“It is very discouraging when a candidates resorts to distortions and lies to win votes. It’s even more discouraging when they wear the label Republican. The current campaign tactics used by the Irvin campaign exceeds normal “tough campaign tactics”. For those of us who know these men it is hard to see them so totally misrepresented. The bylaws of the McLean County Republican party do not allow me to endorse in a contested primary. Rightly so as our role as a party should be to allow our Republican voters to have access to all candidates to let them make the decision at the primary. But I can not stay silent when such mailers as these pile up in our mailboxes. Having a large war chest for campaign funds does not mean it needs to be used in such a fashion. I urge voters to not listen to mass mailings but to learn for yourselves who these people are that ask for your vote.”
She doesn’t seem all too happy.
* Speaking of which…
Sheesh.
* IFT…
The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) Executive Board voted on Saturday, May 14 to endorse candidates for federal, state, and judicial races in the June 28 Primary Election.
The endorsements are the result of the union’s robust candidate review process, which includes candidate questionnaires and surveys, regional discussions, and thorough consideration by board members. IFT’s Executive Board is comprised of 40 elected individuals who represent our diverse local unions statewide.
The IFT had previously early endorsed Alexi Giannoulias for Secretary of State, State Representative Delia Ramirez for U.S. Congress (3rd District), Nikki Budzinski for U.S. Congress (13th District), and Justice Mary Kay O’Brien for Illinois Supreme Court (3rd District).
This Primary Election is an important one; it’s a critical step toward electing lawmakers in June who share our union’s values and will strive to create the future we all deserve. Candidates who have earned the IFT’s endorsement have expressed staunch support for vital public services and a commitment to public education at every level.
IFT President Dan Montgomery said, “We are proud to support these women and men who have demonstrated a will to protect collective bargaining and champion public education and public services. These outstanding candidates represent the collective values of our membership and a desire to work with us to advance our shared goals on behalf of students and communities.”
The complete list of IFT 2022 Primary Election endorsements is available here.
* IEA…
The state executive committee of the Illinois Political Action Committee for Education (IPACE) has recommended four candidates in the Illinois Congressional primary races.
IPACE is recommending Delia Ramirez for in the Congressional District 3 Democrat primary, Rep. Sean Casten in the Congressional District 6 Democrat primary, Brad Schneider for Congressional District 10 Democrat primary and Jonathan Logemann for Congressional District 17 Democrat primary.
The following quote can be attributed to Kathi Griffin, IEA president:
“We are excited to recommend Delia Ramirez, Sean Casten, Brad Schnieder and Jonathan Logemann in the Illinois primary for Congress. These candidates put public education first and know our educators deserve a voice when it comes to education policy. We look forward to working with these politicians and providing the important perspective that only our teachers, paraeducators, professors and support staff can provide, so we can make sure every student continues to have access to the best public education possible.
The IEA is especially excited to be supporting Logemann because he is an IEA member and teacher. He truly knows what supports are needed for our teachers and students because he lives it every day. We need his voice in Washington to both amplify and advocate for public education issues.”
Griffin said it is important that IEA members have a chance to weigh in on candidates running for office in Illinois, whether it be in school board races, legislative contests or for the state’s constitutional officer positions.
“There is a deep connection between schools and elected officials,” Griffin said. “Nearly everything that happens inside a school is governed by a decision made outside of it. The laws, rules and regulations put in place dictate education policy on everything, including curriculum, safety and even what students eat. Those who work in public schools and higher education in Illinois need the ability to listen to candidates and determine who best represents the cares and concerns of public education in our state.”
— Former Gov. Pat Quinn has endorsed Thomas Maillard in his bid to represent that 62nd District of the state House.
— Former state Rep. Mary Edly-Allen has been endorsed by the Illinois AFL-CIO in her bid for the 31st District state Senate seat. She’s in a competitive race against Dem Rep. Sam Yingling. Here’s the full list of AFL-CIO endorsements
Maillard is up against fellow Dems Laura Faver Dias and Terry Wilke to replace Rep. Sam Yingling, who is running for Senate.
* The Republican candidates are all together in one room today…
“We decided to put our energies and resources into having an in-person meeting with the candidates to help us with out endorsement decision. Our call based on the realities of the moment. Nothing to do with anyone else.” (2/2) @
* It goes without saying that she needs to do more than post digital ads…
Democratic Secretary of State candidate Anna Valencia today has released a new digital ad highlighting the endorsement she received from Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Secretary White notes the historic nature of his own election while encouraging Illinois voters to elect Valencia as the first woman to be Secretary of State.
“My election as Secretary of State not only made history by being the first African American to hold the office, but it allowed me to fix the problems that I inherited,” says Secretary White in the new ad. “And my approach was simple, I looked at the world through the eyes of taxpayers so I can make government work better for you.
White continues in the ad, “I’m proudly endorsing Anna Valencia to replace me. She will carry on our reforms and continue our progress just as she has as City Clerk. I believe in my heart that Anna Valencia will be an outstanding Secretary of State. Let’s make history again by electing the first woman to the Secretary of State’s office.
Last week, Valencia released an ad featuring endorsers including Planned Parenthood Illinois Action President and CEO Jennifer Welch, Illinois State Representative Ann Williams and Cheryle Jackson, CEO of Grit and Grace. The ad highlighted Valencia’s commitment to reproductive justice and history of working alongside women elected officials and community leaders fighting the Trump and Rauner administrations.
Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) released the following statement upon Governor Pritzker’s announcement that Illinois will be rejoining the federal Title X program and putting the funds towards the Illinois Family Planning Program, which includes Planned Parenthood.
“The Hyde Amendment and federal law prohibit funding for abortion or abortion services,” Miller said. “Governor Pritzker may support aborting 9-month-old babies in the womb, but he can’t use tax dollars to pay for it.
President Trump was right when he issued a rule prohibiting Title X from going to Planned Parenthood because they provide abortion services. I joined H.R. 243, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act to ensure that this Trump-era policy stays in place. We must stand up for the unborn and I will not stop using my voice to speak on behalf of those who have no voice.”
Newman, who upset anti-abortion rights House veteran Dan Lipinski two years ago, is hitting the issue hard again, even though Casten—unlike Lipinski—says he’s pro-choice.
In an opinion piece written for CNN a few days ago, Newman wrote about her experience in having an abortion at age 19, when she was a college student “already working two jobs, which hardly covered enough money to support myself.” Beyond that, she wrote, “As a teenager barely out of childhood myself, I simply was not ready to take on the monumental responsibility of becoming a parent.”
Newman picks up that theme in a new campaign ad that starts airing on cable TV today. She then suggests she can be trusted on the issue unlike Casten, who “voted for anti-choice Republicans like George (H.W.) Bush.”
Casten’s campaign responds that he indeed did favor Bush for a variety of reasons—two decades ago—but that his and Newman’s views on abortion rights are “identical.”
There was a difference between HW and W, but the ad doesn’t specify that.
When I was 19 I made the very difficult decision to have an abortion. I just wasn’t ready to start my family. I’ve fought for women’s reproductive rights for 30 years and I’m outraged that this fundamental right is being taken away. In 2020, I beat one of the last anti-choice Democrats in Congress. My opponent now is Sean Casted, who voted for anti-choice Republicans like George Bush. I’m Congresswoman Marie Newman and I approved this message to ask one question: With the stakes this high, who do you trust?
Discuss.
…Adding… Jacob Vurpillat at the Casten campaign…
Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and Marcie Love, the founder of Personal PAC, endorsed Congressman Casten not only because of his 100% pro-choice voting record in Congress, but also because they know he will never hesitate to protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. It is disappointing to see our opponent try to mislead voters about an issue they are in total agreement on.
…Adding… The Casten campaign saw some of the confusion in comments and clarified that Casten voted for HW in 1992.
* John Noverini, a Republican candidate in the Illinois Supreme Court’s 2nd District, notified the Board of Elections this week that he’d busted the campaign contribution caps with the accumulation of eight separate contributions/loans….
Noverini, who presides over branch court in Elgin, loaned his campaign fund $95,000 in May. He served on the County Board as a Republican before switching to the Democrats. Noverini has since won retention bids. He already has a website up bearing the slogan: “Experience. Integrity. Independence.”
Moreover, Noverini is a bold and independent risk-taker who does not allow establishment politicians to persuade him from undertaking a challenging election contest. For example, in his 2008 judicial election, Noverini, despite not having prior judicial service defeated the appointed office-holder. In unseating the then-incumbent, Noverini, with bipartisan support, became one of the first Democratic judicial candidates to win in Kane County. In the 2014 and 2020 nonpartisan retention elections Judge Noverini was overwhelmingly retained by the voters.
As a conservative, Noverini was actively engaged in Republican party politics in the past, having been elected as a precinct committeeman (1996-2006) and having been elected chairman of the Dundee Township Republicans in 2004 and in 2006.
Additionally, Noverini has a long record of public service, which began with serving on the Carpentersville Zoning Board of Appeals and the Village of Carpentersville Board. He later served as a county legislative-branch official, in that he was elected as a Republican candidate to the Kane County Board and also the Kane County Forest Preserve Commission in both 2002 and 2006. […]
In seeking the Republican nomination for Supreme Court, Noverini is coming home to the party that is aligned with his core values. While the Democratic party has so dramatically shifted to the left in recent years, Judge Noverini’s conservative principles and personal integrity have remained constant, such that he welcomes a return to his roots in the Republican party and looks forward to an enthusiastic, vigorous and engaging campaign.
“He is a godly man.” Also, notice the obvious edit in that video. Weird.
* Anyway, this action busts the caps for all candidates in that district, including for Democrats Liz Rochford and Nancy Rotering. Hold onto your hats.
…Adding… Oops on my part. From Matt Dietrich at the Illinois State Board of Elections…
Rich — Not a big deal but the contribution limits in the Second Supreme Court vacancy were actually lifted April 15 when Daniel Shanes filed the attached Notice of Self Funding.
You can tell a lot about someone based on their friends. Take Richard Irvin. The real Richard Irvin is a lifelong liberal Democrat. Irvin voted for Barack Obama in the Democratic primary for President. Irvin is so liberal that he’s been a strong supporter of Lori Lightfoot. And Irvin called JB Pritzker a ‘great leader’ and a ‘great friend.’ So, the next time you see Richard Irvin’s TV ads, remember, Richard Irvin is a lifelong liberal you just can’t trust.
The ad has been spotted on both cable and Chicago broadcast.
The $1.8 million ad buy set to begin across Illinois on Monday will mark the first TV commercials that Bailey has aired in the Chicago area.
“We’re turning up the heat,” DeBose said.
The latest contribution from Uihlein brings his contributions to Bailey’s campaign to more than $6 million. But that still pales in comparison to the competing largesse from hedge-fund billionaire Ken Griffin, who so far is bankrolling Irvin’s bid for governor to the tune of $45 million.
