* I totally forgot about this story, but I stumbled across an outline I worked up during the long weekend and I can’t waste it now. WGN…
Last night’s debate between the major party candidates running for Governor of Illinois, Democrat J. B. Pritzker and Republican Darren Bailey, was a ratings winner for WGN-TV. The first debate, “YOUR LOCAL ELECTION HEADQUARTERS: ILLINOIS GOVERNOR’S DEBATE,” took place on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. CT, at the Illinois State University campus in Normal, IL.
The debate reached over 240,000 total viewers, finishing #1 in the time period. It also finished #1 in the key Adults 25-54 demographic.
The actual number was 241,313. The WGN numbers above were only for the Chicago media market.
According to the US Census, 22.1 percent of Illinoisans are under 18, and therefore cannot vote. Subtract those 1,661,642 people and you’re left with 5,857,102 adult Illinois viewers in the Chicago media market.
The statewide voter registration rate among eligible voters is 74.4 percent. So, somewhere around 4,357,684 registered voters are in the Chicago media market.
And that means, with 241,313 viewers, about 5.5 percent of registered voters in the Chicago media market watched last week’s debate on TV, assuming all the viewers were 18 and above. More may have watched online, but even so, as I always warn people, the vast majority of folks just don’t watch gubernatorial debates.
However, [Rep. Dan Brady] also discussed his plan to reduce vehicle registration fees by $50 during his first year in office. Brady insisted that this would be affordable for the state and would be a way to help cash-strapped motorists.
But there are 11 million vehicles registered in Illinois. Even if 1 million of those vehicles do not renew their registration in a given year, that still appears to amount to a loss in revenue of some $500 million which would need to be plugged. Brady insisted that this was not the case, but even at the end of our session, we couldn’t fully understand his math. And, since we have editorialized against schemes that look like vote-getting giveaways (already a feature of the mayoral race in Chicago), we found this aspect of Brady’s plan to be problematic.
Giannoulias appeared further along in his thinking on how to enhance the digital capabilities of the office, discussing with us his ideas for a new secretary of state app (long overdue) and developing a digital driver’s license, meaning that you would be able to carry around your license on your smartphone. And, of course, that would also allow for instant updating.
Brady rightly pointed out the real dangers of cybercrime and identity theft, but Illinoisans already carry their credit cards and other sensitive documents on their phones. And digitization (to varying degrees) already has happened in other states, including Arizona, Delaware, Oklahoma and Colorado. Much attention has been paid to security. As Giannoulias said, “Illinois doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel.”
* OK, on to a couple of oppo dumps. Last year…
“I’m not vaccinated,” @DarrenBaileyIL told a room of Republican primary voters last Thursday in Wheeling at the Chevy Chase Country Club. He tells the crowd he wants to see more transparency about what DNA might be in “MMA and rubella.” It’s MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella.” pic.twitter.com/z4eawkCtjH
Somehow, Bailey must’ve forgotten about that statement this week when he was on WPNA Radio…
Host: During the same debate, Gov. Pritzker accused you for not being vaccinated for COVID-19 [laughs]. He said, ‘He, himself is not vaccinated.’ You responded, ‘How do you know that?’ What was the reason for your reply?
Bailey: Well, I’ve had a lot of people suggest that I file suit against him for a HIPAA violation for, for purporting information like that. He has no idea if I am or not. And how dare a governor of a state, such a high position, to go around and talk about someone else’s health and whether or not such you know, yeah, no, I think that’s wrong, but to him…
Host: Yeah personal medical medication. Right. Nobody should know if you got vaccinated, if you got X-ray, tooth pulled out, right?
Bailey: And I think that shows how dangerous this man is by what he’s potentially looking for in the future that we might carry some card or wear some kind of a badge to say, you know, we’re vaccinated or you know, give our health status. It’s dangerous.
* More over the transom stuff, this time on Bailey-related gun raffles. One of Bailey’s schools…
‼️ We are having our 2nd annual gun raffle! ALL proceeds go back to pay off our new gym.????
