* Before the primary…
The Congressional Black Caucus is taking aim at Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton — and Gov. JB Pritzker. The caucus endorsed incumbent member U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. And in a statement to Punchbowl News, the caucus said they are not happy to see Pritzker financially supporting his governing partner over their member.
“A sitting governor shouldn’t be heavy-handing the race. Quite frankly, his behavior in this race won’t soon be forgotten,” Caucus Chair U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., said.
* Shortly after the primary…
Congressional Black Caucus members, after a stinging loss in the Illinois Democratic Senate primary, are training their ire on Gov. JB Pritzker — and saying it’s on him to rehabilitate the relationship.
After Pritzker’s outsized financial support for Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton helped lift her to victory, lawmakers vented frustrations that his money unfairly tilted the race in her favor and away from their candidate, Rep. Robin Kelly, a CBC member who finished a distant third. And as Pritzker eyes a 2028 presidential bid, some members, cognizant that the path to winning the Democratic Party’s nomination will run through the caucus, signaled they won’t forget that he crossed them this round. […]
“We don’t need to reach out to the governor,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, adding that the group is focused on midterm races and delivering House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries the speaker’s gavel.
“Others are going to have to reach out to us,” he said of Pritzker. “Those conversations happen when those conversations happen.”
* Yesterday…
Today, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC announced its endorsement of Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton in her campaign for United States Senate. CBCPAC works to increase the number of Black members of Congress and supports candidates who advocate for the interests of the Black community.
“I’m thrilled to be endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus PAC in my campaign for U.S. Senate. There’s not a lot of voices like mine in the Senate, but there should be, and CBCPAC is working hard to change that,” said Juliana Stratton. “Together, we will ensure that every American has the representation they deserve in Congress, and we will fight to deliver real progress for our communities.”
“Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is a dedicated and proven fighter for working families across Illinois and will be a strong voice in the U.S. Senate in our efforts to protect and expand voting rights, make life more affordable, and defend our freedoms,” said CBCPAC Chair Congressman Gregory Meeks. “CBCPAC is proud to endorse Juliana in her campaign to make history as the sixth Black woman senator if elected. At a time when Black political power is under attack, Juliana will ensure that our voices are represented in the halls of power and continue to shine through.”
- Alton Sinkhole - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 10:20 am:
All’s well that ends well.
- factory worker - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 10:27 am:
everything is for sale, and the billionaire can always pay the most.
- ZC - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 11:04 am:
Don’t really see any contradiction or really even tensions here, based solely on the quotes provided. Sounds like their beef was primarily with Pritzker, not with Stratton.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 11:21 am:
Maybe Rep Meeks should take some time to think about the endorsement process for the future. The CBC picked the one major candidate that had no chance of victory in the primary.
- levivoted4judy - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 11:24 am:
So he isn’t supposed to support his two-time running mate? They’re can’t see the forest for the trees. Strategically/cynically, do you really want to tick off a potential donor who has a big PAC?
- oh my - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 11:34 am:
Does it even matter? Don Tracy is going to be beaten like a rented mule — just like all of the IL GOP statewides — no matter who endorses his opponent.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 12:29 pm:
- everything is for sale -
Except during the primary?
Come on, it’s not like they were going to go with Tracy, and staying neutral would be silly when she’s obviously going to be a colleague.
- Jibba - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 12:45 pm:
Everyone endorsed who they had to endorse, and once the dust settled they have done so again. The only burr is the hurt feelings of the CBC who think JB did wrong. JB will have to make amends, but really has no reason to other than shoring up support for 2028, even if a less strategic person might tell them to pound sand.
- Lincoln Lad - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 1:36 pm:
Would be surprised to hear Raja’s donors were writing checks for her; not surprised to hear the caucus got on board.
- low level - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 1:41 pm:
==Don Tracy is going to be beaten like a rented mule==
Please, lets not insult rented mules by comparing them to Dumb Dumb Don Tracy.
- ElTacoBandito - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 1:47 pm:
==So he isn’t supposed to support his two-time running mate? They’re can’t see the forest for the trees.==
Exactly. If he doesn’t support her, then he gets accused of using a black woman to get elected and then abandoning her when she needed his support.
- Norseman - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 3:51 pm:
CBC can pout if it wants to, but they’re not the only ones who can hold grudges - like a new member who they opposed for election.
- Candy Dogood - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 3:58 pm:
===Would be surprised to hear Raja’s donors were writing checks for her===
I presume Raja has been making calls to ask that his donors not contribute to other Democratic candidates given his history of not supporting other Democratic candidates.
- low level - Friday, Sep 11, 26 @ 4:21 pm:
==I presume Raja has been making calls to ask that his donors not contribute to other Democratic candidates given his history of not supporting other Democratic candidates.==
Raja is committed to Democratic Majorities in both houses.