
Josh Roesch, campaign manager for Nikki for Congress, said: “For months, Regan Deering has boasted her support from Susan B. Anthony List, despite their mission to end all abortion full stop. Yesterday, they announced a proposal for a national abortion ban, which is the ultimate Republican agenda. Regan must answer if she will reject SBA’s endorsement and their latest proposed legislation.”
Last week, Deering caved on the issue and tried to distance herself away from the organization over their support of a national abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest and other extreme measures.
* G-PAC…
The Gun Violence Prevention PAC and Giffords PAC are announcing their first set of endorsements of gun safety candidates who are running in the upcoming Illinois general election on November 8, 2022.
After vetting each candidate’s voting record, policy platforms and responses to a rigorous questionnaire, the leading gun violence prevention organizations are putting their full support behind 15 candidates running for the Illinois Senate and Illinois House of Representatives.
To earn a gun safety endorsement, each candidate demonstrated strong support of the following policies:
Banning assault weapons
Banning large-capacity magazines (LCMs)
Making ghost guns illegal, which G-PAC and Giffords helped pass into law earlier this year
Funding community violence intervention programs
Funding a gun storage public awareness campaign
“Gun violence has become a way of life for Illinois residents and that is unacceptable. In the upcoming election voters are looking for candidates who will stand up to the gun lobby and advance legislation to keep illegal guns and weapons of war out of our communities.” said Kathleen Sances, President and CEO of the Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC). “Gun violence is on the ballot in November and we will work tirelessly to ensure this slate is elected.”
“State legislators have the power and opportunity to make their communities safer from gun violence as they are at the forefront of enacting gun laws that can and do save lives. That’s why we’re proud to be endorsing these gun safety champions today,” said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. “These candidates understand the devastating impact gun violence takes on neighborhoods across Illinois. They stand ready to enact much needed legislation in the effort to end our nation’s gun violence crisis. Today, I am proud to stand behind these candidates who are ready to make Illinois safer for all.”
Illinois just ended a deadly summer with 29 mass shootings, more than 600 expressway shootings, and more than 1,200 people shot in the City of Chicago alone. Endorsed candidates have demonstrated urgency of this public health crisis and their unwavering willingness to do something about it.
Each endorsed candidate supports our #1 legislative priority when the General Assembly is called into session: banning assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. These weapons of war have been shown to contribute to both city violence and mass shootings.
The first endorsed gun safety candidates in the 2022 election include:
Illinois Senate:
Sen. Laura Ellman (SD 21)
Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (SD 23)
Maria Peterson (SD 26)
Sen. Ann Gillespie (SD 27)
Sen. Laura Murphy (SD 28)
Illinois House of Representatives:
Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (HD 41)
Rep. Terra Costa Howard (HD 42)
Diane Blair-Sherlock (HD 46)
Rep. Maura Hirschauer (HD 49)
Rep. Mark Walker (HD 53)
Mary Beth Canty (HD 54)
Rep. Joyce Mason (HD 61)
Laura Faver Dias (HD 62)
Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (HD 81)
Additional announcements are forthcoming on local, state legislative and statewide endorsements.
- FormerILSIP - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 1:03 pm:
Like it or not, the screaming about “The Scream” is better bang for the buck for Bailey than any money he’s spending on advertising so far. Lots of free advertising for his ad from his opponents so far and incentive to air more ads like it.
- Big Dipper - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 1:15 pm:
Because Bailey can guarantee that there will be no muggings in big cities if he is elected (and that none occurred when Rauner was Governor).
- Primate - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 1:32 pm:
I wonder how many Rauner Staffers it took to draft and approve the letter. In every debate, Demmer will pound the Retirement Tax issue repeatedly. Frerichs will state he is against it each time. Net zero on impact. The positive for Frerichs is that he can lead every rebuttal with how destructive Demmer’s dependence on the Rauner team will be for IL.
- MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 1:43 pm:
“Commonsense tells us to repeal everything that J.B Pritzker has signed into law.”
An appeal to “commonsense” is the justification offered when a position is unsupported by either the facts or reason.
That’s the reason Darren Bailey trots that phrase out so often.
– MrJM
- vern - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 1:48 pm:
=== The difference here is that Asian American candidates are not running in majority, or even near-majority districts.===
I’ve talked about this before, but the other difference is that “Asian American” is an even broader umbrella term than “Hispanic American.” There’s significant diversity within the Hispanic community, but there’s a generally shared language and religious background. That’s not even close to true of the Asian American coalition in Illinois.
It’s a remarkable organizing achievement. The solidarity between East, South and Southwest Asian community leaders is remarkable, but was not inevitable. It’s an organizing success of such success that it’s hard to think of an equivalent.
The leaders who accomplished this deserve accolades by name. This list won’t be all-inclusive, but among elected officials some folks stand out as true leaders in the most complimentary sense of the word: Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ameya Pawar, Ram Villivalam, Josina Morita, and Theresa Mah have built a political constituency from scratch that is greater than the sum of its parts. They’re true testament to the power democracy has to bring people together.
- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 2:00 pm:
There are two ways to respond to The Scream ad.
My preferred response is a 60 second spot tying together child predator Roy Moore, antisemite Darren Bailey, Uline owner Richard Uhlein, and Naples resident Dan Proft.
But only run it as an internet ad in Uhlein’s community in Lake County and Proft’s community in Naples.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 2:05 pm:
Mike Frerichs stands tall to the discussion of taxing retirement income. It’s who Frerichs is, and talking about it only shrinks Frerichs.
It’s best if Frerichs hides. Frerichs knows, the more visible he is, the more questions as to his want to hurt Illinois seniors
Plus, Demmer purposely hurt Illinois at the behest of Bruce Rauner, Demmer purposely hurt social services, and actually took pride in refusing Illinois a budget. I’d hide too if I was Demmer, someone who’s career is identified as one gleefully hurting Illinois most needy.
They both need more debates, they both need no debates.
Illinois will win …and lose… in this race.
- New Day - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 2:07 pm:
“Commonsense tells us to repeal everything that J.B Pritzker has signed into law,”
So you’re going to repeal and roll back the minimum wage, sending thousands of people back into poverty?
You can do this for a lot of other policies that JB signed that are mostly very popular. Is this really your best move, Darren?
- sal-says - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 2:09 pm:
== “Commonsense tells us to repeal everything that J.B Pritzker has signed into law,” Bailey said. “That is why we are having these problems.” ==
Apparently Beetle is doing his best to emulate NonGov Ruiner, but worse ! SMH.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 2:19 pm:
Demmer seems to want an old school policy debate. I didn’t think the GOP did much of that anymore. I guess it depends on the venue. Once the governors race was turned into a MAGA referendum the down ballot candidates were pretty much cooked. I can’t see how Demmer or Brady detach themselves from that.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 3:17 pm:
==Like it or not, the screaming about “The Scream” is better bang for the buck for Bailey than any money he’s spending on advertising so far.==
Probably not; the audience for that conversation is just too small and self-selecting. This isn’t like the primary when Irvin was repeating Pritzker’s attacks in his own ads.
That’s one of those too-clever-by-half-West-Wing-episode things.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 4:04 pm:
Hmm…did Tom Demmer invite the libertarian to the debate? I don’t see him mentioned. How serious is he about an exchange of ideas if he doesn’t want to hear from one of his opponents?
- Primate - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 5:40 pm:
OW, spot on. Your comments dove a bit deeper than my fly by.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 13, 22 @ 7:00 pm:
Did Demmer agree to WTTW or his local newspaper during the primary? Or is he just looking for free publicity because he doesn’t have enough money? If you look at it with any logical lens, you’ll see that he’s grasping at straws here.