The ad is probably effective in a primary. The tweet is misleading and infuriating. The SAFE-T act has nothing to do with this gentleman’s tragic situation.
Dabrowski was vice president of IPI, gave Rauner the IPI playbook, and Rauner hired a bunch of IPI staff after reasonable Republicans left his staff. Dabrowski would usher back the Rauner years. How many casualties were there in those years because of the lack of a state budget? Jussayin’
I’m sorry, but as a father, I find it repulsive to see this guy exploiting his daughter’s death for political reasons. Even more so after reading her mother’s op-ed a few months ago.
More fearmongering, nothing to advance the state of Illinois. Nothing to introduce the unknown candidate in a positive light. Republicans can’t be moderate anymore, the base won’t accept it. It’s like a concession that this party will remain a superminority. Rated F
It wasn’t until the end of the ad I realized it wasn’t the guy speaking who was running for office. Waste of money. I’m surprised the candidate even approved this.
Great insight into what Ted’s camp think will stand out at candidate forums in Manteno, etc. Tying your campaign to ICE doesn’t seem like a likely path to winning a general in ‘26 but it’s what republicans want
- charles in charge - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:42 am:
It’s a good ad at least insofar as it illuminates who Ted Dabrowski is and what we can expect from him if he’s elected. We have toxic “tough on crime” politics like this to thank for the bottomless well of rotten policies that have given us mass incarceration while managing to make our communities less safe, courtesy of both parties over a period of many decades. Candidates like Dabrowski cynically exploit tragedies for political gain to attack incumbents for not being “tough” enough, and when they manage to get elected they continue to double down, treating every crime as an opportunity to advance even more punitive but utterly ineffective policy. Crime might not poll highly as an issue that moves voters right now, but for me personally I am motivated in a negative way by candidates who pander on public safety. It shows a fundamental lack of seriousness on an important issue, and a willingness to be dishonest with voters about what actually produces safety. It’s a big reason why I’ll never vote for Susana Mendoza for anything.
- What's the point? - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:46 am:
Why can’t Darren Bailey can run the exact same piece, but with video of Bailey saying the words?
A very good opener. The campaign needs name recognition now. The raw emotionalism of this ad will grab more attention than one with the candidate doing a “talking head” routine. Does it unfairly twist the SAFE-T Act in a way that will infuriate those of us who know better? Yes. Does it speak to an issue that polls show is not a priority? Yes again. So what. Voters reflected in those two statements weren’t voting for him anyway. The better question is will it resonate with the MAGA base that he needs to tap into to beat Bailey. The answer to that one is yes.
I actually overheard people discussing how disgusted they were to see this ad during the Bears game (same) while out shopping yesterday. Of course I’m not sure Edgewater is a cornerstone of Ted’s campaign but it will still be funny to watch him lose to Darren Bailey
I noticed the killer was “an illegal alien.” That will play well to Republicans, but I’m sure Bailey is against the SAFE-T Act too.
Bailey is far better known to Republicans. Dabrowski not including a clip of himself at the end saying, “I’m Ted Dabrowski and I approved this message” was a major mistake.
- Arsenal - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 8:25 am:
Great issue and emotional core for a Republican primary, but Ted is so unknown, you’d probably want to see him in the ad.
- Sox Fan - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 8:28 am:
The ad is probably effective in a primary. The tweet is misleading and infuriating. The SAFE-T act has nothing to do with this gentleman’s tragic situation.
- Think again - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 8:31 am:
Effective - hard to oppose this emotional issue - and as Dabrowski being an unknown; this is a good opening ad as it creates an anyone but JB vibe
- Moot Point - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 8:45 am:
Dabrowski was vice president of IPI, gave Rauner the IPI playbook, and Rauner hired a bunch of IPI staff after reasonable Republicans left his staff. Dabrowski would usher back the Rauner years. How many casualties were there in those years because of the lack of a state budget? Jussayin’
- Excitable Boy - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 8:48 am:
It’s a decent ad for a general, but Ted might need to figure out he has to beat Bailey first.
