Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Tuesday, Mar 7, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Crain’s last night…

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is set to place her self toward the front of the conga line of politicians now endorsing one of two mayoral candidates vying for the lead in the April 4 runoff election.

Preckwinkle, the county’s top elected official, on Tuesday morning will officially endorse Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson over rival Paul Vallas, according to a press release from Preckwinkle’s office.

Greg Hinz tipped this yesterday morning.

* Tribune…

Esmeralda Hernández is a lifelong resident of Little Village, but she chose to work at the polls in the Pilsen neighborhood on Election Day.

She campaigned for incumbent Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, and opted not to vote in her own ward’s aldermanic election.

Little Village residents say they feel invisible, and that translated to the polls where the 22nd Ward recorded a 23% voter turnout as of March 1, one of the lowest in the city.

Turnout was indeed down in the ward from four years ago. It dropped by 243 votes, or about 5 percent (with some mail-ins left to count), while citywide turnout is up ever so slightly to date. Historical 22nd Ward context, with total first round citywide votes cast in parentheses…

* While we’re on the topic of results and turnout, the mail-in ballots have boosted Brandon Johnson a little bit…

Vallas is down a point from election night, and Johnson is up a bit more than a point. Yeah, it ain’t much, but it’s something.

* The bad news for Johnson in this poll might not be just that the survey shows him behind. It may also be that the number of 18-29 year-olds polled was almost exactly the same number of 65+ polled. Older voters greatly outnumbered younger voters in the first round. Then again, the poll also skews more toward White people, which make up 49 percent of the sample. So, take from this what you will…

Paul Vallas leads Brandon Johnson 43.5 percent to 32.5 percent in the first independent mayoral poll heading into the runoff. More than 24 percent of voters polled were undecided. The 1983 Labs survey has a sample size of 583 registered, likely voters in Chicago. It was conducted digitally from March 2 to 6. Details here.

Also, no methodology is posted online.

* Ms. Jones ran against Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago) in the primary last year and was clobbered 67-33…

FOP dropped $80k for her to lose a state senate race by 30 points, now finishes 44th in a “pick 17” race within FOP. https://t.co/szvUDWbv4k

— The People’s Fabric (@peoplesfabric) March 4, 2023

…Adding… Vallas campaign…

The longtime former Principal of Whitney Young Magnet High School and one of Chicago’s most respected public education leaders, Dr. Joyce Kenner, endorsed Paul Vallas for Mayor today. Dr. Kenner worked closely with Vallas during his time as CEO of Chicago Public Schools, which coincided with her first years leading the prestigious magnet school. Now, she is supporting Vallas for Mayor because she believes that his education platform will enhance student achievement and empower local school leaders.

“Paul Vallas is the right choice to be Mayor at the right time,” said Dr. Kenner. “His record of putting our kids first and improving the quality of our schools is exactly the kind of leadership we need to get our schools in order and our city back on track. Chicago’s kids deserve experienced leadership at the helm.”

* Isabel’s Chicago roundup…

WaPo | Chicago mayoral candidates have starkly different strategies on crime:

* Block Club | Who Are Chicago’s Alderpeople Endorsing For Mayor?: Some alderpeople had already thrown their hats behind Vallas or Johnson, while others are jumping on the bandwagon after backing one of the other seven candidates in round one of the election.

* Block Club | In The 43rd Ward, Knudsen And Comer Enter Runoff With New Endorsements, Sign Drama: Comer’s campaign has raised concerns over an incident that happened in the days before the Feb. 28 election involving a Knudsen campaign worker. Comer was driving down Armitage Avenue about 8:30 p.m. Feb. 26 when he saw someone carrying his green campaign signs under their arm. As Comer passed, he recognized the person as Alex Hanns from Knudsen’s campaign team, he said.

* Crain’s Editorial | These issues haven’t gotten their due in the mayor’s race — yet: Chicagoans can’t hope to solve the problems that ignited such sharp debate in the pre-runoff period if the city doesn’t maintain and even shore up its economic base. So it’s been disappointing to see spending priorities and jobs take a back seat — only lightly touched on during debates, if at all — but now there’s an opportunity to put economic policy front and center in the runoff.

* Block Club | Lincoln Square Ald. Andre Vasquez Now Supports Brandon Johnson In Mayoral Race: “In the runoff, it is a very clear choice as to what’s better for the city, right? You can decide to actually move backwards in ways that have failed us when it comes to public safety, when it comes to investing in education,” Vasquez said. “Or we can move forward and try things and find solutions to problems that have not been solved in Chicago’s history.

* Sun-Times | Don’t gloss over significance of Brandon Johnson’s trip to Selma: Brandon Johnson’s attendance commemorating the “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, Alabama, as he bids to become Chicago’s next mayor, was more significant and symbolic than the Sun-Times coverage reflects. The newspaper mentioned the trip but did not do so in context of who Johnson actually is. The son of a pastor, Johnson grew up with the dual traditions of service and standing up for justice. He is a respected labor organizer, but he also serves as a Cook County commissioner, an educator and a consummate coalition-builder.

* WTTW | Advocates Hopes Chicago’s Next Mayor Puts Focus on Environmental Justice Issues: “I’d love to see not only Chicago’s Department of Environment return, but I want to see an Office of Environmental Justice. Chicago needs an environmental justice ordinance,” says Cheryl Johnson, executive director of People for Community Recovery, an environmental advocacy group based in the Altgeld Gardens Homes on the city’s far South Side. “

* Crain’s | Chicago lands $80 million to address opioid crisis: The funds, which will be managed by the Chicago Department of Public Health, come from the previously announced pool of $760 million being granted to the entire state over the next two decades. Like other states, Illinois was awarded a portion of the $26 billion opioid settlement agreement made early last year with drug manufacturers and distributors, including Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health.

* NBC Chicago | Chicagoans Engaging Fellow Residents to Help Promote City Neighborhoods: Instead of promoting typical tourist attractions, Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism agency, is focusing on promoting unique neighborhood offerings, and they are using residents to help get the word out.

* Reuters | Fact Check-Picture does not show Lori Lightfoot buying beer after losing re-election bid: A months-old picture of Chicago’s incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot buying beer has been shared online as if taken in February 2023, after she lost her re-election bid. Posts making these claims were likely intended as satire.

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Pollster claims vindication, plus other reacts to yesterday’s races

Wednesday, Mar 1, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* M3 Strategies…

As election results in the Chicago Mayor’s race are tallied, M3 Strategies’ Chief Pollster Matthew Podgorski is available to break down the election results, how the candidates’ performed, and what it means for the runoff.

Early election results show M3 Strategies’ was the best-performing polling firm in the Chicago Mayoral Election, with publicly released survey results that closely tracked the final outcomes.

M3 Strategies correctly predicted that Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson would make the runoff.
M3 Strategies was the first firm to show Paul Vallas leading and consistently showed the strength of his support. And the only firm to capture Vallas’ surge and show him receiving over 30% of the vote.

M3 Strategies was the first firm to capture Congressman Garcia’s slide, showing his support drop by 8% points from December to January, and to capture Brandon Johnson’s surge, showing his support jump from 3% in December to 12% in January and 18% in February.

“The early election returns demonstrate the accuracy of the polling numbers we released throughout this cycle,” said Chief Pollster Matt Podgorski. “By mid-January, we could see Paul Vallas’ support was solidifying and that he would likely make the runoff. At the same time, our surveys captured Garcia’s support plummeting and Johnson surging.”

From their last poll…

Credit where credit is due.

* Chicagoland Chamber…

The following statement can be attributed to Jack Lavin, president & CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce:

“As the leading business organization in Chicago, our members have consistently stated their top priorities are public safety, skyrocketing property taxes, revitalizing tourism, and economic development that creates job opportunities in every neighborhood across Chicago. We strongly believe the next mayor should embrace these policies to help move Chicago forward. We cannot afford leadership that supports higher taxes and is not committed to keeping our businesses open and our streets safe.”

* IFT…

Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery issued this statement today following Chicago’s mayoral election results.

“Brandon Johnson made history today as the first public school teacher and union organizer to run for mayor of the third largest city in the United States. I am so proud of our IFT brother and Cook County commissioner for running an inspiring campaign centered on progressive values and what our students, workers, and communities need to thrive.

“In five weeks, Chicagoans will make history too by electing a teacher and committed labor leader to the city’s highest office. The IFT is excited and proud to support Brandon in the runoff. He is the only candidate who has led multi-racial coalitions to defend neighborhood schools from privatization, reduce high-stakes standardized testing, and expand access to state funding. Brandon understands that every student – regardless of their race, income, or zip code – deserves a fully resourced, high-quality education, from PreK-16.

“Paul Vallas would be a disaster for public education, union workers, and Chicago residents. During Vallas’ tenure at CPS, he oversaw what would become a model for conservative education policy around the nation, which includes increased standardized testing and the privatization of public schools through charters and magnets. As CEO of the Philadelphia and New Orleans school districts, he decimated public education.

“Chicagoans now have a responsibility on April 4 to ensure that our city continues to move forward, not become governed by right-wing extremists. The choice is clear – progress and prosperity under Brandon Johnson or another devastating and divisive Bruce Rauner-like term under Paul Vallas.

“While Brandon Johnson inspires hope, Paul Vallas feeds into Chicagoans’ worst fears. Our city cannot afford another Bruce Rauner.

