* For a guy who doesn’t want to answer questions about former President Trump, this opens the door to even more questions. But, hey, it’s a campaign. Click the pic for the video…

“Bailey and the Never Trumper.”

…Adding… DGA…

“Richard Irvin is desperate to pass his Trump problem off to someone else because he’s afraid to tell voters where he stands,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “After months of dodging questions on who he voted for, Irvin wants to deflect to his opponents — but Illinoisans will see right through his hypocrisy. It’s a simple yes or no: did you vote for Donald Trump?”

* Danny Davis primary opponent Kina Collins…

In the 2020 election, Black women turned out and helped the Democratic party win the Presidency and a majority in the Senate. We are the bulwark of the Democratic party’s voting base, but when Black women like me choose to run, Democratic leadership immediately questions our “electability.”

If the Democratic party wants to rely on Black women to win elections, they have to fight to give us a seat at the table. Representation matters. Period.

Black women have to work twice as hard to raise the same amount of money and convince people of their electability, but we are putting in the work and shifting the narrative. Can you help us keep our momentum going by donating $15?

Donate »

In an Axios article published last Sunday, they asked me about the electability of Black women, and my answer was simple: Democratic leadership say they love Black women — until it’s time to elect us.

If elected, I will be the youngest Black woman ever elected to Congress. I am part of a generation of voters and leaders at the core of the Democratic party and we deserve to be represented in Congress.

She’s not wrong about her party.

* Valencia campaign…

After Alexi Giannoulias yesterday refused to disclose his clients and any investments directed on their behalf while he worked for seven years at BNY Mellon, a major Wall Street bank that has close ties to the gun industry and fossil fuel companies, among others, Secretary of State candidate Anna Valencia released the following statement:

“My opponent is quick to talk the talk when it comes to transparency, but he is refusing to walk the walk. It took less than two weeks for him to break his commitment to Illinoisans that he would always prioritize transparency. But voters deserve to know that instead of fighting the Trump and Rauner administrations over the last decade, he worked as wealth director for a Wall Street bank with clear ties to the gun industry, coal companies and even North Korea. Who else was he involved with?

“He cannot hide behind secret corporate agreements while pledging transparency, especially given his checkered track record that includes losing hundreds of millions of dollars in college savings for Illinois families and serving as senior loan officer at his family’s bank that gave loans to convicted mobsters. Illinois voters deserve to know who exactly my opponent was working for during his time as a Wall Street banker and how he was directing his clients’ wealth. We are waiting.”

Background
Crain’s Chicago Business reported last night that Secretary of State candidate Alexi Giannoulias is refusing to disclose his clients and any investments he led while serving as wealth director for BNY Mellon. The Valencia campaign sent Giannoulias a letter one week ago, on March 10, requesting that he follow through on his pledge to transparency with Illinois voters. Read the letter here.

Now, go to Greg’s update at the bottom of his story…

“Giannoulias’ spokesman is saying a little more. From a statement: “To clarify Valencia’s misguided attempt to distort the facts, Alexi never was an ‘investment banker.’ While he was at BNY Mellon, he never invested any money or directed any investments. During his tenure there, Alexi served as a wealth director whose role was to develop new business and introduce new clients to the firm.”

So he was a rainmaker.

* Republican SoS candidate responds to the whole thing…

As the Democrat candidates for Secretary of State squabble about whose unethical connections are more disqualifying, they are proving the point that independent leadership is needed in the Secretary of State’s office to ensure Illinoisans receive their services efficiently and effectively in all 102 counties.

John Milhiser released the following statement:

“While the candidates on the Democrat side of the aisle point fingers at one another, they are making it clear to Illinoisans that we need leaders, not career politicians, in statewide office. With the indictments of so many Illinois politicians, we need to root out corruption in state government now more than ever. I’ve investigated and prosecuted public corruption, and I have overseen a large executive office covering 46 counties in Illinois. I know what needs to be done to help restore faith in state government, and that’s something my Democrat opponents are not capable of achieving.”

* Irvin campaign…

Out of control crime rates in JB Pritzker’s Illinois are all the more striking when compared to the proven success Richard Irvin has had reducing crime rates as Mayor of Aurora, as recently released stats illustrate.

The facts prove that there have been significant decreases in crime rates in Aurora in 2021 with heightened efforts to increase accountability, transparency, and engagement:

• 45.5% decrease in murders
• 40.4% decrease in burglary
• 31.8% decrease in shootings
• 24.4% decrease in robbery
• 10.6% decrease in theft
• 9.9% decrease in motor vehicle theft

“Richard Irvin’s record in Aurora of lowering crime rates, balancing budgets, and standing up to the Madigan Machine stands in stark contrast to that of J.B. Pritzker, who has allowed crime to spiral out of control, pushed for higher taxes and spending, and enabled Mike Madigan’s criminal enterprise,” said Irvin for Illinois Spokesperson Eleni Demertzis.

In addition to a reduction in crime, the city has gained nationwide acclaim and earned a number of accolades, including being named one of the Top 25 Happiest Cities in America for 2022.

…Adding… If you click on the Irvin link, you’ll see that violent crime rose by 8.2 percent year over year, mainly due to an almost doubling of Criminal Sexual Assault offenses.

* Politico…

Monica Gordon has won the endorsement of Secretary of State Jesse White in her bid for Cook County commissioner in the 5th District. Gordon heads government affairs and community relations at Chicago State University.

Gordon previously headed the Black Caucus Foundation and ran unsuccessfully for the legislature. She’s also running for Bloom Township Democratic Committeeperson.