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Question of the day: Golden Horseshoe Awards

Thursday, Dec 12, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The 2024 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Government Spokesperson/Comms goes to the overwhelming crowd choice Jordan Abudayyeh

(In her last year of eligibility) For 6 years she kept her boss on message every fricking day. Unbelievable. And let’s be clear - on message everyday during COVID, MJM downfall, Dem Party restructure, budget insanity. Sidenote, I am still impressed at every off topic JB gets and how well briefed he is, it is a testament to how hard she worked that job.

Also this: “She hates to lose and works around the clock to make sure that doesn’t happen.” Yep. She coulda been a power forward.

* The 2024 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Statehouse-Related Public Relations Spokesperson is once again a tie. Bridget Shanahan

In the last year, her efforts have gotten the IEA more spotlight in the Capitol and statewide. She is their hidden weapon and there’s no guessing where she goes from here.

And Becky Carroll

Becky has built a powerhouse firm with an ever-growing team that continues to impress not just in Illinois but nationally. Becky takes on the work that she cares about personally and professional, a testament to the level of commitment to the work.

Congratulations to our winners!

* On to today’s categories

    Best Democratic Illinois State Representative

    Best Republican Illinois State Representative

As always, do your best to nominate in both categories and explain your nominations. Thanks.

* We’re almost to $26,000 in our annual drive to buy Christmas presents for foster kids. Thanks!

But we need to keep it going. Lutheran Social Services of Illinois has lots and lots of foster kids in their care network and we’ve raised enough to buy presents for about 40 percent of them. So, please, click here and give whatever you can. Thank you!!!

       

18 Comments
  1. - politico - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 11:38 am:

    Best Dem State Rep: Katie Stuart. That woman works her tail off and does it all with a smile. She had a rough campaign cycle and managed to get through every day with a positive attitude and the right mindset: I’m here to represent!
    Best GOP Rep: Marty McLaughlin. Marty is as hardworking as it gets. He doesn’t let the nonsense get in his head during campaign. He kept his eye on the prize and came out on top. He does a great job representing the district and working with both sides of the aisle.


  2. - fanfav - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 12:19 pm:

    Best HGOP member: Amy Elik - she provides excellent consitutent service and is just an overall great person. She works hard and is an amazing legislator.

    Best HDEM Member: Kelly Burke - she is one of the hardest working members under the dome. She has worked on big issues and served as a leader to many. We will miss her next session but wish her the best of luck in her new position.


  3. - Percy Plantagenet - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 12:33 pm:

    Best Dem: Natalie Manley. She’s trusted by many and sees the big picture. Natalie is fair, but fierce, and she leads by example. A dependable voice in the House Dems caucus.

    Best GOP: Jeff Keicher. Works well across the aisle and understands that even though he is in the super minority, he can still have influence by being reasonable. Smart, but not too smart to listen to others.


  4. - Give Me A Break - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 12:48 pm:

    Best Dem, Lindsey LaPointe. She has taken on the complex and always frustrating issues involving human services. She is far more than just “interested” she dives deep into policy and makes sure her fellow lawmakers don’t just rubber stamp agency decisions that have a huge impact on Illinois.

    Her work on budgeting issues for behavioral health providers has been the difference in many cutting programs or being able to continue to serve vulnerable populations. She has earned the respect of everyone who works in the human services arena, whether state or private sector. She is a true “legislative workhorse” not afraid to do the heavy lifting requiring learning complex issues.

    Best GOP State Rep, Mike Coffey. I don’t always agree with him but he actually takes the time to ask questions and understand all sides of the issue. He represents a district full of state workers and seems to always seek out their opinions on state government operations before making crucial decisions on state government.


  5. - The Opinions Bureau - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 12:50 pm:

    Dem: Rep. Mary Beth Canty is an absolute dynamo. When she gets ahold of an issue she works it to death. She’s growing more and more- at this point it’s easy to forget she’s still a freshman.

    GOP- Patrick Windhorst is a thoughtful guy whose door is often open. The tone and tenor of the floor could be much worse but for his work as floor leader.


  6. - Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 1:07 pm:

    I will second Jeff Keicher as the best GOP rep, he is super responsive when I reach out. Additionally, he was a victim of a politically motivated death threat. He did speak on the stress and toll on him and his family, he even considered quitting - but thankfully he continues to serve - seems very deserving .

    Best Dem - Representative Stephanie A. Kifowit - she works her district well, is responsive to a professional association that I am part of, and is a strong supporter of Veterans.


  7. - JB - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 1:40 pm:

    Kelly Cassidy is outstanding. Her commitment to and success advocating for choice in these times is second to none. She is Wonder Woman!
    Brad Stephens knows how to work with just about everyone. He is so solid and a great person.


  8. - Justin - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 1:43 pm:

    House Dem: Rep. Katie Stuart. I helped on her campaign and she won again. Stuart is a great representative for the 112th.

    House GOP: Rep. Amy Elik. Elik has a great reputation for constituent services.


  9. - SaulGoodman - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 1:45 pm:

    Mary Beth Canty is a rockstar. Few legislators hit the ground running like she has. She made full day kindergarten happen, and she was one of the key driving forces to make child tax credit happen. She’s smart and works hard to get things done, while also showing see knows how to compromise and get legislation across the finish line.