- Lol - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 8:49 am:
So Ted is gonna ignore every poll that says this isn’t a top issue for voters. Go ahead, sir. Waste that money.
- Marky D - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 8:50 am:
I’m sorry, but as a father, I find it repulsive to see this guy exploiting his daughter’s death for political reasons. Even more so after reading her mother’s op-ed a few months ago.
- Think again - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:02 am:
=I’m sorry, but as a father=
As a father of three daughters, I totally sympathize with his loss.
- low level - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:02 am:
Maybe a D—. A waste of time. Ted and carrie’s excellent adventure seems stalled at the moment.
- Not Again - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:05 am:
Maybe the worst intro ad you could do. When you have no brand and should be chasing name id this is the wrong approach. F
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:12 am:
More fearmongering, nothing to advance the state of Illinois. Nothing to introduce the unknown candidate in a positive light. Republicans can’t be moderate anymore, the base won’t accept it. It’s like a concession that this party will remain a superminority. Rated F
- NIU Grad - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:22 am:
Always a sign of a likeable candidate when the campaign does everything possible to not make them visible or known.
- Just Me 2 - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:25 am:
It wasn’t until the end of the ad I realized it wasn’t the guy speaking who was running for office. Waste of money. I’m surprised the candidate even approved this.
- Jocko - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:31 am:
“Ted Dabrowski would have protected Katie”
My heart goes out to Joe Abraham…but what solution does Ted propose to stop drunk driving? How is this the fault of the SAFE-T Act?
- astor place - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:40 am:
Great insight into what Ted’s camp think will stand out at candidate forums in Manteno, etc. Tying your campaign to ICE doesn’t seem like a likely path to winning a general in ‘26 but it’s what republicans want
- charles in charge - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:42 am:
It’s a good ad at least insofar as it illuminates who Ted Dabrowski is and what we can expect from him if he’s elected. We have toxic “tough on crime” politics like this to thank for the bottomless well of rotten policies that have given us mass incarceration while managing to make our communities less safe, courtesy of both parties over a period of many decades. Candidates like Dabrowski cynically exploit tragedies for political gain to attack incumbents for not being “tough” enough, and when they manage to get elected they continue to double down, treating every crime as an opportunity to advance even more punitive but utterly ineffective policy. Crime might not poll highly as an issue that moves voters right now, but for me personally I am motivated in a negative way by candidates who pander on public safety. It shows a fundamental lack of seriousness on an important issue, and a willingness to be dishonest with voters about what actually produces safety. It’s a big reason why I’ll never vote for Susana Mendoza for anything.
- What's the point? - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:46 am:
Why can’t Darren Bailey can run the exact same piece, but with video of Bailey saying the words?
- Southside Markie - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:50 am:
A very good opener. The campaign needs name recognition now. The raw emotionalism of this ad will grab more attention than one with the candidate doing a “talking head” routine. Does it unfairly twist the SAFE-T Act in a way that will infuriate those of us who know better? Yes. Does it speak to an issue that polls show is not a priority? Yes again. So what. Voters reflected in those two statements weren’t voting for him anyway. The better question is will it resonate with the MAGA base that he needs to tap into to beat Bailey. The answer to that one is yes.
- *ducks* - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:57 am:
“says this isn’t a top issue for voters”
I haven’t seen a gop primary voter poll published lately. Illinois voters aren’t Republican primary voters, by and large.
- Katie - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:59 am:
I actually overheard people discussing how disgusted they were to see this ad during the Bears game (same) while out shopping yesterday. Of course I’m not sure Edgewater is a cornerstone of Ted’s campaign but it will still be funny to watch him lose to Darren Bailey
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 10:07 am:
I noticed the killer was “an illegal alien.” That will play well to Republicans, but I’m sure Bailey is against the SAFE-T Act too.
Bailey is far better known to Republicans. Dabrowski not including a clip of himself at the end saying, “I’m Ted Dabrowski and I approved this message” was a major mistake.
- Lurker - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 10:12 am:
I didn’t know Ted before this ad.
I don’t know Ted after this ad.