* More from the governor’s Q and A today…
In Illinois, in terms of [Donald Trump’s] margin, if you look just below that and all the way down the ballot in Illinois, Democrats won every seat in the General Assembly that it already had and and we won in races that I think people didn’t expect. County board races. Taking control of the McLean County Board, for example. Coroner’s races. Literally, if you look, people clearly bifurcated, you know, and made decisions different down the ballot than they did at the top of the ballot. And so I’m proud of that.
I think that’s a result of the policies that Democrats have had in Illinois and the approval of the voters about those. It’s a result of organizing the Democratic Party of Illinois, which was not organized a couple of years ago, right? It was almost moribund, if you go back two and a half years. And so a lot has been done to rebuild the scaffolding and the infrastructure of the party.
And remember that Republicans in Illinois were projecting that they would win five seats in the General Assembly, and, you know, they didn’t. And there were a lot of competitive races all across the state and Democrats fared very well.
The House Democrats were also predicting a four-five seat pickup. It’s still too early to make any declarations about either side picking up a seat (or two, in the Democrats’ case).
More on the McLean County Board races is here.
* The ILGOP reacted to Pritzker’s press conference this afternoon…
Pritzker Does Damage Control Amid Republican Shift in Illinois
CHICAGO — JB Pritzker might as well have announced his 2028 campaign for the Presidency in his deceptive media availability this morning. Kamala Harris had the worst showing of a candidate in Illinois in more than 30 years, and Democrats in the legislature did not grow their advantage despite outspending Republicans by millions personally supplied by the Governor.
Earlier this week, Pritzker touted sending hundreds of volunteers to swing states - states that subsequently rejected Pritzker-style government that has made Illinois one of the most fled states in the nation.
Republicans have established the party of hard working Americans, while Democrats have become the party of wealthy elites. It’s only fitting that they turn to another wealthy elite in 2028.
Governor Pritzker should do us all a favor and start his campaign now. We’ll be just fine without him.
- Sox Fan - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 1:44 pm:
===and Democrats in the legislature did not grow their advantage===
The already super-super minority bragging that they weren’t decimated into super-super-super minority status makes me chuckle
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 1:47 pm:
=Republicans have established the party of hard working Americans, while Democrats have become the party of wealthy elites. It’s only fitting that they turn to another wealthy elite in 2028.=
Says the party with a billionaire headed to the White House (again), a tech bro millionaire as VP and the world’s richest man now palling around with the President elect.
Sure.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 1:48 pm:
The Governor has to say something, but there was no bright side for Democrats last Tuesday.
- Hank Sauer - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 1:52 pm:
Well our neighbor states em to be open for business and for our mobile population
- Demoralized - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 1:52 pm:
==We’ll be just fine without him.==
If you consider irrelevancy to be “just fine” then, yeah, I guess you’re just fine without him.
It’s laughable to me that the Republicans are hooting and hollaring about losing less bad. A loss is still a loss and Illinois Republicans continue to be losers.
- Who Dunnit? - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 1:54 pm:
Bragging that you are a super majority in a totally rigged map is a bit disingenuous.
GOP would have picked up a dozen seats in anything in the area code of an independently drawn and equitable map. Dems didn’t win in some Districts dramatically rely gerrymandered. The 104th House District for example.
In reality, IL is anything but a super majority State.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 1:55 pm:
===there was no bright side for Democrats last Tuesday===
The ability to take a huge hit and not sink even an iota is a bright side. The cushion held.
- Frida's Boss - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:02 pm:
The Republicans, if they end up not losing seats is a positive for them. They were outspent in all target races by at least 3-1. If they can hold those final two it should be considered a win. Before you can heal or stitch the wound you have to stop the bleeding.
The Dems should be extremely proud of their down ballot pickups in localized races. Getting seats on County Boards, judges etc all show to a massive push for races that usually never got the attention of DPI. It also strengthens the bench to be able to call someone up who has experience and understands governance.
Unlike the GOP whose benches, in the suburbs, have been dwindling for decades and the candidates they get are fringe Eastern Bloc types who can’t win in the collars.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:04 pm:
Congratulations to anyone who does well in the wards, and wins the election, including President-elect Trump. The voters’ will is supreme. Just wish this was reciprocated. Which it was not.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:05 pm:
===The 104th House District for example.===
That race isn’t over yet. Lots of uncounted votes.
- Neef Jr. - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:11 pm:
McLean County is a bright spot. Since 2016 dems have picked up 7 county board seats.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:17 pm:
=== have become the party of wealthy elites. It’s only fitting that they turn to another wealthy elite in 2028.===
I really love the absolute lack of concern for the reality of their nominee being a billionaire who had a billionaire jumping around the stage trying to hype for their candidate.
They’re just planning to lie, lie, and continue to lie.
- Blue Dog - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:17 pm:
Meet Darrin Bailey. New US Ambassador to Uzbekistan.
- Chicago Voter - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:18 pm:
Kudos to the House Dem campaign staff for holding all their seats despite the Republican inroads in Illinois. When and if Illinois Republicans can get their act together they can draw their own map. Cuts both ways.
- Pundent - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:20 pm:
=Bragging that you are a super majority in a totally rigged map is a bit disingenuous.=
Equally disingenuous is complaining about the map while not holding any statewide offices. And the prospects of that changing in two years are likely bleak. BTW, the courts have upheld the maps so calling them “totally rigged” is fantasy.
- H-W - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:31 pm:
=== Democrats in the legislature did not grow their advantage ===
Dear ILGOP - That’s because there is no growth left to have. We own the legislature. The point is, we did not lose our super-majority. Get a clue, and serve your constitutes interests better instead of beating your chests and acting like you are winning. /s
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:37 pm:
=== they’re just planning to lie, lie, and continue to lie ===
We just saw that can work pretty well nationally.
- TJ - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:47 pm:
The ILGOP is talking about this election like a baseball team that managed to not allow any runs in the sixth inning and are pumping their chests despite being down already 23-1.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:50 pm:
Frida’s Boss:
In my county here in Forgottonia the board was flipped to Republican after 2 Democratic incumbents lost.
It was the last Democratic majority board in my area.
- GoneFishing - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 2:53 pm:
Maybe Trump will send Mr Bailey as US Ambassador Turkmenistan. That would be even better than Uzbekistan. We can only hope. They do a lot of farming there and buy a lot of US built equiment. He would do a lot of good there. Seems like a place Mr Trump and Bailey would like.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 3:13 pm:
===The cushion held.===
Ok, one bright side. Still a bad night even in Illinois.
- Who Dunnit - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 3:25 pm:
=the courts have upheld the maps so calling them “totally rigged” is fantasy=
Always on a straight party line vote. Hence, perpetuating the underlying problem.
- TNR - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 3:49 pm:
== In reality, IL is anything but a super majority State. ==
When the GOP gets back to winning 40 percent of statewide races every few cycles, I’ll agree with you.
- Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 4:56 pm:
So Darren Bailey is swanning around Mar-a-Lago in hopes of being on Trump’s team in the new administration. Darren Bailey’s only role would be as a gofer for Trump’s penchant for fast food meals. Picture Darren riding a scooter loaded down with burgers and fries.
- Mason County - Thursday, Nov 7, 24 @ 5:36 pm:
It’s a very, very Blue state and growing ever more so. That is not changing regardless of GOP spin.