Gun Violence Prevention Action Committee Launches Six-Figure Campaign to ‘Halt The Assault’
Following months of public outcry demanding policy change, today the Gun Violence Prevention Action Committee launched a new campaign to bolster and build legislative support around a ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines dubbed ‘Halt The Assault.’ A statewide effort supported by leading national gun violence prevention organizations, Halt The Assault will utilize tools to organize and activate supporters to reach their state lawmakers and ultimately advance the life-saving measure in the coming months. […]
Halt the Assault will pair digital advocacy and paid media to reach concerned residents and drive them toward action. Campaign assets are attached, and you can learn more about the affiliated political action committee, G-PAC, in this video profile.
The campaign will focus its efforts on DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Lake, McHenry, Suburban Cook and Will counties, as well as the Bloomington, Champaign, Metro East, Peoria, Springfield and Quad Cities metro areas. An updated legislator contact tool will be employed to connect constituents with their lawmakers and put facts front and center in the policy conversation. GVPAC is investing six figures into the campaign and will activate its advocacy network of nearly 200 organizations that have organized behind past efforts to hold gun dealers accountable, require universal background checks for all gun sales, and make ghost guns illegal.
Organizations supporting Halt The Assault include GVPAC, One Aim Illinois, Everytown, Giffords, Moms Demand Action and Brady.
* Democrats are counting on Duckworth to help them keep control of the U.S. Senate: Although Salvi has said she expects “full well” to win the November general election, a defeat to Duckworth would be far from the first electoral setback for the Republican nominee and her husband, Al Salvi. […] But in a state where Democrats far outnumber Republicans, Duckworth has eagerly highlighted the differences she has with Salvi on virtually all of the biggest political issues of these times, including gun control, abortion and immigration.
* Close election expected for Illinois’ 17th Congressional District: The district, which was held by U.S. Rep. Cherri Bustos before she announced she wasn’t seeking another term, was redrawn by Democrats in what some say was a blatant case of gerrymandering, but the move may backfire. Bustos, D-Moline, is backing Democrat Eric Sorenson, a former TV weatherman. He faces Republican Esther Joy King, an Army veteran who narrowly lost to Bustos in 2020.
* The election for Illinois’ attorney general comes at a dramatic legal moment: The attorney general’s race rarely grabs front-page headlines — but experts and advocates across the political spectrum say the position is one of the most essential in the state. In addition to the hot-button issues of crime and criminal justice reform, Illinois’ next attorney general could play a key role in everything from abortion to LGBTQ rights.
* Police groups endorsing different candidates for Illinois’ 13th Congressional District: “I am proud to announce that with our 34,500 plus members out there whom we represent … we unanimously endorse Regan Deering as the candidate for U.S. Congress for the 13th Congressional District,” said Illinois Fraternal Order of Police President Chris Southwood during a news event this week. […] Earlier this year, the Police Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois announced their endorsement of Nikki Budzinski in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District.
* Endorsement: Casten for Congress from Illinois Dist. 6: [Casten] is articulate as well as passionate about issues including abortion rights, gun control and, with his particular expertise as the former head of an energy business, climate policy. And, he is a frequent presence in the district, having conducted more than 60 town halls in his two terms to discuss his ideas with constituents. We would have liked to have seen more thoughtful engagement during the campaign between these two candidates, but we’re confident that Casten’s background and congressional experience make him well suited for a third term. He gets our endorsement.
* Daily Herald opinion: Wheeler for Illinois’ 83rd House district: Wheeler, the House assistant minority leader, has impressed us as a thoughtful, business-oriented legislator who maintains solidly conservative values while understanding the need to work across the aisle. He is measured and compassionate on the issues, including being open-minded about proposals in response to mass shootings and supporting the need to keep guns away from those who should not own them. When voicing concerns about provisions of the Safe-T Act, he does so with reasoned arguments, steering clear of the hyperbole and ugly rhetoric that have dominated the debate for so many of the act’s opponents.
* Judicial races include 2 write-ins: Six candidates are seeking three judicial seats Nov. 8 in a sometimes controversial election in Madison County. Current Associate Judge A. Ryan Jumper, a Democrat, and attorney Tim Berkley, a Republican, are competing for the seat of retiring Chief Circuit Judge William Mudge, who is stepping down in December.
Sen. Dick Durbin, who heads the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., and presided over confirmation hearings for the first African-American woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court, is getting involved in Illinois judicial politics.
