* NBC News…
Pritzker’s Think Big America has hired Christina Amestoy as its communications director after she previously worked at the Democratic Governors Association for four years. At the DGA, she was a top communications strategist in competitive governor’s races, including campaigns in Arizona, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nevada and Illinois. […]
Pritzker, a billionaire, has sunk his personal money into the group to fund efforts in competitive races. That includes the group’s donating $250,000 to Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights in the state’s ballot measure vote last week, when voters chose to add protections for reproductive health decisions to the state constitution. Members of Think Big worked as strategists in the Ohio effort, and Pritzker gave $750,000 personally to the effort to defend abortion.
In the Virginia elections, Think Big also gave $250,000 to a combination of the state Democratic Party and support in four state Senate districts that could have been decisive, the group said.
The group has also invested $1 million in Nevada, which is pursuing a 2024 ballot initiative to protect abortion in the state. And according to Amestoy, the group is in conversations to possibly assist the on-the-ground effort in Arizona.
…Adding… I missed it when I first read the story a couple of weeks ago, but Tina Sfondeles reported on the same $1 million Nevada contribution on November 1…
In Nevada, Think Big America also contributed $1 million to the Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom PAC, which is fighting for a November 2024 ballot question that would establish a “fundamental right to reproductive rights.” The newly formed PAC is affiliated with Planned Parenthood.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 10:42 am:
Republicans “claimed” they wanted to give the decision on abortion rights back to the states. I’m happy the Governor is putting money towards these efforts to block Republicans from interfering in the individual medical decisions of women and to cut off their plans to make abortion illegal nationwide.
- Homebody - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 11:12 am:
@Demoralized - I’d like to thank the Ohio GOP for showing how much of a lie that has always been. The GOP position is always “local control” for everything, until local voters do something they don’t like,
But I have to admit I love seeing GOPers complain about Pritzker when Uhlein, Kochs, Mercers, DeVoses, Leo, etc have been constantly shoving money into right wing causes for decades. Boo hoo, someone who is trying to use their billions to good makes you sad? Good.
- Left of what - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 11:29 am:
This is the only thing dems should campaign on in 2024.
- Tinman - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 12:33 pm:
It’s a winning issue for them .
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 1:21 pm:
I hope Think Big America’s press strategy doesn’t become a future liability for the Governor if he decides to campaign in those states.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 1:22 pm:
=== I’m happy the Governor is putting money towards these efforts===
I am too, I just think they’re being a little too loud about it.
- Sue - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 1:52 pm:
With all the money JB is forking over to States other then Illinois to advance their progressive interests perhaps he could spend some of his billions here and assist with the migrant crisis
- Torco Sign - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 1:56 pm:
“In the Virginia elections, Think Big also gave $250,000 to a combination of the state Democratic Party and support in four state Senate districts that could have been decisive, the group said.”
Um, no. Millions and millions were spent before JB came in late. Insulting to the donors and workers who put in the time and money before JB came in at the 11th hour to try to claim credit.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:09 pm:
==perhaps he could spend some of his billions here and assist with the migrant crisis==
And there’s the troll comment
- Tired teacher - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 6:41 pm:
Sue, I are a banned word. Sheesh.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 9:15 pm:
===Insulting to the donors and workers who put in the time and money before JB came in at the 11th hour to try to claim credit. ===
This. This right here is why I worry about them being loud about it. To be politically prominent or politically influential you don’t need a press office or to issue press releases to direct attention to themselves.
Nothing is more alienating and relationship souring than having some person show up and take credit for months or years worth of one’s organizing efforts. This isn’t being done by some Nepo Baby who works on the hill either, it’s deliberately and intentionally done by a well funded organization that is either 1.) trying to protect rights and advance progressive causes or 2.) trying to raise JB’s national profile by protecting rights and advancing progressive causes.
Neither of those goals is well served by issuing press releases about who the organization is hiring or what money is being thrown where. Journalists or television pundits will eventually figure out who is on staff and eventually figure out where ads have been bought and report on it organically while people on the ground in those states will notice and appreciate the support that shows up.
Think Big America is setting the Governor up for stories about throwing money at pet political projects in other states while DCFS, DHS, and DJJ are slow cooking in a crock pot of executive branch failures.