* Nick Uniejewski announced a bid for Sen. Sara Feigenholtz’s seat in the 6th District. From his campaign’s Facebook page…
Today, I’m announcing my campaign for Illinois State Senate in the 6th District. I’ve spent my career as an organizer, community leader, and policy analyst—working at the federal, state, and city levels. I’ve seen our government up close and I know we can do better.
People are ready to fight and get things done. The incumbent has spent 30 years in office and is not the fighter we need for the future. In the last year, I’ve hosted 80 listening sessions—called salons—focused on important topics like housing and transit. The response has been tremendous. We need a new generation of leadership to help renters and homebuyers, modernize our transit systems, and build a future focused on equity, justice, and caring for our neighbors.
Right now, we have a president who pits people against each other and encourages hate and division and an incumbent Senator who has faced numerous calls for her resignation because of her frequent racist and Islamophobic remarks. We deserve better. We, as Democrats, can not expect to escape the mess our party is in by electing people who seek to divide rather than unite.
I’m running for the State Senate to bring people together and help build people up—no matter where they live, who they love, or where they were born. We need new energetic leadership so we can get back to making this a fabulous place to live, work, and play for everyone. I believe we can have a better future if we elect leaders who aren’t afraid to fight for that future.
It looks like, at least in part, this primary is a result of ‘Islamophobic’ tweets made by Sen. Feigenholtz. Background is here and here if you need it.
Sen. Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) has been in the General Assembly since 1995 after she knocked out fellow Democrat Rep. Ellis Levin. As far as I can tell she hasn’t faced a primary since. But she hasn’t announced if she’s planning to run for a third term in the Senate.
According to its last D-2, Sen. Feigenholtz’s committee is sitting on a million dollars in available funds. Uniejewski’s committee hasn’t reported any contributions yet.
* More on Uniejewski from a campaign press release …
Uniejewski is a seasoned advocate, having worked as an organizer for NARAL Pro-Choice America (now Reproductive Freedom for All) and Indivisible. He served as Outreach Manager for former Rep. Marie Newman’s 2020 campaign, when she ousted an anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ+ Democrat, and managed her 2022 campaign. Currently, Uniejewski works as a policy analyst for the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services.
Newman lost her 2022 primary campaign to Sean Casten (63-33).
Uniejewski’s annual city salary is $95,952.
* Politico…
A spokesman for Feigenholtz defended her record saying she is “a powerful voice” in protecting constituents “against Trump’s attacks on reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights and the gutting that we see underway of our federal government.”
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 11:35 am:
I like a politician who wants to bring people together and then implies his opponent is a racist. Nice start
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 11:48 am:
===It looks like, at least in part, this primary is a result of ‘Islamophobic’ tweets made by Sen. Feigenholtz. ===
The Senator is not a political novice and understands what social media is and even if it didn’t, she understands what the media part of social media is.
I presume the fact that she made those posts in the first place suggests she is at least a little disinterested in continuing to serve as an elected official.
===Sen. Feigenholtz’s committee is sitting on a million dollars in available funds===
A million dollars will buy a lot of buzz, but has she done anything of note in the last 4 months that is organically buzz worthy? I haven’t heard her voice much.
- Loyal Virus - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 11:52 am:
It’s very easy to avoid being called a racist, ya know.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 11:53 am:
===has she done anything of note in the last 4 months that is organically buzz worthy?===
She’s been laying kinda low after the dustup.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 11:55 am:
===and then implies his opponent is a racist===
He didn’t imply. He said she had frequent racist and Islamophobic remarks.
Her behavior caused the Senate President to issue a statement that began with, “Islamophobia must be rejected along with all forms of discriminatory and hateful speech.”
I don’t think anyone is implying anything.
She did what she did, tried to defend it a little bit, and then wound up at this wonderful bit:
===I made a mistake and, as a result, I shared a message I do not believe in. It was never my intention to reply to – let alone amplify – that individual’s inflammatory remarks.===
Which is fun — “never her intention to reply” after she intentionally replied to the fellow.
What’d she intend to do?
What’s she done since then to mend the fences like the Senate President said she was going to?
- Walker - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 11:59 am:
Not only are we experiencing a giant wave of energetic newcomers to our anti-Trump protests and rallies, but I believe we will see a whole new generation of angry Democratic primary candidates emerging.
- Leatherneck - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:03 pm:
How much longer in this environment before we see a political “comeback” by Ms. Newman herself?
Perhaps a rerun of 2022 with Casten for the 6th, or even for the US Senate (regardless of what Durbin decides) or even for Governor (regardless of Pritzker’s plans)?
- System Reboot - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:05 pm:
GLAD TO SEE SOMEONE RUNNING. Her comments were beyond appalling. If Trump had made them, Democrats would be (rightfully so) up in arms, but our leaders are letting it pass because she has a D next to her name. We cannot build a big tent when our politicians are actively shutting people out from it.
- Regina G. - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:10 pm:
Nick has been having these “Salons”, Politico failed to mention they are invite only. How is that talking to constituents when you pick the constituents? He can’t even get Tik Tok followers. I do think it is interesting staffers from IL Senate Dems & Brandon Johnson’s Political Staffer Christian Perry are following his page. In a district with the most synagogs in the state, I do not see Nick being a contender at all. It’s cute though. Sara has my vote.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:11 pm:
I think that Policy Analyst position is Shakman exempt. I am sure with this administration’s respect for government ethics Mr. Uniejewski would never engage in campaign work on City time.
