Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » What the heck?
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
What the heck?

Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This doesn’t make any sense to me. “Damaged goods”? How is that in any way an effective argument against US Rep. Lauren Underwood? How was she ever “damaged”? So why would the Pritzker people allegedly use that line against her if it cannot possibly be explained or proved?

This is just a weird and puzzling development

One public poll released last month showed Underwood and Krishnamoorthi leading Stratton, and the Pritzker team, according to multiple sources, is focusing first on discouraging Underwood from a Senate run. […]

Multiple sources told NBC 5 Chicago Pritzker and his team are working behind the scenes, telling donors Underwood is “damaged goods.” […]

At a news conference Monday, Pritzker denied he was discouraging anyone from entering the Democratic Senate primary.

Pritzker was asked by the same reporter Monday whether he was telling any candidates that “it’s not their turn.” He said it was a “ridiculous” claim…

Remember, I ran for Congress when I was 31 years old, and there were an awful lot of people who said to me that ‘it’s not your turn.’ I ran anyway. I think in fact, we need, you know, more young people in the new generation. You know, we’ve had lots of people serving in public office when there’s an open opportunity, everybody who’s interested in running should step forward and do so. I would not dissuade somebody from running for public office.

Now we’ve moved on to “damaged goods.”

Also, the alleged “damaged goods” claim is never explained. Perhaps because it can’t be explained.

This whole thing is odd.

* And that poll? C’mon. The organization backing Underwood has yet to disclose who conducted its alleged poll despite repeated requests for disclosure, which never, ever happens…


Fishy as all getout. I refuse to believe anything out of that operation until I see the actual poll, if it really exists. Could that possible survey concoction be why Underwood is labeled as “damaged”? Seems like a stretch. She didn’t run the “poll.” And if it is the case, then why were the “poll” results prominently mentioned in the story?

* Underwood’s consultant made a very good argument that the alleged attack is nonsensical and wouldn’t work…

That post was deleted, by the way.

* Hey, maybe it’s all true. The Pritzker folks do have super-sharp elbows, after all. And three Black women (Robin Kelly, Lauren Underwood and Juliana Stratton) are interested in the job, so something may have to give. But if Team JB did say this, then they’re really stupid. They ain’t usually stupid. And I’ve not heard a peep about any Underwood oppo.

Something just doesn’t smell right here.

Gonna be a wild year, campers.

Your thoughts?

       

42 Comments »
  1. - Homebody - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 9:40 am:

    I follow Anne Caprara on Bluesky, and she was heated about this yesterday. Quoting her, with a minor edit for filter reasons:

    “I’m not going to link to this story bc it’s [bs]. When your story is all unnamed “sources” who won’t put their name behind their accusations that should give pause before airing. The Governor, his team, and myself personally have a lot of respect for Congresswoman Underwood.”


  2. - So_Ill - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 9:43 am:

    This race is going to be wild.


  3. - 44 - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 9:56 am:

    Same group that funded whacky republican candidate to chose opponent? Dirty trick politics are what these highly skilled political operatives do. Went way too far on this one. But they hide in the shadows and move on.


  4. - DownStateD - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 9:58 am:

    The lede is weird/odd, agreed. But the most real and relatable statement in this story for any of us who work around the Dome is this:

    “He’s a bully, and his staff is worse,” the official said.


  5. - VK - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 9:58 am:

    I’m shocked, *shocked*, to discover that JBs team, known for playing super well with everyone, are trashing someone through whispers while pretending they are angels.

    I can’t believe it. I’ve never heard of anything like this from them. We should take Anne’s words on this at face value because no member of that team has ever obfuscated or downplayed their moves in an attempt to hold up JB’s branding as an all around swell guy.

    Now that’s out of the way, I have this truly remarkable bridge to sell you.


  6. - So_Ill - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:01 am:

    I think if Underwood enters the race, Stratton doesn’t win, so a lot is riding on her decision.

    Underwood is a vastly superior candidate.


  7. - 40,000 ft - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:03 am:

    Is Underwood an Idealist (lofty goals) or a Pragmatist (practical solutions)?

    I honestly don’t know but I prefer politicians that are weighted to reality, compromise, and practical solutions.

    (also, I think we are watching a “don’t want nobody that nobody sent” thing with Underwood.)


