The campaign for Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias released two new television ads highlighting the Secretary’s record of transforming one of the state’s largest offices while standing up for Illinois families.
The spots “Accomplishments” and “Demand Better” illustrate that the government has a responsibility to deliver better service, protect people’s rights, and earn the public’s trust through results. Drawing on Giannoulias’ tenure as Secretary of State, the ads lay out how government can operate with a vision of public service that is more responsive, more efficient, and more accountable.
“For too long, people have expected government to be frustrating, inefficient, and unresponsive,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. “I reject the idea that that’s just the way it has to be. Government should respect people’s time, eliminate unnecessary barriers, spend taxpayer dollars responsibly, stand up and deliver results for the people it serves. Every unnecessary delay and outdated process is a time tax on working families. That’s the standard we’ve worked to set in the Secretary of State’s office, and it’s the standard people should demand everywhere.”
Together, the two advertisements reinforce a consistent theme that has guided Giannoulias’ tenure as Secretary of State: government should make life easier, reduce the time tax, protect the public, and never stop striving to do better.
Giannoulias: Look, government can’t solve all our problems, but it should make life just a little easier. As Secretary of State, we demand better. We made it faster and easier to go to the DMV, but we made it harder for Trump and ICE to violate your rights, to hurt women, to ban books.
Child: Dad, who is that? And why is he in our kitchen?
VO: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. He’s focused on modernizing the office. Standing in line at the DMV may be a thing of the past.
VO: Giannoulias is warning federal immigration agents that swapping license plates will not be tolerated. A first-of-its-kind law preventing book banning.
Giannoulias: Authoritarian regimes ban books, not democracies. No one seeking legal health care services in Illinois should face harassment or jail. Period.
VO: Alexi Giannoulias says something had to be done.
Count me in for a series of ads where he does that on a train, in line for a sandwich, randomly on a street corner, and standing in a SoS office (sorry, a DMV).
C-. Well produced, but all of the anti-Trump statements don’t fit too well for seeking another term as SOS. It seems obvious that Alexi is planning another campaign after November of 2026.
Didn’t know Illinois actually used the term DMV. Is the SOS trying to distance himself from Driver’s Services?
- We've never had one before - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 11:56 am:
If you haven’t had to go to SOS/DMV for anything except new sticker for your plates, you have no idea how they have messed that up.
=- A first-of-its-kind law preventing book banning.=
He helped push legislation that prohibits a public library from getting any state grant dollars if it removes or bans books based on partisan or personal disapproval.
the first one listed feels forced. the family does not ring true C the second one feels more on point even if the issues used are not in the main for the DMV (still can’t get used to that) B
==C-. Well produced, but all of the anti-Trump statements don’t fit too well for seeking another term as SOS. It seems obvious that Alexi is planning another campaign after November of 2026.==
2027 have you seen any political polling at all in the last 6 months? Every politican’s message should be fighting Trump and they’ll win. If you’re running a poll and message tested informed campaign the dog catcher’s message needs to be about how he’s fighting Trump
The first one is good, until the end. The last 10 seconds are just weird. Second one is a solid add. I think he still needs more of an intro/bio ad, although he may want to skip certain parts of the bio. C+ for first ad, B+ for second.
I’m giving these a B+, but I am not certain what an excellent ad for this race would look like. For the Swolletary of State his race is a lot like running in a vacuum. I think these do a good job of showing his personality, though, and reminding folks that he’s done a decent job.
===Jesse White decided to give in to popular demand and call them DMVs. I still think it was a mistake. ===
Not so easy if you live in one of the areas that mandate an emission test - every couple of years you ned to schlep over to the testing station before renewal is allowed
- It's Just a Pill - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 2:04 pm:
If the DMV at 99th and King Dr. is any indication, his office is doing a fantastic job. It is cleaner, better staffed and more efficent that it has ever been over the past 30 years.
C. I’m sorry, but it’s kind of cringe. He shouldn’t try to pretend to be something that he’s not. He’s got a good enough record for run on without trying to play a part.