D.C. delivery: The Senate Democratic whip is endorsing Lake County Judge Elizabeth Rochford for Illinois Supreme Court in the 2nd District. […]
On camera:Durbin has cut an ad that promotes Rochford’s experience but also takes shots at Curran. “He’s anti-choice, believes the 2020 election was stolen and his mind is bubbling over with screwball conspiracies,” Durban says in the ad. […]
Why he’s getting in the mud: That Durbin would get involved in a state race is an indication of how important Democrats view the contest.
* “Ad” must be loosely defined because you’re not gonna see this on TV or streaming. For one, it’s well over a minute long. And the lighting is just… I mean… Half the background is a door. His delivery leaves a lot to be desired, to be kind. I kid, but my first impression was that this looked like a hostage video taken by an older smart phone…
Hello, I’m Senator Dick Durbin. One of the most important races on the ballot this November is to fill the vacancy on the Illinois Supreme Court. I’m supporting Judge Elizabeth Rochford to fill that vacancy. She has a record which reflects real confidence in the ability of women to make the most important decisions in their lives.
She’s endorsed by Planned Parenthood, labor organizations and many legislators in the area. In contrast, she’s running against Mark Curran. I know him well. He ran against me for the United States Senate. I know his positions. He’s anti-choice. He believes the 2020 election was stolen. His mind is bubbling over with screwball conspiracies. That’s why the Illinois State Bar Association, a bipartisan group, says Mark Curran is not recommended. He has no experience as a judge. When it comes to Judge Rochford, they gave her a highly recommended position. And that is a result of a bipartisan vote by the State Bar Association.
When it comes down to it, Elizabeth Rochford is reasonable and respected and will be the right person for the Supreme Court.
“His mind is bubbling over with screwball conspiracies,” is a truly great line. Maybe re-take that and put it in an actual ad. Also, I think the ISBA prefers to think of itself as non-partisan.
Today, the independent expenditure committee All for Justice (AFJ) placed its second buy for the General Election Cycle with the ad “Oath.”
The ad highlights the risk Republican Supreme Court candidates Justice Michael Burke and Mark Curran’s pose to all Illinoisians from a doctor’s perspective. This buy builds off the previous ad, “One Seat,” highlighting the horrific records of Burke and Curran on abortion.
“Rochford and O’Brien are right for Illinois. It is the goal of All for Justice to ensure that voters know the distinct differences between them and these two men. We have the resources to set the record straight in both districts and intend to over the final weeks,” said Luke Casson, Chairman of All for Justice.
Justice Michael Burke faces Justice Mary Kay O’Brien in the 3rd District, which includes DuPage, Will, Grundy, LaSalle, Bureau, Livingston, Iroquois, and Kankakee Counties. Mark Curran faces Judge Elizabeth Rochford in the 2nd District, which includes Lake, McHenry, Kane, Kendall, and DeKalb counties.
Pregnancies are complicated and every situation is different. My job is to do what’s best for my patients.
But Mark Curran and Michael Burke want to criminalize abortion in Illinois, and they’ll get that chance if they’re elected to the State Supreme Court.
Criminalizing abortion will put women’s lives at risk. To think that I could be put in jail, that women could be put in jail for making their own medical decisions. Where does this end? Mark Curran and Michael Burke are too extreme for the Illinois Supreme Court.
…Adding… We’ll just have to wait and see if they file suit. ILGOP…
Statement from ILGOP Executive Director Shaun McCabe on false and defamatory “All for Justice” TV Ad:
“The latest false TV ad from ‘All for Justice’ is even more defamatory than their first false ad. This Madigan Machine-backed group is lying about Michael Burke and Mark Curran because they’re attempting to cover up Mary K. O’Brien’s and Elizabeth Rochford’s ties to the Madigan Machine. Don’t be fooled, Illinois voters. If elected to the Supreme Court, Madigan Machine judges O’Brien and Rochford will put their political cronies before the people of Illinois.”
Former state legislator Jim Nowlan is part of the Judicial Fairness Project, and was involved with the effort to oust Kilbride after he and “his fellow Democrats sullied their robes in 2016 with a preposterous decision that knocked off the ballot a citizen’s initiative to put an independent mapping question before the voters.”
Nowlan said Democrats drew the judicial map to favor their party back in the ’60s.
“Since then, continuously, Democrats have had a majority on the Illinois Supreme Court and they have used that majority reliably to back the positions of (Chicago Ald.) Ed Burke and (former Illinois House Speaker) Mike Madigan on redistricting, term limits, pensions,” Nowlan said. “And so, it’s time for a change.”