  8. - TheInvisibleMan - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:05 am:

    I don’t doubt someone did say those things about Underwood. I don’t even doubt someone who *said* they are with JB said those things, in order to spread the rumor around by attaching it to a well-known name and giving it an automatic perceived sense of credibility.

    What I do doubt, is that anyone actually with JB in reality, said any these things.

    Underwood might not be the intended target here, it might be JB who is the target.


  9. - Here Here - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:06 am:

    Seems very believable to me. The Pritzker political folks are very aggressive in their pursuit of power. Party unity ain’t their strong suit. They went too far with this one. If they had character they would just apologize to Underwood but not holding my breath.


  10. - City Zen - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:09 am:

    ==The organization backing Underwood has yet to disclose who conducted its alleged poll==

    Even funnier when you realize that organization is “focused on recruiting, training, and electing Democrats with a background in science to public office.” Not very scientific of them to not cite their sources.


  11. - Remember the Alamo II - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:14 am:

    === Underwood is a vastly superior candidate. ===

    Maybe to you.


  12. - Dirty Red - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:14 am:

    There have been plenty of complaints about Underwood, but I do not see how you substantiate those “damaged goods” claims to a public audience.

    And, a win is a win, but the Republican incumbent she beat in 2018 was tragically ill-prepared going into that race. They did not take her seriously and paid heavily for it.


  13. - Quibbler - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:16 am:

    With all this scrapping over one seemingly bogus poll, you’d think someone would just conduct a real one.


  14. - Steve - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:17 am:

    I don’t know who or what to believe in this situation. But, I would hope the voters would decide not other politicians in the Democratic primary.


  15. - Leatherneck - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:31 am:

    =Not very scientific of them to not cite their sources.=

    Unless either the group backing Underwood–or even the Governor’s office–is using the claims of “attorney client privilege,” “executive privilege,” “trade secrets,” “proprietary information” or other excuses to deliberately not reveal the source of the “damage goods” quote.


  16. - Keyrock - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:33 am:

    Underwood is an idealist and a pragmatist.

    She has strong progressive views on the economy, civil rights, and election integrity, among other issues.

    She’s been a workhorse, and not a showhorse in Congress. She’s been a leader in legislation on health care, including for veterans, women’s health, and mental health.

    She’s also been effective in her Dem House leadership role at refocusing Democratic candidate strategy and communications.

    I suspect that if there are candidate debates, she’d be the most effective debater.

    While I think she’s the best candidate, I’m not sure she should run. If she stays in the House, she has a good chance to eventually rise to a top leadership position. Senate seats don’t open that often, and it’s easy to see why she’s tempted to run.


  17. - Leatherneck - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:33 am:

    Just for fun some reporter needs to ask the Governor at the next press conference whether Durbin’s outgoing Senate seat is also “bleeping golden.”


  18. - It's always Sunny in Illinois - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:34 am:

    I’ll bet a big chunk of our Governors inherited fortune……Stratton campaign has a poll…..


  19. - Ducky LaMoore - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:34 am:

    “We’ve got the goods on you, so you better stay in the House, or we’ll use it.” Seems like the play here. Is it a bluff or could she end up being damaged goods? Probably the former.


  20. - Larry Bowa Jr. - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:39 am:

    This entire story is uninformative inside baseball nonsense, i.e., standard product for American ‘political reporters.’
    This is what we have in this country instead of journalists who know anything, can explain how anything works, or why it works the way it does.
    “Somebody said something mean about somebody else in politics,” whoo boy give everybody a Pulitzer for this one.


  21. - P. - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:44 am:

    ==“I’m not going to link to this story bc it’s [bs]. When your story is all unnamed “sources” who won’t put their name behind their accusations that should give pause before airing…”==

    Wonder why people might pause before attaching their name to that. No caps lol.


  22. - regular democrat - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:46 am:

    If the governor and his team have a reputation for having sharp elbows then the story probably has some validity. Wouldn’t be the first time this type of shenanigans came up. My thought is they are very afraid of Underwood because frankly she has a better story. A relative unknown who won in an republican district and has really been an exemplary member of congress. It is really an easy sell to the public. I hope she runs and wins it would be a huge improvement over our current Senators.


