Governor’s Day coverage roundup
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Ethics concerns in the Illinois House took a back seat to bashing President Donald Trump Wednesday for Democrats at the Illinois State Fair, where the supermajority party launched its sprint to November’s general election with familiar critiques of Republicans — and without embattled Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch in attendance.
Welch sat out Governor’s Day festivities in the capital after Springfield’s latest sexual harassment scandal, which has raised questions about the speaker’s handling of misconduct allegations against disgraced former state Rep. Harry Benton, who resigned last month in the face of complaints from three women.
The speaker typically holds court with the media alongside the state’s other top Democratic power players at the fair, where the late summer scents of fried food and farm animals signal the home stretch of campaign season.
But after attending a series of Springfield fundraisers Tuesday night, Welch headed home for his daughter’s first day of school, according to a spokesperson.
* Proof of story…
* Tribune…
But revelations first exposed by a Tribune investigation that Welch’s office’s knew Benton had harassed one of his district office staffers three years ago — that Welch nonetheless pumped $1.4 million into the Plainfield lawmaker’s reelection campaign the following year, and that he took action against Benton only this year, after two additional women were harassed — has raised fresh questions about his leadership and the lack of checks and balances in Illinois’ one-party government.
On Tuesday evening, Welch received limited applause after speaking to attendees at an Illinois Democratic Women’s fundraiser at a downtown bar. He was introduced by Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon as “someone who stands up for women.”
“You know,” Welch said, “I believe that if we’re going to change culture, whether it’s in Washington, D.C., and that terrible guy in the White House, or in state capitols all over this country, including right here in Springfield, we have to elect women to office.”
* CNI…
Democrats running for statewide office couldn’t wait to share with supporters what they’ve done to fight Trump during their tenure.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul touted his office’s legal tussles with the Trump administration, including its successful efforts to beat back the president’s attempt to deploy the National Guard to the streets of Chicago.
“Some may say ‘Don’t mess with Texas,’ but we went all the way to the Supreme Court to tell Donald Trump, ‘Don’t toy with Illinois,’” Raoul said. […]
But as Democrats bashed Trump for rising prices, the Illinois Tollway on Wednesday morning approved a 57% increase on cars and 30% on trucks beginning next year. It will increase by inflation every two years after that without further public hearings or board votes. The rate increase will fund a capital program for the Tollway and was permitted by the transit reform bill lawmakers approved last year.
“We want to make sure that our roads are pothole-free, that we’re making sure to build more so that we can build our economy across the state of Illinois,” Pritzker told reporters.
* WGN…
Concerning the race for Chicago mayor, two prominent statewide officeholders keep angling.
Susana Mendoza, without mentioning Alexi Giannoulias by name, jabbed the Secretary of State for running to keep his current job in November while also seeking the 5th Floor.
“You deserve a candidate who is going to be all in for the position that they are asking you to support them for, the statewide position,” Mendoza said. […]
“No one is talking about that. I’m proud of the work we’ve done in the Secretary of State Office,” Giannoulias answered. “It’s awkward coming from her.”
Last year, Giannoulias heaped praise on Mendoza during the fair.
* ABC7…
Keynote speaker Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren talked about the importance of the fight ahead in November.
“We are fighting Republicans on two fronts: costs and corruption,” Warren said. “Our job as Democrats is to lower the costs and to end this corruption right now.”
Pritzker, who recently contributed $65 million of his own money to his campaign, defended the move.
“I’m working to elect myself, Christian Mitchell, Democrats up and down the ballot, working hard to make sure that our message is heard by people all across the state of Illinois. So I’m going to continue to invest in that endeavor,” he said.
* And…
- It's always Sunny in Illinois - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:11 am:
But as Democrats bashed Trump for rising prices, the Illinois Tollway on Wednesday morning approved a 57% increase on cars and 30% on trucks beginning next year. It will increase by inflation every two years after that without further public hearings or board votes. The rate increase will fund a capital program for the Tollway and was permitted by the transit reform bill lawmakers approved last year.