  10. - Who else - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 1:53 pm:

    Ryan Spain is my favorite GOP rep to work with. He is reasonable and knows what it takes to pacify/satisfy the more rambunctious members of his caucus while achieving actual results. He gets that you have to be willing to do the work and engage in negotiation if you want to have your stuff in the bill. You can’t just complain and expect to have your stuff move.

    Delgado has really jumped out at me in the last year as a person developing real power in Springfield. She’s smart and respected across issues so she gets handed involvement in just about every one of the speakers’ working groups. And there are a lot of those, including transportation. Her positions are well-reasoned and intentional, and she’s a real-talk kind of person. That’s refreshing these days.


  11. - SaulGoodman - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 1:58 pm:

    Oops - forgot to finish and add HGP:
    Travis Weaver. He’s smart and thoughtful, willing to be bipartisan, and willing to get to yes. We need more folks like Travis on both sides of the aisle.


  12. - Walker - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 2:14 pm:

    I’m going to go with Dan Caulkins. After the political positioning is done, Dan has gone out of his way to add specific substance to a wide range of bills, often in individual discussions directly with chairs and sponsors. He’s valuable on business growth, special needs services, veterans, taxation, local government etc with real substance without asking for any credit. And he keeps his word.

    Eva-Dina Delgado is simply brilliant, and also highly practical and savvy. She’s a natural star in government— I hope we can keep her for a while.


  13. - Linus - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 2:29 pm:

    I’ll echo the plaudits for Mary Beth Canty. Besides her full day Kindergarten and tax credit work, she was the House lead on legislation to authorize a new state department (early childhood), no easy feat. She’s as tireless as she’s personable.

    Speaking of personable, Ryan Spain is indeed a favorite. He’s approachable and practical and steers clear of the doctrinaire. It’s very good to have him in Republican leadership.


  14. - SpringfieldUnderdogs - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 4:01 pm:

    Hauter is an incredibly thoughtful leaders and stands on his responsibility to see the best interest of his district. In my experience, I’ve seen him challenge his own first impressions and do the additional reading and research. It’s refreshing to see a member that genuinely takes to research and data to make an informed decision.

    LaPointe is a public health trailblazer and has created opportunities for folks across the behavioral health sector. As Mental Health and Addition committee chair, she’s put in so much work outside of legislative session to highlight important concerns.


  15. - Hoping for Rational Thought - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 4:13 pm:

    Best Dem - Rep. LaPointe - I have worked with her on Medicaid/healthcare issues and she is always asking excellent questions and learning more and more with each interaction. She grasps the core of issues that can have a lot of unimportant and distracting “noise”. She also is not afraid to ask follow-up questions or admit she needs to learn more or has forgotten something. It’s a level of humility that is often missing in most people. Friendly and down-to-earth. She can be a thoughtful and capable leader in the GA for years to come. I’d like to have more like Rep. LaPointe.

    Best GOP - Rep. Hammond is awesome. I’m mad the latest ma drew me out of her district. She is knowledgeable in a variety of issues from higher Ed, pre-K - 12 ed, Medicaid, ag, pensions, etc. She is always open to discussing an issue even if she disagrees. She knows how to respectfully say no. She is respected in her district and the Capitol and not just on her side of the aisle. She is a true gem who embodies much needed leadership skills with grace and competency.

    The GA would be better with more like Rep. LaPointe and Rep. Hammond! :)


  16. - charles in charge - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 4:31 pm:

    For best House Dem, I second the nomination of Lindsey LaPointe. She is setting the standard right now for what it means to be a hardworking, serious, engaged, and principled legislator. She puts her energy into developing and building support for good policies, not scoring easy wins for press pops and campaign fodder. She’s a progressive in a more moderate district, but wins reelection with ease because she works her district and talks with her constituents. Rep. LaPointe is a true leader and a rising star.

    For best House GOP member, Rep. Windhorst is my choice. I don’t always (or often) agree with him about bills, but he is intelligent, unfailingly polite, very accessible, and works hard.


  17. - NotMe - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 6:24 pm:

    D - Mary Beth Canty. Canty personifies the phrase “hit the ground running.” She is a dynamo for sure, but she’s an incredibly smart and strategic dynamo who takes on massive lifts but does so with a plan and a toolbox.

    R - Brad Stephens. He comes to the work from a place of belief that we are here to serve all of our constituents. He is a genuine servant leader.


  18. - BlanchetheGoose - Thursday, Dec 12, 24 @ 10:42 pm:

    HDEMS: Katie Stuart. Katie is incredibly smart, hardworking, (how many candidates can survive five tier-one races?) pragmatic, and an overall genuine and kind person. Katie approaches each issue with an open mind, always listens to both sides, and makes educated and informed decisions. She puts in the work every single day, both in Springfield and in her district, and is driven by a desire to make a difference in people’s lives. She is also incredibly kind to every staff member, treating many—both past and present—like her own children. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her in House leadership this year, and she certainly deserves it.

    HGOP: Ryan Spain. Leader Spain has proven himself to be an integral part of the House Republican team, earning respect from both Republicans and Democrats. His intelligence is unmatched when it comes to Human Services issues, and he is a master of debate—articulate and pointed, yet always respectful to the other side. Despite his busy schedule, he consistently makes time to always meet with people, showing genuine interest and responsiveness to those who reach out to him. Few people have a brighter future than Ryan Spain, and the entire House is fortunate to have him as a member.


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