  23. - Greg in Sherman - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 11:09 am:

    Twitter March 20, 2024 “Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hate have no place in Illinois, or anywhere else in our country, and I am honored to have worked with Wadee’s…”
    Congresswoman Lauren Underwood


  24. - levivotedforjudy - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 11:14 am:

    After living through Blago and Rauner, it’s kind of refreshing that “having sharp elbows” is considered a big criticism of the governor’s office.


  25. - Downstate - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 11:19 am:

    “Damaged Goods” is an interesting choice of words. That’s very strong, particularly consider other options typically used including; “flawed candidate” which seems more gentle without being derogatory. “Damaged Goods” has a slight mysogynist tinge to it. IMHO


  26. - Arsenal - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 11:34 am:

    The Pritzker folks are brawlers, and frankly they’d be stupid to NOT be trying to pressure Underwood out of the race. But this specific quote is double blind (unnamed sources saying it’s what unnamed people are saying), and it doesn’t make much sense as an attack.

    My best guess is that Pritzker folks are throwing their weight around and that “damaged goods” is a bit more of someone else’s somewhat intentionally inflammatory characterization of what they’re saying.


  27. - low level - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 11:43 am:

    I can understand them wanting to promote Stratton, but that doesn’t mean they need to diss other candidates. JB’s team does itself no favors doing that. Take the high road.


  28. - Roman - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 12:25 pm:

    Given the rough history between the Pritzker and Robin Kelly forces, who figured bad blood between Team JB and Underwood would be the talk of the race?


  29. - Thomas Paine - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 12:28 pm:

    === Your thoughts? ===

    I can definitely see some loose cannon trying to discourage Underwood from running. But it sounds like this was either someone fundraising for Stratton calling her donors and explaining why they thought Stratton would win, or someone trying to do Underwood a favor by calling her donors, and telling them that Underwood will be damaged goods if she runs against Stratton.

    To the second point, I will say its absolutely true. If Underwood, Kelly or anyone else runs, I expect Stratton to campaign to win, and anyone may very well get the Ken Dunkin treatment.

    However, the story that the Underwood campaign is trying to push is that Underwood, Raja, and potentially Kelly are somehow viewed as a threat to Stratton, and not only do I not believe that, I cannot imagine Stratton’s campaign feels threatened.

    Yes, all three serve in Congress. But in terms of having a Democratic political base, not all Congressional Districts are created equal.

    Here’s Dem Primary Ballots for Congress from 2022:

    1st - 87K
    2nd - 56K (Kelly)
    3rd - 47K
    4th - 37K (Garcia)
    5th - 82K
    6th - 57K
    7th - 75K
    8th - 42K (Raja)
    9th - 76K (Schakowsky)
    10th - 52K
    11th - 44K (Foster)
    14th - 37K (Underwood)

    Excepting Chuy Garcia, whose Latino district has a much smaller number of registered voters because of the large immigrant population, Raja and Underwood have the smallest number of Dem Primary voters of any Chicagoland Democrat in Congress.

    Heck, there are plenty of county officials in Lake, Cook, Will, and DuPage who can boast far larger Democratic support than these three, and they can run as outsiders who are not part of the “DC swamp.”

    Pritzker/Stratton, by contrast, recieved more than 800K primary votes in 2022.

    So, is Team Stratton worried? Not if they are smart. In fact, discouraging one person from running makes no sense. If she is going to have one opponent, 3+ is better, especially having Raja and Underwood duke it out for suburban votes.

    PS if I see this data on another blog without attribution, I will be unamused.

    PPS I agree with the previous posts that a story citing unnamed sources accusing unnamed people is just the kind of thing we do not need from news organizations.


  30. - Loop Lady - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 12:42 pm:

    Interesting to know JBs motivation for showing his hand this early in a pivotal seat.

    What gives?


  31. - Rich Miller - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 12:48 pm:

    ===What gives? ===

    His lt. governor is running for US Senate. If he hadn’t endorsed her, you’d be wondering what gives.


  32. - Because I Said So…. - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 12:50 pm:

    For those who think the Governor and his teams “sharp elbows” are refreshing, you obviously haven’t gone up against his team.


  33. - sal-says - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:12 pm:

    Started being a ‘wild year’ bout 1/20/25.


