* The Daily Line…
The party will announce the Organize Illinois 2024 campaign on Tuesday as the Democratic Party of Illinois’ (DPI) plan for winning races in Congress, the General Assembly and local government in November. The party has their eyes set on expanding the record-sized super majority in the state legislature as well as protecting Democrat-held congressional seats in addition to putting more resources into campaigns for local offices. […]
DPI will be targeting resources toward two members of Congress who are most at risk of being beat by Republicans this fall: U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen of Moline and U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski of Springfield. Both are freshmen lawmakers but represent districts that have historically been on the fence between the parties. Sorensen is viewed as the most vulnerable candidate with the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) dumping resources into the race to back Joe McGraw. […]
The state party will also coordinate with Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) and President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) to support House and Senate candidates.
The new coordination by the state Democratic Party will include regular regional meetings to discuss messaging, support, voter protection efforts and updates on paid media campaigns. A data team will also be assembled to provide insight on voter mobilization and to support campaigns with field volunteers. The party also plans to open field offices to boost coordination with county parties.
* Democratic Party of Illinois…
* WGLT…
Joe McGraw will be getting extra help from national Republicans heading into the fall as he looks to unseat Democrat Eric Sorensen in the 17th Congressional District.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is naming McGraw, a retired judge, to its Young Guns program. It provides mentorship and other support to candidates in districts deemed competitive. […]
Sorensen has heavily outraised and outspent McGraw in his re-election bid.
New federal elections data show Sorensen’s campaign has raised $3.5 million through the second quarter which ended in June. His campaign has spent just over $1 million.
McGraw’s campaign has raised about $850,000, about one-fourth the total of Sorensen’s campaign, and has spent close to $375,000.
US Rep. Nikki Budzinski raised $650,361 in the second quarter and ended with $2,093,508 cash on hand. Her opponent, Joshua Loyd raised $8,215 and had $2,883 cash on hand at the end of the second quarter.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 10:44 am:
“(NRCC) is naming McGraw, a retired judge, to its Young Guns program.”
Kinda lika Henry Hyde’s “youthful indiscretions” while in his 50s.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 10:48 am:
Speaking of coordination…Desi Anderson had a prime time ad during Olympics last night on Peoria TV. Turns out she is running against Rep Sharon Chung from Bloomington….don’t think ad mentioned town, district, party so this was about as useful as tossing a bucket of dollar bills out of your hot air balloon over Carlock.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 10:49 am:
Is there anything remotely plausible that can justify calling Budzinski’s race competitive?
- Save Ferris - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 10:51 am:
Young Gun?
He’s 60.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 10:56 am:
It’s good to see DPI acting like a party instead of a mailing house for one chamber.
- Frida's boss - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 10:57 am:
Budzinski’s district is not competitive.
One of the masterpieces of map-making in the state, takes a narrow curve from Champaign to Decatur to Springfield down to East St. Louis. That is not a competitive seat. Beyond her devastating money advantage.
Sorenson, we’ll see. The GOP for years thought they could take out Bustos. Now they think they can take out Sorenson. They don’t seem to be having great legislative success in that neck of the woods, but they keep trying.
I had heard Foster’s race may be a bit of a thing, but I guess those rumors have gone away.
- Chicago Blue - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 11:01 am:
Budzinski’s race was competitive when Biden was probably 10 pts underwater in her district, but I’m guessing the greater enthusiasm for Kamala will eliminate that.
@ Ducky. The NRCC “Young Guns” program just backed a 69 year old former Las Vegas mayor, haha
- Frumpy White Guy - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 11:16 am:
#It’s good to see DPI acting like a party instead of a mailing house for one chamber.# It was a gratuity so it was legal.
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 11:20 am:
It wasn’t too long ago, when Jim Oberweis was named a ‘young gun’.
He was 73.
It has to be some weird inside joke the NRCC is doing.
https://capitolfax.com/2019/08/16/jim-oberweis-others-picked-for-nrccs-young-guns-program
- TJ - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 11:44 am:
Not for nothing, but I could’ve sworn that the GOP was stark-raving mad at Democrats for using verbiage like “putting a target” on President Trump or having him in their electoral crosshairs.
Seems a bit off-base to use a gun metaphor for their own candidates then, too.
- West Side the Best Side - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 11:45 am:
The Republicans now have the old guy in the presidential race, but no one will admit that fact. So it’s certainly no surprise they’d consider a mere yout’ of 60 or 69 a Young Gun.
- Bohemian Rap City - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:22 pm:
“Coordinate with Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) and President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park)”
This means an IE committee that is formed in the late days of the election cycle that will not disclose its expenditures and will not pay the fines when it is later dinged by the elections board.
- Proud Papa Bear - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:31 pm:
A few weeks ago, a Democratic state legislator asked if I’d ever be interested in running for an Illinois House seat. I wasn’t sure if she was joking or just being complimentary but I shot that down right away. Now I’m wondering if the party asked their members to actively look for candidates.
- H-W - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:39 pm:
So, about these guns. Why guns? Isn’t that a call for division?
Sorensen’s district is an interesting redrawing of the legislative map. It divides McDonough County in half, but keeps Macomb (the democratic core of a ruby red county). I found the map interesting in that it literally split “Good Hope” Illinois (a town of about 100 people maybe) in half. I personally think the new map will sure-up any doubts regarding keeping the 17th District. Unfortunately, I am on the other side of Good Hope. I get to Mary Miller.
- Proud Papa Bear - Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 1:52 pm:
“ So, about these guns. Why guns?”
Because nothing shows how up-to-date the Republican Party is like a reference to a film from 1988.