Woman 1: I never thought I would see Roe reversed in my lifetime. But here we are.
Woman 2: What will they take away next?
Woman 3: How do we protect choice for women in Illinois?
Woman 4: And the rest of the Midwest?
Kwame Raoul: As your attorney general, we are in court right now fighting like hell to defend access to reproductive freedom and working to have the Equal Rights Amendment recognized as part of the Constitution. This extremist attack on women’s freedoms… not in Illinois. Not while I’m Attorney General. I’m Kwame Raoul. This is a work of my life. And there’s so much more to do.
In Illinois, an estimated 3.3 million people have criminal records, which can include everything from an arrest to years spent in prison. But even once that criminal case has run its course in the legal system — the punishment continues.
For example, Illinois code 720 ILCS 5/12-36 says, “It is unlawful for a person convicted of a forcible felony to knowingly own, possess, have custody of or reside in a residence with either an unspayed or unneutered dog…”
This law applies to people with cruelty to animal convictions, as well as those with drug or gun convictions. […]
Anyone with a criminal conviction can’t enter a bingo hall.
“So if I’m somewhere with my auntie at the church, at a bingo game, I’m subject to where I could be arrested for being on the premises of a bingo game,” Chamberlain says.
But there are other laws that hit closer to home.
“Last year, my father passed away. He appointed me as the executor over his estate, but because of my 25-year-old conviction, I wasn’t able to carry out my father’s last wishes,” Chamberlain said.
The state’s 1975 Probate Act prohibits anyone with a felony conviction from serving as executor or administrator over an estate.
Chamberlain says it impacts more than 600,000 people in Illinois.
Today, the Judge Rochford for Supreme Court campaign released its first television ad in the race for the Second District. The ad highlights Judge Rochford’s 35 years of experience as a lawyer and judge, which has earned her the rating of “highly recommended” by the Illinois State Bar Association, as well as her support from leading women’s groups including Planned Parenthood. In contrast, her opponent, Mark Curran, who has never served as a judge, was rated “not recommended” by the Illinois State Bar Association, and was called “the most pro-life candidate” by Illinois Right to Life.
“We cannot risk having an unqualified, dangerous candidate on the Illinois Supreme Court for a ten year term, and that’s why we will be engaging voters on air and digital every day about Judge Elizabeth Rochford’s decades of experience and qualifications in this race in contrast with her opponent’s extremist record on choice and lack of experience in the courts,” said Stephen Campbell, senior advisor to the Rochford campaign. “While Judge Rochford has been a judge for the last decade and is rated ‘highly recommended by the Illinois State Bar Association, her opponent has never served as a judge, was rated ‘not recommended’ by the Illinois State Bar Association, and holds dangerous and extreme views on issues important to Illinois voters. The contrast is clear, and we will continue to make that case every day to voters in the second district ahead of Election Day.”
Mark Curran, Republican candidate for the State Supreme Court’s 2nd District seat, is dodging voters and attempting to hide his far-right extremist record by refusing to participate in a series of forums and debates.
In his latest duck-and-dodge, Curran is refusing to participate in League of Women Voters candidate forums for both Lake and Kane counties, with his spokesperson casting aspersions on a reputable, nonpartisan legacy civic organization.
But here’s the kicker: Curran has participated in League of Women Voters forums before, both during his primary campaign and when he was the Lake County sheriff.
What’s different this time around? Voters know about Curran’s ‘not recommended’ rating from the Illinois State Bar Association and far-right extremist record — which he’s desperately trying to dodge.
That record includes a long history of extremist anti-choice rhetoric and behavior, from participating in anti-abortion rallies, donating campaign funds to Illinois Citizens for Life, and praising Donald Trump for appointing Supreme Court justices who later went on to overturn Roe v. Wade. Curran has also perpetuated dangerous claims of voter fraud in presidential elections, has made comments in support of January 6th insurrectionists, and has stood up for “those opposed to same-sex marriage.”
Mark Curran can run, but he can’t hide. From his extreme views on abortion to his ‘not recommended’ rating from the State Bar Association, voters know Curran is wholly unfit to serve on the State Supreme Court — and they’ll remember at the ballot box.
* Treasurer Frerichs held a press conference yesterday at the Hope Vocational Academy to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month and to talk about this program…
IL ABLE accounts make it possible for people with disabilities and their families to save and invest for expenses related to living with a disability without losing, or losing access to, federal means-tested benefits such as SSI, SSDI and Medicaid. Earnings and withdrawals are tax-free if they are spent on a broad range of qualified disability expenses including housing, health and wellness, education and training, therapy, basic living expenses and more.
So, I reached out and Frerichs told me this over the phone…
This month is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. We’re trying to let people know people with disabilities can work. And we held a press conference to remind people ‘you can hire these people. And people with disabilities can have a job now and they can save their money in an ABLE savings account without losing their benefits. So it’s a program that doesn’t get a lot of attention. We don’t have a lot of money for it. It’s really important. We went to a school where they’re training people vocational school, people with disabilities, and the Demmer campaign saw I had a press conference, and they flooded reporters to ask questions about political competence. And I just lost it. Look, it’s a statewide event. I’m a big boy. I know you can ask questions there. But for a guy who for three weeks, three weeks has been silent about Tom DeVore calling people window lickers. A guy who wants to run a program for people with disabilities to sit silently while his friend lockstep is just a bit too much for me. That’s why I called him out. And then I told my staff, I said, ‘hit him for this sh*t.’ Three weeks he’s been silent. How easy is it to say Tom DeVore’s comments are reprehensible? Simple. Won’t do it. So we called him out. That’s what the tweet is.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
The gist is that Frerichs had an exchange with a Downstate TV reporter after the press conference because the reporter arrived late and asked a political question that he claims came from the Demmer campaign.
ILGOP release…
When State Treasurer Mike Frerichs claims to stand tall, he never mentions that he will go to any length to avoid answering the tough questions. Yesterday, he used a question from a reporter as an opportunity to lob baseless allegations at his opponent, Deputy Minority Leader Tom Demmer.
“Today the Demmer Campaign tried to interrupt a press conference I had highlighting how we help people with disabilities have meaningful work.”
The Demmer campaign quickly refuted the baseless allegations by Frerichs, “‘Earlier today, Mike Frerichs accused my campaign of attempting to interrupt a press conference he called to discuss the ABLE Program. That accusation is absolutely false. In reality, he yelled at a news reporter after the press conference when he received a question he didn’t like,” said Demmer in a statement.
The statement continued “To make the unfounded accusation that I would disrupt a press conference dealing with this important issue is despicable but is a consistent pattern of Treasurer Frerichs. He abruptly canceled his own press conference after his comments in support of the retirement tax and then called the Daily Herald and Todd Maisch liars for confirming those comments.”
“Frerichs has spent months dodging tough questions when pressed on his past statements. To make up baseless allegations of this sort is a new low. With early voting underway, Frerichs should spend less time hiding from voters and blaming others, and start answering tough questions on his record,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.
With less than 40 days until the November general election, the Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) this weekend contacted 188,778 voters during a statewide Weekend of Action. […]
The successful Weekend of Action follows a number of recent announcements from the DPI team including new senior hires and the launch of a new ad campaign featuring DPI’s first-ever Spanish-language ads and targeting Black and downstate voters in over 230 zip codes.
* The local county Republican Party is run by people who promote election results denial, so this is apparently an attempt to address it…
What: PRESS CONFERENCE DEFENDING DEMOCRACY
When: 2:00 PM Saturday, October 8, 2022
Where: The McLean County Historical Society Building (Old County Courthouse)- Main Street (East) side
Who:
State Senator Dave Koehler
McLean County Clerk, Kathy Michael
Tazewell County Clerk, John C. Ackerman
Illinois People’s Action Members (sponsor) and Allies
Details: Participants will talk about the trustworthiness of our election systems including: safeguards in place to ensure accuracy of voter rolls; safeguards in place to assure that voting machines can’t be tampered with and all the votes will be accurately tallied and reported; and that all forms of potential voter intimidation at polling places will not be allowed.
Visuals: Clergy, Elected Officials, Election Officials, Grassroots leaders and everyday people will speak about defending democracy and honoring every vote cast. Signs. Opportunities to engage in Get Out the Vote activities through Illinois People’s Action.
* Compiled by Isabel…
* Comptroller’s Race: Mendoza touts state’s fiscal progress; Teresi focuses on recent corruption: Mendoza cites paying down that backlog as her biggest accomplishment in office. Today, she said, vendors are being paid usually within 10 days and the state is operating on a regular “accounts payable” cycle… Teresi, however, counters that the credit upgrades and paying down past-due bills was more the result of federal pandemic relief money that was pumped into Illinois.
* Illinois political leaders urge civility heading into November elections: Illinois political leaders are assessing the tone this election cycle and encouraging civility. “You can’t compromise with somebody that’s just called you a crook,” Edgar said. “It’s very hard if this person has attacked you, that you’re going to trust them, that you’re going to deal with them. So civility is key in a democracy.” Welch said the way forward is not by “spreading lies, misinformation and fear mongering.”
* Taxpayers should hope to avoid frivolous election challenges: The questions do reach a salient point: will candidates accept the results of their own elections in November? Challenging clearly settled results can engender significant expenses for election and judicial officials – and ultimately taxpayers – so signaling a predetermined belief election fraud is inevitable doesn’t portend fiscal accountability.
* Pritzker makes major push for Workers’ Rights Amendment: Termed by several speakers as “the most union-friendly governor we’ve ever had,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker spoke at a recent pro-union rally in East Alton as part of a Working Families Tour and made a major push for the Workers’ Rights Amendment … Pritzker revealed that he has signed more than 800 Project Labor Agreements, which is more than all other 49 states combined.
People Who Play By The Rules PAC has launched a new ad, “I Can Trust This Guy,” featuring former ABC 7 political reporter Charles Thomas. It is available on YouTube, the PBR PAC Facebook Page and will run on statewide media this week.
:30 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyFJV6drnWI
TV Script:
For 25 years, ABC 7 political reporter Charles Thomas gave you the straight news. Now he’s giving you real talk on the governor’s race:
“Darren Bailey? I met the man. He’s a family farmer. Somebody who understands what it’s like to go to work every day. Somebody who’s fair minded. I can trust this guy. I can trust this guy. Yeah, a farmer from southern Illinois? Yeah, yeah — A farmer from southern Illinois.”
Charles Thomas said the Democrats do not act in the interest of Black voters.
CT said he lives downtown but believed he was speaking for the south and west sides of Chicago when he said, “African Americans have more in common with Darren Bailey than JB Pritzker”
*** UPDATE 2 *** If you click here, you’ll see that Proft’s People Who Play By The Rules PAC paid Charles Thomas $50,000 on September 16th for “Consulting” in opposition to Gov. Pritzker.
Hey all - I wanted to make sure that you were the first to see Brad’s new positive ad “Brad’s Our Guy,” which will begin running on Tuesday on Chicago-area TV and in digital ads.
The ad highlight’s Brad’s focus on getting costs down, lowering prescription drug prices, and doing the work to prevent gun violence and protecting women’s freedom to choose.
The labor union and trial lawyer-backed All for Justice independent expenditure committee has so far reported raising $3.5 million, with, I’m told, at least another $5 million in pledges. The committee’s sole purpose is to back the two Democratic candidates running for the Illinois Supreme Court: Appellate Justice Mary K. O’Brien and Judge Elizabeth Rochford. And its spending is finally beginning.
A press release claimed “an initial [advertising] buy of $3 million dollars,” with “plans to spend millions more informing residents of the 2nd and 3rd districts of these extremists on the ballot.”
The ad features a woman emphasizing that just “one seat” on the Illinois Supreme Court could imperil or preserve abortion rights.
“Mark Curran and Michael Burke want to ban abortion in Illinois, even in cases of rape and incest. Women put in jail for making their own medical decisions? That’s not what I want for my kids. That’s not what I want for anyone. Mark Curran and Michael Burke are too extreme and they don’t belong on the Illinois Supreme Court.”