Nothing screams “Affordability” like the toll increases unanimously approved by the current administrations Board after 75% plus of public comments weighed in against them……You go Governor and Super Majority…..!
- Squeaker Welch - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:40 am:
You know- I expect better from President Trump and I expect better from Illinois Democrats.
It’s all so tiresome.
- Alton Sinkhole - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:01 am:
The dogpile on Welch went a bit far in the comments yesterday with all of you accusing him of lying about being there with his kids for the first day of school.
Playing into Maze’s hand.
- King Louis XVI - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:03 am:
The Tollway’s 57% toll hike is a cringe headline. It mocks Dems’ “we are the afforablity champions”. All to keep 150, et al happy.
- Alton Sinkhole - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:13 am:
To clarify, it wasn’t “all commenters” that is disingenuous on my end. But it was a lot of commenters seemingly not believing he’d be with his kids on the first day.
- iheartsza - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:21 am:
People complaining about the tollway taxes as if they are not completely optional (you only pay IF you use them) and still below the national average is ridiculous. Would you rather have cheap tollways with crumbling infrastructure and no public transit?
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:44 am:
“Would you rather have cheap tollways with crumbling infrastructure and no public transit?”
Because Indiana’s trash roads are right there.
– MrJM
- H-W - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:46 am:
Here’s the thing about the tolls. They are cheap unless you live on the tollway. When I drive to Chicago twice or three times a year, I get a bill for a couple bucks. If that were an annoyance, I can set my Google map to avoid tolls, and drive another half hour. I would rather pay a couple bucks.
The 57% increase on a couple bucks is a couple bucks plus one or two more. It is no big deal, especially for the vast majority of Illinoisans who do not use the the toll roads. For the latter folks, it is pretty clear they would prefer you add a couple bucks to your commute, rather than using the Road Funds to fund your commute.
Personally, I would suggest people need to learn that percentages rarely if ever tell the story. They need to be presented in the context of absolute numbers, less the percentages imply grandstanding.
- Pistol Pete - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 11:11 am:
As Yogi Berra said, no one goes there anymore because it’s too crowded.
A majority of Illinois residents don’t use the toll roads?
Last year the Illinois Tollway collected a record 1.65 billion from someone.
- Been There - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 11:19 am:
====Because Indiana’s trash roads are right there.==== I would like to add that their tollway roads are also trashy
- Oklahoma - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 11:28 am:
And have somehow been under perpetual construction since 1997.
- Loop Lady - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 11:30 am:
Did Welch post pictures last year of his kids first day of school?
I didn’t think so.
Father of the Year, but resign as Speaker.
- yinn - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 11:42 am:
==a lot of commenters seemingly not believing==
It’s a sad result of erosion of trust that didn’t come out of nowhere.
- Downstate - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 11:52 am:
A side note: Looking at Speaker Welch’s Facebook history (with the power of 2 different AI’s) this is the first time in his FB history that he’s posted about his kids and starting school. And this is the first year in the last six that he’s missed the state festivities.
I applaud him for being with his children. It’s probably a good time to focus on family. But he should be just as forthcoming on his actions around the sexual harassment matter in the Capitol.
I just found that interesting.
- Think Again - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 12:42 pm:
=posted about his kids and starting school=
Nice to see that Welch’s son goes to Nazareth Academy, a fine Catholic High School
- Oklahoma - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 12:52 pm:
Stop looking silly. First day of high school is a pretty big deal.
- Downstate - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 2:05 pm:
“Stop looking silly.”
Do you feel Speaker Welch should be more transparent about his actions around the sexual harassment item?
- JB13 - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 2:39 pm:
So Liz Warren is saying Illinois Democrats should fight “costs and corruption?”
There were no mirrors in the room, I see.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 2:49 pm:
=a fine Catholic High School=
In his defense, Naz is about 15 minutes closer to home than Proviso. But seems funny given Welch was on the Proviso board and keeps running state money to them for unneeded athletic projects. It has an SDG feel to it.
- Oklahoma - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 6:19 pm:
Absolutely yes.
But stop looking silly about the school thing.