  34. - DuPage Saint - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:51 pm:

    As to Underwood’s democratic votes in the 2022 primary,was she unopposed? I don’t remember. And I think she is in a much more Republican district then many Democratics like for instance Jan Schakowski so I think her wins are more impressive than those Democrats running in a traditionally Democratic district. I believe Underwood would be a formidable candidate


  35. - So_Ill - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:13 pm:

    ==As to Underwood’s democratic votes in the 2022 primary,was she unopposed? I don’t remember. And I think she is in a much more Republican district then many Democratics like for instance Jan Schakowski so I think her wins are more impressive than those Democrats running in a traditionally Democratic district. I believe Underwood would be a formidable candidate==

    Yes, she was unopposed. That was a completely idiotic post to compare primary votes for a congresswoman running unopposed in a purple district to a Lt. Governor (who was second on the ticket) running statewide.


  36. - here and now - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:34 pm:

    The mood of the electorate is sour, with Democrats at an all-time low with favorability in the high 20’s. Illinois Democrats should take seriously any candidate who has won in purple counties, which is what Underwood has definitely done. That performance bodes will for winning the general. Raja can boast some of the same.


  37. - Thomas Paine - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:34 pm:

    === That was a completely idiotic post to compare primary votes for a congresswoman running unopposed in a purple district ===

    Quigley was running unopposed and recieved 82K votes.

    Schneider ran unopposed and recieved 52K votes.

    The fact that she represents a Purple District is exactly the point. How many votes she can garner in a General Election does not matter, unless you think she is Glenn Poshard and can somehow marshal massive Democratic Primary turnout from people that normally do not vote Democratic. That seems like a tall order given how well Pritzker/Stratton have done in the collar counties and suburbs.

    So what is her base in a Democratic Primary? She supported military aid to Israel, so she certainly is not going to run on Gaza and hope to rally college students and other disaffected progressives like Biss did.

    Again, my point is that Underwood is trying to argue she is a threat to Stratton, and I do not think anyone within the Stratton camp sees it that way. The suburban unions that have backed Underwood in the past, for example, will likely be with Stratton.

    Raja runs into the same challenges, but he is already sitting on a lot of cash and his consultants sure want him to spend it, and my guess is they will convince him to enter the race.

    We can bookmark this conversation and come back after the primary and have a great laugh.


  38. - Torco Sign - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:51 pm:

    This didn’t make it last time but I’ll try again:
    Underwood - younger, has won a competitive race, and has experience at the federal level. That’s more compelling than an older opponent who has never won a competitive race and who has no Washington experience.


  39. - Valerie Leonard - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:51 pm:

    Now we know that Congresswoman Underwood must be viewed as a threat. I hope she stays in the race, and may the best candidate win.


  40. - Valerie Leonard - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:06 pm:

    I’m glad that the Democratic voters have a great list of candidates to choose from. I haven’t heard of very many names on the Republican side. Even so, the stronger candidates are Democrats, based on the names I heard on the other side. It will be a great race to watch.


  41. - Amalia - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:23 pm:

    the thing that makes me laugh is that it sounds like something someone would imply about a young woman. so it feels creepy and pointed and, yes, I think it came from a candidate. but not the Pritzker group. I suspect a sharp elbowed consultant from another group who got creative


  42. - walker - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 4:09 pm:

    When JB and Caprara say they didn’t do it, I believe them.

    That doesn’t mean that one of their allies or team didn’t do it anyway. Candidates are surrounded by ambitious sharps in their own right.


TrackBack URI

Anonymous commenters, uncivil comments, rumor-mongering, disinformation and profanity of any kind will be deleted.

(required)

(required)



* Reader comments closed for the weekend
* COGFA increases revenue forecasts, but FY26 prediction is still below Pritzker's estimate
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* Moody’s cuts Illinois GDP growth forecast by half, but its national jobs prediction is, so far, off the mark
* George Ryan (Updated x2)
* The last acceptable prejudice
* Group rebuts, fact checks Comptroller Mendoza's SAFE-T Act remarks
* US DOJ: Illinois’ workplace privacy law impedes federal immigration authority
* What the heck?
* Healing Communities: UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Provides Free Physicals For Special Olympics
* Today's must-read
* Working Together To Support The Health Of Our Families, Communities, And State
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Live coverage
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025
February 2025
January 2025
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller