* It was reported elsewhere today that Delia Ramirez only raised $303K. She raised $416K, with $303K coming from within CD3, which is pretty darned good…

Momentum continues to grow for Delia Ramirez’s bid for congress. Today, she announced her campaign raised over $303,000 with 1,800 contributions from people in the 3rd Congressional District. In addition, Ramirez has raised more than $416,000 for her campaign since her launch. The latest poll shows Delia Ramirez leading by 15 points as her broad coalition continues to grow.

“I’m honored by the overwhelming grassroots support that my campaign has received. Our campaign is fueled by people, not corporations or special interests,” said 3rd Congressional District candidate Delia Ramirez. “The constituents have sent a clear message in the 3rd Congressional District - they are tired of the status quo politics that only works for a select few and corporations.”

According to the latest polling numbers, 63% of constituents in the 3rd Congressional District want to elect a bold progressive and for leadership that is accountable to the people and not to corporations or special interests. Delia Ramirez has been endorsed by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Chicago Teachers Union, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Mijente, Architectural and Ornamental Iron Workers Union 63, Elect Democratic Women, EMILY’s List, and the United Working Families and Working Families Party.

“Momentum is on our side. Our campaign has been endorsed by a slew of progressive Members of Congress, over 47 elected officials in Illinois, a third of them who overlap with the 3rd Congressional District, and more than two dozen national and grassroots organizations including labor partners who recognize the need to support a real champion for working families in Illinois,” said Mayra Lopez-Zuniga, campaign manager.

* Alexi Giannoulias…

Today, we announced our first quarter fundraising numbers, and thanks to your generosity and support to our campaign, we exceeded our fundraising goal and raised over $600,000!

* Kevin Taweel, the CEO of Asurion, contributed $1 million to Jesse Sullivan’s campaign the other day. Sullivan has reported raising more than $12 million since entering the race.

* Center for Illinois Politics…

For dozens of unlucky politicians in Illinois, a springtime scramble is under way as they fight to stave off objections to their candidacy paperwork. […]

About 140 objections were filed. State hearing officers are handling 75 of them, including statewide races. Local election authorities will adjudicate ballot challenges for districts that are contained entirely in a single county or Chicago. […]

In 2020, 111 objections were filed with 44 overruled and 26 sustained, meaning an elections board voted to remove candidates from the ballot. Another 23 candidates opted to withdraw, and 14 objections were dropped. In 2018, there were 155 objections, with 33 sustained and 55 overruled. Another 24 candidates dropped out and 39 objections were withdrawn. And in 2016, there were 146 objections, with 34 sustained and 46 overruled. Another 31 candidates opted out of running and 30 objections were withdrawn.

Unlucky? Hardly.

* NBC 5…

Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan is still planning political strategy for the state’s June primary election, even though he was indicted on bribery and racketeering charges last month, according to sources.

Multiple sources told NBC 5 Madigan on Saturday led a meeting at the office on Chicago’s Southwest Side where he has directed political meetings for decades.

Madigan asked the 30 or so precinct captains who attended the early morning meeting to identify who will be voting early, by absentee or on Election Day, June 28. No mention was made of his recent federal indictment.

Madigan remains the 13th Ward Democratic committeeman and a member of the Democratic State Central Committee. The former house speaker is not running again for the State Central Committee. His term expires ends in August.

John Milhiser reacted…

Mike Madigan may be facing federal indictment on 22 counts, allegedly leading a “criminal enterprise” designed to bolster his own power, but that isn’t stopping him from continuing to strategize for his candidates in the June primary. Madigan’s continued involvement shows that the culture of corruption runs deep in this state and needs to be rooted out.

John Milhiser released the following statement on Madigan’s continued involvement in Illinois politics:

“Mike Madigan may not be in office anymore, but his culture of corruption doesn’t just end. Madigan’s continued involvement in the state’s politics show exactly why the people of Illinois no longer believe their leaders work for the good of the people. The Democrats running in this race personify this culture Madigan has fostered, pointing fingers at one another to show who is more corrupt and less ethical. We need public servants, not career politicians, elected to statewide office to root out this corruption from the inside.”

* I told you last week that Irvin was skipping this Tazewell County debate…

“People want to hear what he has to say. The general consensus of people I talk to in central Illinois is that there’s a trust issue,” Jim Rule, chairman of the Tazewell County Republicans, told Playbook. “He comes from what some people view as a Chicago machine or may think that. He has in fact voted Democrat a number of times in the past. That doesn’t resonate well with people.”

The Tazewell GOP is organizing a candidate forum April 25 and state Sen. Darren Bailey, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf, businessmen Gary Rabine and Jesse Sullivan, and attorney Max Solomon have committed to attend.

Irvin hasn’t responded to repeated requests to participate, Rule said.

Irvin’s absence from live political discourse seems to reflect a national trend among GOP candidates this election season. Across the country, Republicans are ducking primary debates and trying to have greater control of how their messaging gets out, according to POLITICO’s David Siders. […]

The debate dodge is a political tactic to avoid going on the record on issues that may play differently in the primary than the general election. More conservative voters come out for the primary, so answers to questions about views on the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol or whether President Joe Biden won the presidency fair and square would differentiate conservative and mainstream GOP candidates.

* Related…

* Edgar County Watchdogs Group: Sullivan Ad May Violate Laws

* Marter for Congress “Koolzinger” radio spot: Marter will represent us Koolidge covered for Kinzinger