The ad will almost surely face legal opposition. The Illinois Republican Party made a big deal last week about a similar TV ad aired by Supreme Court Justice Burke’s Democratic opponent, Appellate Justice O’Brien.
The Illinois GOP demanded that O’Brien take down the ad, which claims, “Mike Burke says he agreed with the decision to overturn Roe. He’s supported by the extreme groups that want to ban all abortion for Illinois women.”
Burke is backed by anti-abortion groups. The first sentence in that excerpt, however, is hotly disputed by the Republican Party, which claims Justice Burke, “has not expressed any opinion on that issue or any issue that may come before the Illinois Supreme Court.”
Justice O’Brien’s campaign, in reply, pointed to Burke’s attendance at an important Illinois right to life banquet. Burke said this year that, like the U.S. Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, he too is a constitutional “originalist,” meaning he refers back to the original drafting of the Constitution rather than subsequent court rulings when making a decision. He also noted that abortion is “not an enumerated right” in either the Illinois or the U.S. constitutions.
It’s very difficult to legally force a TV station to take down a candidate’s advertisement. But, as we’ve seen in the past few weeks with Dan Proft’s People Who Play by the Rules PAC ads for Darren Bailey, it’s not nearly as difficult to force an independent expenditure committee to prove the truthfulness of what it’s saying in its ads or see them yanked.
Time will tell if the new All for Justice ad stays up.
Meanwhile, the opposition research is starting to come out on Curran. My associate Isabel Miller posted some of it on CapitolFax.com last week, but expect more to emerge on topics like Curran’s comments about the Jan. 6 attempted insurrection (the police officer who shot Ashli Babbitt should resign, he said) and on gay rights (Curran said at a rally opposing a same-sex marriage bill that the law would “result in the loss of liberty for those opposed to same-sex marriage”).
And, of course, there’s abortion. Curran has attended anti-abortion rallies, donated some of his own campaign funds last year to Illinois Citizens for Life and praised Donald Trump for appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, among other things.
Curran is also the former longtime sheriff of Lake County, which is fully in the 2nd Supreme Court District, and he may still have some residual name recognition from his 2020 race for U.S. Senate, which Curran lost to Dick Durbin 55% to 39%.
Money-wise, the Supreme Court races started about even in July, as far as the candidates were concerned. But that has changed considerably in the past month or so.
Democratic Justice O’Brien has since reported raising almost $1.6 million to Justice Burke’s $13,000. Democratic Judge Rochford has reported raising $742,000 to the Republican Curran’s $137K, much of it from his family.
The Ken Griffin-funded Citizens for Judicial Fairness independent expenditure committee had more than $5.5 million in the bank at last check. It is not expected to help Curran, but is expected to jump in for Justice Burke. The Firewall Project, which is raising money to back Republicans for the Supreme Court and Greg Hart for DuPage County Board Chair, has reported raising $440,000 in the past few weeks.
But the Democrat-affiliated All for Justice independent expenditure committee is hoping to have a budget of as much as $8 million to $10 million by election day. So stay tuned.
Today, the independent expenditure committee All for Justice (AFJ) placed its first buy for the General Election Cycle with the ad “One Seat.”
The ad highlights Republican Supreme Court candidates Justice Michael Burke and Mark Curran’s terrifying records on women’s reproductive rights. All for Justice is placing an initial buy of $3 million dollars and plans to spend millions more informing residents of the 2nd and 3rd districts of these extremists on the ballot.
“If elected, Burke and Curran would be a catastrophe for Illinois. They would follow the anti-choice extremist orthodoxy, that individuals should not have control over their bodies or their future. We cannot let these men strip people of their reproductive rights. The goal of All for Justice is to communicate the truth about Burke and Curran,” said Rianne Hawkins, Director of Campaigns and Advocacy with Planned Parenthood Illinois Action IE PAC who is advising AFJ on strategy.
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.
* Here’s a screenshot of the Associated Press Media Editors’ joint interview of Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Darren Bailey. No journalists of color were on the panel. Two women were on the panel, but neither was called upon to ask questions, even though Marni Pyke is an experienced journalist who has been competently covering state politics for years…