- Oklahoma - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 11:29 am:
Count me in for a series of ads where he does that on a train, in line for a sandwich, randomly on a street corner, and standing in a SoS office (sorry, a DMV).
- Bob - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 11:35 am:
For a guy with so much personal charisma, he is stiff as a board in these things.
- Steve - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 11:36 am:
- A first-of-its-kind law preventing book banning.-
What books are Amazon and Barnes and Noble banning? I’d like to see the list?
- 2027 - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 11:38 am:
C-. Well produced, but all of the anti-Trump statements don’t fit too well for seeking another term as SOS. It seems obvious that Alexi is planning another campaign after November of 2026.
Didn’t know Illinois actually used the term DMV. Is the SOS trying to distance himself from Driver’s Services?
- We've never had one before - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 11:56 am:
If you haven’t had to go to SOS/DMV for anything except new sticker for your plates, you have no idea how they have messed that up.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 11:56 am:
===Didn’t know Illinois actually used the term DMV. Is the SOS trying to distance himself from Driver’s Services? ===
Jesse White decided to give in to popular demand and call them DMVs. I still think it was a mistake.
- Old Man Poodle owner - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 11:57 am:
Put in kiosks like they do in Wisconsin (at the Qwik Trip) or as they do in many other states. No need to stand in line.
- Think Again - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 12:06 pm:
=- A first-of-its-kind law preventing book banning.=
He helped push legislation that prohibits a public library from getting any state grant dollars if it removes or bans books based on partisan or personal disapproval.
- Amalia - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 12:19 pm:
the first one listed feels forced. the family does not ring true C the second one feels more on point even if the issues used are not in the main for the DMV (still can’t get used to that) B
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 12:20 pm:
===Put in kiosks===
Those have been rolling out for awhile now.
https://www.ilsos.gov/kiosk.html
- Phineas - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 12:40 pm:
I’m sure they’re spending a ton to run this in Paducah, STL, Quad Cities, Peoria, & Decatur, right? /s/
- lol - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 12:55 pm:
==C-. Well produced, but all of the anti-Trump statements don’t fit too well for seeking another term as SOS. It seems obvious that Alexi is planning another campaign after November of 2026.==
2027 have you seen any political polling at all in the last 6 months? Every politican’s message should be fighting Trump and they’ll win. If you’re running a poll and message tested informed campaign the dog catcher’s message needs to be about how he’s fighting Trump
- Red Ranger - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 1:05 pm:
The first one is good, until the end. The last 10 seconds are just weird. Second one is a solid add. I think he still needs more of an intro/bio ad, although he may want to skip certain parts of the bio. C+ for first ad, B+ for second.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 1:25 pm:
I’m giving these a B+, but I am not certain what an excellent ad for this race would look like. For the Swolletary of State his race is a lot like running in a vacuum. I think these do a good job of showing his personality, though, and reminding folks that he’s done a decent job.
===Jesse White decided to give in to popular demand and call them DMVs. I still think it was a mistake. ===
Ditto.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 1:35 pm:
Just got my email reminder to renew my license plates online. Easy peasy. No kiosk needed….
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 1:36 pm:
===Just got my email reminder to renew my license plates online===
Same.
- Think Again - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 1:48 pm:
= Easy peasy. No kiosk needed…=
Not so easy if you live in one of the areas that mandate an emission test - every couple of years you ned to schlep over to the testing station before renewal is allowed
- It's Just a Pill - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 2:04 pm:
If the DMV at 99th and King Dr. is any indication, his office is doing a fantastic job. It is cleaner, better staffed and more efficent that it has ever been over the past 30 years.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 2:05 pm:
Think Again does it yet again. Tries to change the subject with something totally unrelated.
Stop doing that.
- Shytown - Monday, Jul 13, 26 @ 3:22 pm:
C. I’m sorry, but it’s kind of cringe. He shouldn’t try to pretend to be something that he’s not. He’s got a good enough record for run on without trying to play a part.