For the first time, Illinois’ Democratic-controlled legislature and Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker last year redrew the Illinois Supreme Court districts, in a manner that Nowlan said will make it more difficult — but not impossible — for Republicans to win them.
He adds that the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade has changed the landscape and made it more difficult for the GOP judicial candidates.
Some Republican groups and donors that had been expected to come through with heavy funding backed away after Curran, who has never been a judge, won the primary instead of the party’s establishment-backed Lake County Judge Daniel Shanes.
They didn’t back away because he’s never been a judge, but whatevs.
Officials from different Illinois judiciary groups across the state have introduced a Declaration of Judicial Independence to inform the public of the threat of misinformation before the election.
The Illinois Judges Association, representing 1,250 sitting and retired judges in Illinois, introduced the declaration on Tuesday during a virtual meeting about the document.
The document’s purpose is to provide voters with accurate information on judicial candidates ahead of the November election.
Chicago Bar Association President Timothy Tomasik said it is an issue that has been going on for years.
“We are so concerned about the reckless and sometimes ruthless number of politically motivated attacks that have been occurring on our judiciary over the past several years,” Tomasik said.
The Chicago and Illinois Bar Associations are urging voters to consult their evaluations of the candidates, which claim to be non-partisan.
“They are not asked are you Republican or Democrat, do you like the current president or the past president, do you believe in the death penalty or not believe in the death penalty — there is nothing political about the judicial evaluation process,” Tomasik said.
A leader of the pro-abortion rights group, Personal PAC, pushed back. Terry Cosgrove said television advertising focused on what a judge has said or done about the abortion issue, including outside the courtroom, is appropriate.
* Related…
* Illinois Chief Justice Anne Burke Discusses 40-Year Legal Career as She Nears Retirement: Burke also addressed controversy surrounding her husband, Chicago Ald. Ed Burke, who is facing a federal corruption trial next year. She says that the trial “absolutely did not” influence her decision to retire. “My decision was my decision,” she says. “We’ve been married for 54 years and as I always said, for better or worse, but not for lunch. We have to figure out how to do lunch now!” When asked about how well she did in fulfilling her promise to keep her work separate from her husband’s, Burke says “perfectly. Well, not perfectly, but the best I could.”
All right, happy Columbus Day. Yes, Columbus Day, not indigenous people day. Coming to you from the site of the former Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park. That should be backed up there. That’s a whole story in and of itself, that some civic leaders and some political leaders in this city are going to have to answer for in the coming months during election season. For their decision naively to believe the mayor that this was a temporary thing. Because here we are, two years later, still gone. Disgusting. But they allowed it. She should pay the price for having it done to begin with.
You notice they’ve never, ever hijacked any other ethnic holiday. It’s for some other purposes. Why Christopher Columbus Day? Why don’t they just create a new day for indigenous people? Christopher Columbus is supposedly responsible for the slaughter of thousands, if not more, Indians. Because he came to America, while coming to America definitely resulted in some bloodshed, no doubt. But why does Columbus get the blame for all of that? It’s ridiculous. Number one.
Number two, Christopher Columbus brought Christianity to United States. There’s no disputing that he did. Where are the religious leaders sticking up for civil and religious liberties thanks to Christopher Columbus? Nowhere to be found.
Or the Christian leaders. Where is the Cardinal? Where’s the Pope? Nowhere to be found. They’re all hypocrites. Just like the mayor and political leaders who thought it was a good idea to take these statues down. The same people who blamed Christopher Columbus for all these atrocities that were supposedly committed on behalf of modernization are the same ones that enjoy these newfound freedoms with modern civilized society.
I don’t see any of these politicians selling their houses to live in teepees, hunt buffalo or raise crops in their back yards like the Indians did. But they all want to say ‘Oh, the poor Indians.’ Okay, great. Create a day separately. You don’t have to steal someone else’s holiday to create another one. But that’s just the sad reality we’re living in today.
Otherwise, you wouldn’t be getting the freedoms, like shopping in a 24-hour Walgreens, or buying cases of Modelo in the middle of the night. But those are freedoms afforded to you, in part thanks to the civilization that Christopher Columbus helped bring to this country. Shame on you all. There will be repercussions in the elections coming forth. These hypocrites need to be accounted for and basically removed from office.
