* Isabel and I have been covering these bizarre attacks for a while now. Tribune…
“Some Washington politicians want to expand ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in our community,” a mailer paid for by state Rep. Jaime Andrade’s campaign reads. “Miguel Alvelo-Rivera is standing with them,” it says in English. “Miguel Alvelo-Rivera supports them,” it says in Spanish.
Andrade’s opponent, the Chicago Teachers Union-endorsed Alvelo-Rivera, is not in favor of expanding ICE. […]
Asked about the mailers, Andrade of Chicago provided a written document showing the mailers trace a chain that he says backs up his claims: Congresswoman Ramirez supports Alvelo-Rivera; Ramirez has received campaign contributions from two California Democrats, U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia and House Democratic Chair Pete Aguilar; and those California lawmakers voted in 2024 for a resolution that included funding increases for parts of ICE. Ramirez voted against the measure. […]
“He has engaged in a dangerous disinformation campaign that harms our movement,” Ramirez said of Andrade. “Chicago politics are often contentious. We are not naive to this reality, especially Chicago politics, but there is a clear line between politics and dangerous propaganda.
“He can’t really cite anything, because it’s all vicious lies,” Ramirez said, speaking after a press conference in which she called for Andrade to apologize. Alvelo-Rivera also said the mailers were “defamation and lies.”
Andrade is really stretching on that “connection.” I’ve seen other stuff like this, but perhaps not as blatant.
* The first mailer came from the Democratic Party of Illinois…
VO: Trump’s ICE agents are terrorizing our streets. And the insiders who funded Trump’s ICE raids are the same ones funding Miguel Alvelo-Rivera. We need fighters in Springfield, not Alvelo-Rivera. Say adios to Miguel Alvelo-Rivera.
In a few more degrees he’ll be connected to Kevin Bacon. This Latino on Latino bashing right now using ICE just feels icky & it is an old school tactic. Shame on DPI for not reading the room.
If Rivera can find Troops to walk pcts…he wins this District. Andrade can’t walk the entire District himself. Because Welch has no Real Canvassers like his predecessor Speaker Madigan did…and has only mailers to offer….and a lot of them…this District can clearly flip. Looks like the powers that be are worried.
Speaker Welch claims that he has troops and the House Dem Caucus Reps go out and canvass, but I personally have never seen my Representative at my door, and he is in the House Dem Caucus.
Make no mistake, Speaker Welch has people to knock doors and he has an expert heading up that effort as Rich has reported previously. Chris will never have the number of volunteers MJM had, but then again no one ever will. We will see how it plays out.
I live in the 40th and am predisposed to support the more progressive candidate generally, but Jaime’s campaign is certainly not making it a tough decision.
@Burgoyne, yes. You are familar w Fred Moody, yes? He is heading up field for Speaker Welch as Rich reported previously. None of this is a secret. Fred is an expert when it comes to field operations.
@low level He’s obviously not an expert in field operations. I have never seen my state representative at my door. I wish him the best of luck in his new role.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Feb 25, 26 @ 1:03 pm:
Heh, I got that mailer. I mean, at least he makes up some thread of connections. It’s not just straight up lies.
I mean, dangerous propaganda and all, takes one to know one.
- Trinity - Wednesday, Feb 25, 26 @ 1:22 pm:
In a few more degrees he’ll be connected to Kevin Bacon. This Latino on Latino bashing right now using ICE just feels icky & it is an old school tactic. Shame on DPI for not reading the room.
- Stuart - Wednesday, Feb 25, 26 @ 1:28 pm:
If Rivera can find Troops to walk pcts…he wins this District. Andrade can’t walk the entire District himself. Because Welch has no Real Canvassers like his predecessor Speaker Madigan did…and has only mailers to offer….and a lot of them…this District can clearly flip. Looks like the powers that be are worried.
- Burgoyne - Wednesday, Feb 25, 26 @ 1:55 pm:
Speaker Welch claims that he has troops and the House Dem Caucus Reps go out and canvass, but I personally have never seen my Representative at my door, and he is in the House Dem Caucus.
- low level - Wednesday, Feb 25, 26 @ 4:10 pm:
Make no mistake, Speaker Welch has people to knock doors and he has an expert heading up that effort as Rich has reported previously. Chris will never have the number of volunteers MJM had, but then again no one ever will. We will see how it plays out.
Personally I hope Jaime prevails.
- Chat_BP3 - Wednesday, Feb 25, 26 @ 4:42 pm:
I live in the 40th and am predisposed to support the more progressive candidate generally, but Jaime’s campaign is certainly not making it a tough decision.
- Burgoyne - Wednesday, Feb 25, 26 @ 4:48 pm:
@ low level an expert?? I have never seen my state representative at my door he must be on a different program.
- low level - Wednesday, Feb 25, 26 @ 5:31 pm:
@Burgoyne, yes. You are familar w Fred Moody, yes? He is heading up field for Speaker Welch as Rich reported previously. None of this is a secret. Fred is an expert when it comes to field operations.
- Burgoyne - Wednesday, Feb 25, 26 @ 9:42 pm:
@low level He’s obviously not an expert in field operations. I have never seen my state representative at my door. I wish him the best of luck in his new role.