Shenanigans!
Thursday, Oct 27, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told subscribers more than a month ago about the possibility that Darren Bailey could run for Mike Bost’s congressional seat in 2024. Bost has a nothing-burger race, but he’s up on broadcast TV and his campaign told me they’ve also made “hundreds of thousands of grassroots voter contacts to ensure folks understand all Mike Bost is doing to fight for our conservative values in Congress.”
Even so, this looks more like Democratic shenanigans to my eyes than something from Bost. But, hey, who really knows with this stuff. Here’s Brenden Moore…
It’s just under two weeks until the votes are counted in the race for Illinois governor. But could Republican nominee Darren Bailey already be looking past it and toward the next election in 2024?
That’s apparently the thought of some supporters of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, in Southern Illinois, who have distributed a flyer accusing Bailey of a “plan” to accumulate as many votes in Illinois’ 12th Congressional District and use that as a springboard for a primary challenge of Bost in 2024. Bost faces Democrat Homer “Chip” Markel in the current election cycle.
The flyer, obtained by Lee Enterprises, says that “Bailey knows he cannot win the governors (sic) election because of liberal votes in crooked Chicago. So the plan is for Bailey to campaign as much as possible in Mike Bost’s district and secure as many supporters and votes as possible so he can challenge Mike Bost in 2024.
“Mike has always been a friend of ours ever since he was a state representative,” the letter continues. Though not encouraging a vote for Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the flyer explicitly asks voters not to vote for Bailey. “Keep Bailey’s vote totals down in Mike’s district,” it concludes.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 10:33 am:
-Bailey knows he cannot win the governors (sic) election because of liberal votes in crooked Chicago. So the plan is for Bailey to campaign as much as possible in Mike Bost’s district and secure as many supporters and votes as possible so he can challenge Mike Bost in 2024.-
Definitely sounds like shenanigans. Seems like a ton of effort on Bailey’s part, if true, to run a quixotic statewide race just to increase his profile down south. Makes no sense. He could have primaried Bost this time and cut out the rest.
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 10:34 am:
Crooked Chicago? I object. It should at least be Crooked Cook County if not perhaps the Crooked Greater Chicago Metropolitan area.
- Scary Stuff or Belly Buster? - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 10:41 am:
The thought of Mary and Darren together in Congress is the stuff of political nightmares.
However, a Bailey vs Bost primary would be pure comedy gold for downstate.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 10:44 am:
I question any claim that involves Bailey or his campaign having the ability for long-term planning and internally consistent thinking.
“Chicago is a hellhole, now excuse me while I move myself to Chicago”
Yeah, that isn’t a guy who is planning out anything even to next month, much less into 2024. At least not by any competent measure.
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 10:49 am:
Bailey is mostly a campaigner; House, Senate, Governor.
Bailey is close to Mary and Chris Miller (no relation) and they have absolutely been in his ear about running for that House seat.
- Chicago Republican - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 10:53 am:
I mean, what is trump gonna do…endorse them both? Today is the 4 year anniversary of Trump in Murphysboro to campaign for Bost in front of 20,000 people.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 10:54 am:
It’s fun to the “Shenanigans” aspect of a couple “Trumpy” folks eating their own…
It’s fun to think in these last days the Dems making the two camps question each other
If Bailey does lose, now both will be wondering what the other is thinking
It’s a longer “mess with” than this November.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 10:55 am:
Small gubmint Mike Bost will come off the public teet when he’s carried out of Congress…and not a minute before.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 11:03 am:
If this was a Democratic dirty trick, I think the typo was a very nice touch.
- Mary - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 11:14 am:
There’s no doubt that there’s a battle going on for “king of downstate” in Republican circles in Illinois. The 2022 Primary has proven that downstate Trumpy can beat massive amounts of DuPage money. As a result, there is an increasing competition to “outTrump” each other without completely going over the cliff with him when Trump finally collapses. Here’s something to ponder: If Greg Hart doesn’t beat Deb Conroy for President of the DuPage County Board, the Illinois Republican Party will likely be run out of Darren Bailey’s basement the next four years. Where does that leave Mike Bost and his fluttering budget pages…?
- Hot Taeks - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 11:21 am:
Yeah, this is definitely going to happen. Bailey will run against Bost. Is this his ultimate goal for his Gubernatorial Campaign? No. But Bailey wants to rise up in the ranks and being a State Senator isn’t going to cut it.
- Shibboleth - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 11:25 am:
While I feel that Bost is bad for us here in Southern Illinois, Bailey would be worse. But he’s also going to be picking up a lot of new territory if he tried, and Bost has the homefield advantage. I’m not sure some gubernatorial campaigning 2 years out will make any difference.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 11:28 am:
===The 2022 Primary has proven that downstate Trumpy can beat massive amounts of DuPage money===
Bailey won DuPage https://www.dupageresults.gov/IL/DuPage/114213/web.285569/#/summary
- Arsenal - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 11:47 am:
==But Bailey wants to rise up in the ranks and being a State Senator isn’t going to cut it.==
And I mean, if he loses the GOV race, he’s just going to be a private citizen next year anyway.
- Mary - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 11:49 am:
==Bailey won DuPage==
I suppose this photo says it all…plus Irvin wasn’t a great candidate…I’m still trying to understand why Griffin didn’t back Shimpf?
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20221027/can-bailey-win-over-suburban-voters-to-become-governor-as-republicans-have-in-the-past
- Lane Change - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 12:30 pm:
When Bost decides to retire, that job will go to Mayor Will Stephens of Murphysboro… In two weeks, Bailey is done, thank baby Jesus….
- Mary - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 1:33 pm:
==In two weeks, Bailey is done==
Really? Isn’t that when “the election was stolen” rhetoric begins in earnest? Seems almost like a prerequisite to run for Congress as a Trump Republican.
- H-W - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 2:17 pm:
Because Bailey accomplished so much as a state senator, I can only wish him just as much success in the U.S. Congress.
- Suburban Operative - Thursday, Oct 27, 22 @ 10:54 pm:
I hope Bailey challenges Bost in ‘24 so that Bost can finally send Bailey back to the farm once and for all. That grifter isn’t fit to be a dog catcher.