* Subscribers know more. Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) was slated for comptroller by the Cook County Democrats on Friday…
In a private session and on a very narrow vote, the subcommittee that recommends statewide endorsements backed Croke. Back in the public session, Harmon fought to try and reject the recommendation.
“We have a slate that does not have any representation from the Latino Caucus, no representation from the Asian Caucus, no one from outside the city of Chicago. I think this is the problem,” [Senate President Don Harmon] said.
This sparked another closed-door debate after which Croke emerged with the ultimate endorsement, something that “disappointed” Harmon.
“I worry that the party was more divided than evidenced by the final outcome,” he said. “But it’ll be up to the voters.”
* More from the Sun-Times…
Committeepeople met behind closed doors in executive session for several hours to hash out their slate. And following Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s announcement that she won’t seek a fourth term, the party opted to endorse State Rep. Margaret Croke, D-Chicago, over her competitors, Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim and Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago.
The party initially endorsed Croke, then reversed the decision amid a discussion over diversity and geography, then again gave her a stamp of approval. Illinois Senate President Don Harmon had pushed for an open primary in the race.
* Croke press release…
Please see statement from State Rep. and candidate for Illinois Comptroller, Margaret Croke, on earning today’s endorsement from the Cook County Democratic Party:
“I’m so very grateful to the Cook County Democratic Party for their endorsement and support as I seek to represent the people of our great state as its Comptroller. This is a critical moment in time and now more than ever Illinois needs a Comptroller who will lead with honesty, protect our most vulnerable populations, and bring fiscal responsibility to state government, which is exactly what I’ve advocated for throughout my time in the General Assembly. I’m ready to bring that same principled leadership to this office, serving as a watchdog for taxpayer dollars and ensuring transparency and accountability for every Illinois family.”
* Chicago Tribune on US Rep. Danny Davis and state Rep. La Shawn Ford…
Davis, who will have represented the 7th Congressional District for three decades at the end of his current term, appeared at the slating meeting even though the party wasn’t endorsing any congressional candidates. Davis told reporters he would announce whether he’ll run for reelection “in about a week or so.” […]
With state Rep. La Shawn Ford standing steps away, Davis made clear he wouldn’t make his exit without endorsing a successor. Ford registered with the Federal Election Commission to run for Davis’ seat, but has said he would only run if Davis retires.
* Gov. Pritzker hasn’t appeared in public in several days. His running mate explained why…
Gov. JB Pritzker was also absent, with his new running mate, Christian Mitchell, citing a “family event.”
* Mitchell got some public blowback at that meeting…
But when the floor was opened to questions, Mitchell started taking heat.
Mitchell, who oversaw Pritzker’s cannabis legalization efforts early in the governor’s first term, once tweeted that he was “stunned at the level of ignorance” at a Chicago City Council meeting, something that multiple alderpeople in attendance on Friday took exception to.
“I don’t recall using that term, but if I did, I apologize,” Mitchell said when questioned by Chicago Ald. David Moore.
Mitchell also faced heat from Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez, who pressed him on the administration’s relationship to the Latino community. Several Chicago alderpeople also interrogated Mitchell over the administration’s plans on Chicagoland transit, Chicago Public Schools and the closure of manufacturing plants on Chicago’s South Side.
I mean, he wasn’t wrong about the city council’s level of ignorance on the cannabis issue. It was truly appalling. But amends must be made, I suppose. And RayLo’s gonna Raylo and the Chicago news media can always be counted upon to eat up whatever he says.
* SoS Alexi Giannoulias dodged the big question…
Giannoulias wouldn’t commit to finishing another full four-year term, despite getting the party’s endorsement.
“I don’t like making campaign promises - ‘I promise to do that’ nor would I hold anyone else to a promise. I love the work that I’m doing. I care deeply about helping people and that’ll never change,” Giannoulias said.
Um, OK. Can someone translate that for me?
* Back to the Tribune…
Ultimately, slatemakers decided not to even pursue a roll call in the Senate race, which would have required support from 50% plus one vote in a weighted tally of the 50 ward and 30 township committee members necessary to gain the county endorsement.
Pritzker, the two-term governor who got the party’s nod Friday for reelection, has endorsed his lieutenant governor for the Senate seat. But the billionaire state chief executive, who has leveraged his wealth to build up state and local party organizations and secure political loyalty, saw that support stop short of extending to Stratton.
One major issue for Stratton is her fundraising as she reported only $666,416 in cash available at the end of June, while prolific fundraiser Krishnamoorthi had $21 million in cash available, slatemakers told the Tribune. Stratton has pledged not to take money from corporate political action committees. South suburban committee members, meanwhile, showed parochial loyalty to Kelly.
* From a Stratton press release…
Juliana Stratton was endorsed by 14 Cook County Democratic Party Statewide Slating Committeepersons – a diverse coalition of leaders representing high-turnout wards and townships across the county, the latest sign of the growing momentum behind her campaign.
14 out of 80.
* Down-ballot…
And committee members also chose to endorse Lyons Township Assessor Patrick Hynes over incumbent Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi. […]
The endorsement of Hynes over Kaegi came after three challengers on Thursday pointed to issues uncovered by media outlets including the Sun-Times, which found in May that his office has mistakenly handed out more than $930,000 in property tax breaks to homeowners and businesses during his tenure. Hynes said the incumbent was behind “wild swings in property assessments.”
