* Gov. Pritzker…
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has released the following statement on the results of the 2024 Presidential election:
“Today, I stand with the millions of Americans who voted for our Democratic values in this election. It is clear now that, nationally, a majority of those who came to the polls chose a different path, and President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance won the election. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Tim Walz, their team, and the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who put their heart and soul into the campaign.
“This morning, our most vulnerable communities woke up to new uncertainty about their future, scared that their rights will no longer be protected, and unsure whether this nation still stands with them. To women whose healthcare is under even greater threat, to our Black, Brown and AAPI communities, our LGBTQ friends and their families, immigrants and first-generation Americans, our most vulnerable Americans and those with disabilities, to all who have been made to feel unsafe and unwelcome by the Trump campaign and its allies - know that Illinois is your ally. You will always be welcome here.
“In 2017, I sought public office in large part because of the threat Donald Trump and his allies posed to Illinois, and as governor, I have helped enshrine into state law protections that uphold our common Illinois values. That work will continue, and it remains my north star. I will always strive to do what is best for the people of Illinois. When that means working with the next presidential administration that is what I will do, and when that means standing up to it, I believe my record is clear on where I’ll be.”
* Lt. Gov. Stratton…
“I am immensely proud of the campaign Vice President Kamala Harris launched only a few months ago for President of the United States. She is a highly qualified and dedicated public servant, and it was my honor to campaign for her throughout Illinois and in battleground states, sharing her vision of a joyful, brighter future for America.
“Needless to say, I am not only grieving the outcome, but my heart also aches for so many of our constituents who are terrified about what the future holds for them. The fear and heartbreak now washing over our country are signs that our souls are still alive. I’m especially energized by the hard work done by the Democratic Party of Illinois in engaging volunteers and activating voters. This is what democracy looks like and it is a testament to the infrastructure we are building in our state to continue the good work of preserving our freedoms, uplifting working families, and protecting the values we hold so dear.
“To every Illinoisan who is mourning the outcome of this election, do not try to wash away your pain; let it transform into the motivation we need to realize an America that does not idolize hate but uplifts its people. Today we mourn; tomorrow, we show up again. Because as Madam Vice President said, “The fight for our country is always worth it.”
* Christina Amestoy at the governor’s Think Big America, which was active in 10 states where abortion rights were on the ballot. They won in 7. Click here for background…
“Last night, in red, blue, and purple states, Americans rejected efforts to rip away women’s rights and affirmed that abortion access must be protected. Think Big America and its founder Gov. JB Pritzker are proud to have supported the successful efforts in Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, and New York to ensure that millions of women can freely exercise their fundamental right to reproductive freedom.
“But our work is far from over. Abortion bans are still in effect in too many states - including Florida where an overwhelming majority of voters supported restoring access - and women’s rights are about to face unprecedented attacks under Donald Trump and his MAGA allies. We know the fight for reproductive freedom is just beginning and we will not stop until abortion access is guaranteed for every woman, regardless of zip code.”
* Secretary Giannoulias…
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 4:51 pm:
===You will always be welcome here.===
Good message from the Governor.
- Perrid - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 4:52 pm:
I can stand bad policies. We’ve had bad policies before. People will suffer, the country will suffer, but we’ll survive.
What actually scares me is that Trump has been shown that none of his actions have any consequences. Impeachment is a dead letter. He has almost complete immunity, even after he leaves office. Assuming he cares about the Constitution he can’t run again, so he doesn’t have to fear the electorate. He doesn’t have actual staffers around him trying to make policies that help the country, he has toadies that will do anything to get ahead. I worry for our democracy in the most literal way, I worry that he will, as he said, be a dictator, that he will use the military and the DOJ against his political opponents. I worry that we are sliding into actual, literal, not hyperbolic fascism.
I hope I’m wrong. I hope this is just another GOP admin where the rich get richer and the rest of us endure. But I worry.
- Levois - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 5:01 pm:
Well that Secretary of State should be our future Governor if he continues to speak in that way. We need someone to vote for not just to be against.
- Jim Jimbo - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 5:08 pm:
It’s nice that he welcomes such diversity in Illinois. I welcome a state/local government that can run a balanced budget without using federal Covid dollars.
- levivotedforjudy - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 5:12 pm:
Well that’s uique for these days, a billionaire with guts.
- Give Us Barabbas - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 5:20 pm:
I disagree about this: the voters were given something to be for: Harris had many great planks in her plan and talked about them. It wasn’t her fault voters made a choice for the other guy. The voters she needed to show up, either stayed home, or went with… whatever they think Trump is and will do for them. By the midterms we’ll see how that’s working out for them. The democrats are going to have to reassess, maybe without George Clooney this time, and build an effective candidate and strategy.
- friends and family - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 5:23 pm:
trump cut his loss margin in half in illinois. perhaps the people of illinois aren’t as welcoming as he thinks they are. maybe this is also why welch didn’t pick up the seats he thought he would. maybe the democratic party has lost its connection with the people it thinks it represents. more questions than answers at this point.
- Whizbang3 - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 5:32 pm:
Well we will all keep working for our causes. I guess some feel the way I felt when they outlawed some of my firearms. The same firearms that had only lived in a gun safe or at the range. Oh well welcome to the neighborhood.
- JB13 - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 5:39 pm:
“The Trump campaign and it’s allies…”
47% of the citizens you govern voted for him. I know he’s good at math, but I still feel compelled to say that’s almost half of the population of Illinois, whether you wish to give them a voice or not.
Anything to say to them, governor?
- friends and family - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 5:46 pm:
also, maybe the democrats could fix what is broken if their members could speak honestly without being called bad names and running g the risk of being cancelled. you want to know why white men are fleeing? maybe its because their voice has been labeled toxic. by the way, I’m a white guy dem.
- Mark - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 5:48 pm:
=== by the way, I’m a white guy dem. ===
Fun game! I’m an alligator.
- low level - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 6:38 pm:
==could speak honestly without being called bad names==
As opposed to all that uplifting, uniting language from Donnie? So you find all the criticism of the governor’s weight to be in bad form, right? Ot mocking the President’s stutter? And about 1000 other examples from MAGA types, many of which I cant type since it will run contrary to Rich’s rules…
- Perrid - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 6:59 pm:
@Friends and Family - Yes because we know that DONALD TRUMP is the epitome of tolerance when it comes to people disagreeing with him
- Gravitas - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 7:01 pm:
Trump dissed Pritzker during a rally in Milwaukee last Friday. The two have a contentious relationship to put it mildly.
- Big Tom - Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:39 pm:
Elitism seeks to say, “I’m better and so are my experiences and my ways of doing things.”
- SaulGoodman - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 6:41 am:
** maybe the democratic party has lost its connection with the people it thinks it represents**
Uh. HDEMs won 78 seats. SDEMs won 19 of 23 seats.
** if their members could speak honestly without being called bad names and running g the risk of being cancelled**
What, exactly, do you want people to be able to say without being canceled?
- All Aboard - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 10:02 am:
Until the Democrats move to the center and rebuild their connection with non-college working class America, they’ll stay in the wilderness.
- ugh - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 11:37 am:
Just want to say thank you to everyone who replied to Whizbang3 and friends and family - both so oppressed w the gun and word “taking” they’ve endured. I was feeling too exhausted to reply but you all did such a nice job. My question is will Dems have to find something they’re for, not against, drastically change their message or will Trump quickly (violently?) remind everyone why the majority of us went with Biden in 2020. How anyone longed for a repeat of that chaos is beyond me.