They’re never gonna learn
Friday, Apr 10, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From one of my recent newspaper columns…
In DuPage County, the preliminary number of Republicans casting ballots for governor fell almost 32% compared to four years ago.
The DuPage Republican drop-off has been steady for years, coinciding with the party’s ever-shrinking success in the general election. Last week’s preliminary primary turnout in the former Republican bastion is about 49% below 2014 — the last year the state elected a Republican governor.
Democratic turnout in DuPage, on the other hand, is so far up a whopping 45% compared to four years ago. Democratic primary turnout has greatly increased in the county since 2014, which was a horrible year for Democratic turnout throughout the state. That year was President Barack Obama’s second midterm, and Gov. Pat Quinn went on to lose to Bruce Rauner in the general.
DuPage Democratic turnout in the governor’s race this year is up 586% (that’s not a typo) from 2014. And unlike some other jurisdictions, DuPage Democratic turnout was significantly higher this spring (25%) than in the primary held during Trump’s first midterm election.
Needless to say, those numbers cannot provide any comfort to the shrinking number of Republican legislators and local officials who represent part or all of that county.
* DuPage Republicans…
* To Ald. Matt Martin’s proposed ordinance…
“Extremist activities” means advocating, engaging in, or supporting: (i) the overthrow of any federal, state, or local government of the United States by violence, or seeking to alter the form of these governments by violence or unconstitutional means, including, but not limited to, by means of treason, sedition, insurrection, rebellion, or related offenses; or (ii) the planning, execution, or other material support of hate crimes and hate incidents, each as defined in Section 2-120-518.
- Roadrager - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:38 pm:
Yes, but according to a DuPage County resident and recent candidate for governor, liars use numbers.
The purple out west here is getting a tinge more blue by the day, it seems.
- NewtoPolitics - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:42 pm:
The democratic senator primary was far more interesting than anything on the republican side. Perhaps republicans wanted a say in who the next senator would be and pulled the democratic ballot.
- Iron Duke - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:45 pm:
Glad to see a member of the Chicago progressive caucus finally put some daylight between themselves and left wing extremist groups like Antifa and Jane’s Revenge.
- NewtoPolitics - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:45 pm:
The democratic senate primary was far more interesting than anything on the republican side. Perhaps republicans wanted a say in who the next senator would be and pulled the democratic ballot.
- JS Mill - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:47 pm:
Rich, you may have buried the lede here. So basically the DuPage county GOP is saying they support:
…the overthrow of any federal, state, or local government of the United States by violence, or seeking to alter the form of these governments by violence or unconstitutional means, including, but not limited to, by means of treason, sedition, insurrection, rebellion, or related offenses; or the planning, execution, or other material support of hate crimes and hate incidents
Wow. Me thinks it isn’t just the map that is hurting my old party.
- Roadrager - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:47 pm:
==The democratic senate primary was far more interesting than anything on the republican side. Perhaps republicans wanted a say in who the next senator would be and pulled the democratic ballot.==
Say no more. Your username says it all.
- thechampaignlife - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:53 pm:
No, no, DuPage GOP has a point. Their party supported the overthrow of the federal government vis-a-vis January 6th. They would meet the (very reasonable) definition of an extremist activity.
- Just Asking - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:59 pm:
So under this ordinance would the Chicago FOP Prez lose his job at the police department because of his past comments supporting J6′ers ?
- Dupage - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 2:04 pm:
I was a moderate Republican for decades, when they had a wide tent. When the Republican tent was moved drastically to the right, I was no longer in their tent. The Democrats are mostly too far left, so I guess now I would be considered a moderate Independent. There are very few moderate candidates that I would bother to go out to vote for.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 2:06 pm:
===Chicago FOP Prez lose his job at the police department===
He retired.
- Boone Logan Square - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 2:18 pm:
The opposition to the ordinance is consistent with everything the Republican party has done since January 6, 2021.