Kaegi on Friday said in a statement that he’s “confident that the voters will continue to support the critical work we’ve done to make Cook County a national model for transparency and fairness.” He also said he respected the process and the party’s consideration.
* The list…
Liz Nicholson worked for Paul Vallas, but her incumbent opponent is a mess.
- Lola in Lake - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:10 am:
No comment on the other candidates, but I’ve known Holly Kim for over 15 years and she is not competent. She’s a huge liability on a statewide ticket if any journalist digs into her performance as Lake County Treasurer. The only thing she’s good at is campaigning, and even then she confuses making noise with connecting with voters.
- NIU Grad - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:12 am:
“And RayLo’s gonna Raylo and the Chicago news media can always be counted upon to eat up whatever he says.”
With RayLo doing his thing, Mendoza running for Mayor, and Rep. Ford running for congress…Chicago TV media is going to have nonstop content for the next year.
- Alton Sinkhole - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:14 am:
==Um, OK. Can someone translate that for me?==
“I’m gonna run for Mayor if the polling looks good”
- Change Agent - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:16 am:
Does anyone know what the MWRD situation is? Why Kirkwood for the full term and Cam Davis for 2 years?
- Google Is Your Friend - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:17 am:
==“I worry that the party was more divided than evidenced by the final outcome,”==
“The party” being a bunch of party insiders. I wouldn’t stand on the strength of 100 or 1,000 or 10,000 random people in Cook County (or anywhere else in Illinois) having strong knowledge or even caring about party slating for downballot statewide offices. How many people could even say what the Comptroller does?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:31 am:
===or even caring about party slating===
If that were true, then potential judges wouldn’t line up to receive the nod.
- charles in charge - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:35 am:
“I will never make a promise or hold anyone else to a promise” is a revealing comment. My translation is “I’m so allergic to accountability for myself that to demand it from others would be sheer hypocrisy.”
- Trinity - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:35 am:
The speech from Karina Villa was touching. Yes there should be representation. Vill was a MUCH better choice than Cervantes. That guy would have been EMBARRASSED. But standing next to Delia Ramirez, being anti Kamala and Pro Palastine doesn’t go over well in a state that is known for Black politics and has a large Jewish voting population. Let this be a lesson. If you did NOT support the top of the ticket (Kamala), expect your actions to haunt you.
- Sarah - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:39 am:
@Change Agent
ALLEGEDLY Cam Davis is anti union and was not around much
- Suburban mom2 - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:43 am:
@Rich: I think slating matters more for judges because no one knows anything about the judges. For other higher visibility races I think the public has a better understanding of the candidates and forms preferences based on news and ads. And for those races slating matters less.
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:48 am:
–
her incumbent opponent is a mess.
–
That’s a huge understatement.
The body cam from her arrest is up on Youtube.
Samantha Steele is insufferable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ0oJCo8×1E
- Remember the Alamo II - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:50 am:
Slating is still important because there are still some ward and township organizations that can really carry their weight for the slate come election time. In a close race, it would likely put the slated candidate over the finish line. A lot of voters have come to use the County Party’s endorsement sample ballot when casting their ballots.
- To Be Clear - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:55 am:
I would just like someone to explain to me how 14 of 80 is press release worthy? That is more embarrassing than anything else…
- Lincoln Lad - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 11:02 am:
JB will not have a viable opponent, so the Christian Mitchell mistake will not hurt him. But it was a big mistake.
- Remember the Alamo II - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 11:06 am:
=== Does anyone know what the MWRD situation is? Why Kirkwood for the full term and Cam Davis for 2 years? ===
Kirkwood had more support than Davis, and Davis was happy to take support for the 2 year term rather than get nothing.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 11:07 am:
===But it was a big mistake===
A big mistake would hurt him. You said it won’t. Not seeing the logic.
- Suburban Mom - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 11:35 am:
I agree with my doppleganger (freaky); slating matters more for judges than for anyone else because we don’t know a lot about them and we vote for way, way, way too many of them (in Cook County, anyway).
- levivotedforjudy - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 11:35 am:
The slating prom is great for judges and down ballot candidates to introduce themselves to the larger party but the up-ballot stuff seems more like the “Festivus” airing of grievances.
- Torco Sign - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 12:37 pm:
I was endorsed by less than 20% of endorsers in a three-person race is hilarious.
- Lincoln Lad - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 12:49 pm:
Mitchell will cost support and effort from party supporters (like me for one). Whoever the republicans slate will still have no chance, so JB still wins easily. It’s a mistake, it diminishes support and effort, but the win is not in doubt as a result.
- Here - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 12:54 pm:
The Mitchell choice takes some enthusiasm for JB away. If this is JB’s best choice to run IL should he go for Pres, then I’m taking a fresh look at JB.
- Boone's is Back - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 1:02 pm:
This was definitely one of the more interesting and unpredictable slatings in recent history.
- Here - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 1:02 pm:
Thanks to Don Harmon for his position on the Comptroller slating. His position was the right one. And they could’ve remained consistent with the choice to keep the US Senate race an open primary with no endorsement.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 1:50 pm:
Here here, Here. I concur.
- NIU Grad - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 2:02 pm:
A contentious Assessor race and three open County Board seats…It’ll make it more interesting if someone does decide to challenge Toni.
Residents are frustrated by the property tax delays and issues…This could be a hard year for incumbents if a challenger has the funds and the right message to capitalize on that.
- Amalia - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 5:21 pm:
when will slating happen for the Bridget Degnen vacancy for the County Board seat? wild path of that district so could be interesting.