- Will County Steve - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:18 pm:
What Senator Feigenholtz wrote/retweeted on social media was vial and disgusting and no one should be ok with what she posted. It was an Islamaphoic post that was fueled by hatred.
The fact that the Senator was willing to make herself look silly (to put it nicely) by lying about what happened instead of just saying sorry goes to show you how she really feels about the issue.
- TNR - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:34 pm:
== Salons ==
Man, just when I get used to using the word “center” as a verb and saying “Latine” instead of “Latinx,” a new progressive buzzword drops. I can’t keep up.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:34 pm:
===Newman lost her 2022 primary campaign to Sean Casten (63-33).===
If Sara runs again, I’d wager she’ll put up Casten-like numbers against this guy.
- Numbering Their Days - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:36 pm:
If a primary challenger’s goal is just to drain an incumbent’s coffers and prevent them from furthering their political career, then this goal is really easily accomplished. Perhaps to grind an axe or settle a score. Or maybe for the notoriety. Or even just for the fun of it.
Some of these sitting elected officials need to get smart and realize that they are the vulnerable ones who have the most to lose in a fight with us lesser mortals.
If I was an elected official I would be very careful how I treat people, unless I want to go out and get a real job.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:37 pm:
===a new progressive buzzword drops===
That word is quite old. But it’s kinda weird that he feels the need to use it.
- Oldman - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:38 pm:
===How much longer in this environment before we see a political “comeback” by Ms. Newman herself?===
I think she’s unlikely to want to reopen herself to scrutiny, considering her bribery scandal.
- Jeb - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:44 pm:
30-year incumbents who have never had a primary are easy pickings. If I were Sara, I’d be seriously concerned. The zip in your step at 38 is way more intense than at 68. She is in for a serious race that will cause her real problems. My guess is she finally hangs it up. It’s a wise decision.
- King Louis XVI - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:46 pm:
His web site boasts not a single endorsement, not even Newman’s. https://nickforillinois.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ0s99leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFSQ0wxelZNVUxFU2dQWU5kAR70N-v-t0netHaOPDnM-UKO9geUOP7GTtLIzPuOqMCOtmd_cZ4bOIrfzBzuVQ_aem_VI1l8taHvYW3UCIM7B8_Uw
Meanwhile, Feigenholtz had a big event LGBTQ event last week with all the local elected folks and community leaders.
Agree with 47th Ward’s take. She’ll likely wipe the floor with the kid - especially when she hangs “Mayor Brandon Johnson aide” sign around his neck. LOL.
- Neef Jr. - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:47 pm:
If Nick’s campaign does nothing else it has brought his friends and family here to become commenters.
- Philly T. - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:48 pm:
I wonder how “a policy staffer for Mayor Brandon Johnson” will test in a poll?
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:56 pm:
Is there a law preventing government employees from running for partisan office? When I worked for the state a colleague was told he was not allowed to run for alderman. Maybe it’s a city/state/federal thing?
- King Louis XVI - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 12:58 pm:
–I wonder how “a policy staffer for Mayor Brandon Johnson” will test in a poll?–
Not as well as “Mayor Brandon Johnson’s hand-picked candidate.”
It’s the court of public option not a court of law.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 1:02 pm:
=In a district with the most synagogs in the state=
This is misspelled, and not even close to being true.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 1:06 pm:
=Is there a law preventing government employees from running for partisan office?=
The Hatch Act - not a lawyer, but my understanding it applies to Federal workers and employees elsewhere paid with Federal funds (nonprofits with federal grants, school employees, etc.)
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 1:07 pm:
===She’ll likely wipe the floor with the kid===
I kinda doubt he will be the only one.
- Mark - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 1:11 pm:
=== If Nick’s campaign does nothing else it has brought his friends and family here to become commenters. ===
And progressive voters like myself who are tired of do-nothing incumbents who deserved to be primaried years ago. It’s exciting to see Democratic Party politics become more competitive. No one is entitled to their seat.
- Roman - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 1:27 pm:
== Brandon Johnson’s hand-picked candidate ==
That’s a potential problem. A quick look at the results for the last mayoral race and the November school board election indicates this is far from the most progressive senate district on the North Side. Vallas did very well and the CTU candidates for school board got hammered. Lots of older Jewish voters there, too. They are not as likely to be triggered by Feigenholtz’s controversial social media likes.
I’m not sure she’ll “wipe the floor with the kid,” but she’s certainly a heavy favorite.
- Regina G. - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 1:51 pm:
===This is misspelled, and not even close to being true.
Oh you are one of those. You must be new here. You can’t edit posts, once they are posted. You obviously are not Jewish, have ZERO Jewish friends, don’t live in the district or have ever canvassed the district. You would know how important relationships are with Temples, Churches, neighborhood orgs & Senior Homes in this district as well as the LGBT+ community. We are all gonna enjoy this show. But good luck sweeties.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 2:00 pm:
I’ve known Sara for a long time. She has the base to be fine but she needs to stay off social media.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 2:08 pm:
==Nick has been having these “Salons”, Politico failed to mention they are invite only.==
And his “salon” group is partnering with Cenk Ugyur who has his own baggage. Not a wise move if you want the female vote, among other things.
https://accounts.tyt.com/join/m/fbac375/x/pricing
- Juice - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 2:48 pm:
Regina, I think Joe’s point was that Sen. Villivalam probably has more synagogues located in the district than Sen. Feigenholtz has.
Though I suspect he can speak for himself.
- Does he have a shot? - Tuesday, Apr 22, 25 @ 2:58 pm:
Sara has demonstrated the ability to offend many people with her social media postings. I am not sure if she is at risk.