* Tribune endorsement…

But for the next six years of a Senate term, we think the dysfunctional Prairie State could benefit from a change to a senator who is Illinois-centric, not Washington-centric, and who would be eager to shake up the status quo here.

Yes, there’s important work to be done in Washington for the good of the country. But Illinois’ disastrous problems, which have landed the state on numerous embarrassing lists (worst managed, worst credit rating, worst unfunded pension liabilities, worst outmigration, worst corruption) should be the business of our federal elected officials, too, and especially our senators: High property taxes, unfunded pensions, a near-junk credit rating, property values that still haven’t recovered from the Great Recession compared with other states — Illinois in an outlier in nearly every category.

But Durbin demurs when asked about the general state of affairs in Illinois. He won’t criticize Democratic Party leadership, policies or House Speaker Michael Madigan’s management. Durbin says he is troubled by the unfolding corruption investigation that has, so far, ensnared numerous members of his party. But there is no sense of anger or urgency at the toll it has taken on voters’ trust toward government.

In other words, vote for Mark Curran because Madigan.

* The Trib didn’t mention any of this, but if you’d like a different view, here’s an oppo file…

Curran in June 2020 said he was “more aligned with President Trump than with any president in history.

• Curran defended Trump when the president in July 2020 proposed delaying the election.
• Curran backed Trump on other issues, including construction of a border wall and trade.
• Curran signaled support for Trump’s efforts to racially profile immigrants entering the
U.S.: “I agree with President Trump, you know, when people come from certain regions of the world, we need to vet them. … And, you know, when he says we’ve got to take a closer look at people when they come from certain countries and certain regions, he’s spot-on.”

Two days after John Lewis’ passing, Curran said he was “not much of a civil rights leader”

• At a July press conference defending a Columbus statue in Chicago, Curran went on a tangent about abortion being the number one killer of Black and Brown babies, and then argued John Lewis support of Planned Parenthood meant he was “not much of a civil rights leader.”

Curran has said he does not believe climate change is a threat to humankind and said “antifa” may be responsible for setting wildfires in the West.

• In a candidate forum in September, Curran said “there’s evidence that groups, maybe antifa, are amongst them that are lighting some of these fires” when discussing wildfires in western states and the rise of global warming.
• In his Daily Herald candidate questionnaire, Curran stated that he “[is] not convinced that climate change is currently a threat to humankind.”

Curran has opposed progressive police reform policies.

• Curran has spoken at Back the Blue rallies in Illinois that are a response to Black Lives Matter and other protests seeking remedies for racial injustice.9
• Curran called Black Lives Matter “an evil entity”: “Black Lives Matter is an evil entity. I’ve never supported Black Lives Matter. They’re in bed with the abortion industry, and defund police, and they stand for so many evil things.”10
• Curran opposed defunding police, saying, “the gangs are going to run the cities.”11
• Curran called people protesting against racial injustice “thugs”: “We’re not going to surrender the city to thugs and these violent, evil human beings – and they are evil in many circumstances.”
• Curran praised “stop and frisk” as a key tool in combatting violence in cities.
• Curran said he supported a FOP contract provision in Chicago that allowed officers to
decline to be interviewed for 24 hours after an officer-involved shooting.
• Curran said in 2010 that he was not a proponent of early release programs for prisoners: “Bottom line is, you do the crime, you do the time.”
• Curran suggested ideological differences between the political left and the political right could lead to secession of portions of the country: “We’ve seen the left in the streets. We have not seen the right. And I’ve been down to Central Illinois and Southern Illinois and spent a lot of time. And their DNA is such that they ain’t going down without a fight. So maybe secession of portions of this country is in our future. Who knows? Nobody knows. But I’m going to tell you this much. They’re not going to go quietly in the night. They’re not ready to surrender. This is their America. You know, people died for it, and their ancestors died for it. And you know, these leftists that want to destroy America - and that’s why they want open borders, because they want people who have no respect or appreciation for the heritage of this country. No. Not in our America. Not in my America. I’ll die first.” […]

Pushed for Reopening of Illinois amid Pandemic

Curran stated in a Facebook video that the coronavirus needed to “run its course and we have to let people get infected” to achieve herd immunity.

• Curran noted he was “severely asthmatic,” – but not worried about it even though he is in the “vulnerable class.”
• He also stated that Governor Pritzker, in his work to flatten the curve should “slow it down.”
• Curran said the virus will not go away until “we build up herd immunity, and enough people get the virus…ultimately, we have to let the virus run its course and we have to let people get infected.”

Curran in May 2020 spoke at a Re-Open Illinois protest where crowd members carried anti-Semitic signs, garnering condemnation from his own party leaders.

• Leaders of the Republican Party condemned the protestors who brought anti-Semitic signs. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin who called the protestors’ actions “contemptible and repugnant.”
• Leader Durkin’s spokesperson went further, saying “the reason the Republican Party has difficulties in Illinois is because of people like Mr. Curran who find time to criticize everyone but the hate-mongers and Nazi protesters he panders to.”
• In March, Curran said Illinois’ response to the pandemic had gone too far.
• Curran continued to push for reopening during summer despite the clear severity of the
pandemic.
• Curran criticized decision to cancel some high school sports in Illinois due to pandemic, saying on social media, “Death will eventually come for everyone.”

Curran said the Catholic Church had fallen short during the pandemic



● In April, Curran said the church should have found ways to have in-person mass and confessional.
● In March, the Pope said people could confess directly to God in lieu of confession: “Do what the Catechism (of the Catholic Church) says. It is very clear: If you cannot find a priest to confess to, speak directly with God, your father, and tell him the truth. Say, ‘Lord, I did this, this, this. Forgive me,’ and ask for pardon with all your heart.”
● Cardinal Cupich: As for those, including Republican Senate candidate Mark Curran, who believe the church should have found safe ways to have in-person masses, the cardinal said, “Religion is not magic where we just say prayers and think things are going to change. God gave us a brain and the gift of intelligence and we have to use it in this moment.”