“Congratulations to Brandon Johnson and his team for running this successful campaign. And thank you to our members who worked to help Brandon in this historic race. We know they will redouble their efforts in the runoff to ensure Chicago elects Brandon Johnson, the transformative leader our city needs and deserves.”

* SEIU Healthcare…

Greg Kelley, President of SEIU Healthcare Illinois, issued the following statement responding to the election results in the Chicago Mayoral race:

Chicago needs a leader who brings us together and that leader is Brandon Johnson. Tonight voters made clear that they are ready for real change. Brandon Johnson represents a growing multiracial movement that wants a government that invests in people.

Brandon will tackle the challenges most important to Chicago. Brandon understands that investments in mental health services and good jobs are public safety investments. And that our communities need a working-family-friendly approach to inflation, affordable childcare, and housing families can afford to move into and stay in, without being priced out.

A vote for Brandon Johnson on April 4th is a vote for the voice of working families and for the resources our communities so desperately need to truly address the root causes of crime and economic instability and deliver lasting results. Brandon will fight for us all, no matter our race or what language we speak.

Brandon has been there with us through so many struggles, and we know he’ll keep fighting for us because he knows our communities and understands what we’re going through. Brandon doesn’t just talk about change. He delivers real policies and approaches that represent our best hope for a city in which we can all thrive.

We know that Brandon is better and he will deliver a safer, stronger Chicago.

* Get Stuff Done PAC…

The following statement can be attributed to Get Stuff Done PAC’s spokesman Ron Holmes:

“The voters of Chicago have sent a clear message that they want a city council that gets stuff done. Thanks to their efforts, 11 of Get Stuff Done PAC’s endorsed candidates will be sworn into the next city council but our work isn’t done. In the coming weeks, we’ll be partnering with neighbors in wards across the city to help them elect champions that will deliver on their behalf.”

Winning endorsed candidates:
Ald. Michelle Harris – 8th Ward
Ald. Anthony Beale – 9th Ward
Jeylu Gutierrez – 14th Ward
Ald. Stephanie Coleman – 16th Ward
Ald. Derrick Curtis – 18th Ward
Ald. Jason Ervin – 28th Ward
Ald. Chris Taliaferro - 29th Ward
Ald. Felix Cardona – 31st Ward
Ald. Emma Mitts – 37th Ward
Ald. Sam Nugent – 39th Ward
Ald. Deb Silverstein – 50th Ward

Endorsed candidates headed to a run-off (as of distribution):
Ald. Nicole Lee – 11th Ward
Ald. Monique Scott – 24th Ward
Ald. Gilbert Villegas – 36th Ward

Defeated candidate:
Nick Ward – 48th Ward

The PAC filed a D-1 with the state yesterday listing Michael Sacks as a sponsoring entity. Not mentioned in its press release was that the committee also plowed $80K into the 25th Ward race. They lost that one…

Candidate for alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez released the following statement after beating opponent Aida Flores in the 25th Ward election:

“Once again the 25th Ward beat the political machine together,” said Alderman Sigcho Lopez. “Billionaires thought they could buy this election but the people cannot be bought. The largest Latino ward in the City cannot be bought.

“We won today’s election by coming together and leading with the people – and we did it all without accepting political contributions from developers, large corporations, public utilities, polluters, or dark money PACs.

“Although the 25th Ward is still recovering from the trauma of a corrupt former alderman, our community-driven zoning committee and our public safety committee have helped us preserve Pilsen. Our small businesses are here, and we don’t have blocks of empty storefronts that plague so many other neighborhoods throughout our city.

“Luxury developers aren’t swooping in en masse and pushing out our immigrant families who’ve called our home for generations like they were just 4 years ago. The work we’ve done together means that we have a fully functioning public safety committee that liaises with CPD and does block-by-block violence prevention throughout the ward.

“I’m a leader who is doing exactly what I promised to do four years ago, and it’s the path I’ll take the next four years with the community by my side. When the community rises up together, we win.”

* SEIU Local 1…

Today, working families showed up to the ballot box to elect labor-endorsed candidates to the Chicago City Council. SEIU Local 1 members and leaders from across the city volunteered hundreds of hours canvassing and making phone calls for candidates who are fighting for economic justice.

“Chicagoans - from the 1st to the 50th Ward - showed out in record numbers to elect candidates that will give working families a voice in our City,” said SEIU Local 1 President Genie Kastrup. “Working families are the backbone of this city keeping our buildings clean, our businesses safe, our students fed and our airports functioning - now, essential workers will have a voice at City Council.

Local 1 members knocked on doors, made phone calls, flyered the streets, and educated others to ensure we elected candidates who are ready to fight for all working people - regardless of what you look like, where you live, where you came from, or who you love. This new City Council is ready to build a Chicago that works for all of us, and I am so proud of the Local 1 members that made it happen.

I look forward to working with these candidates to continue to win for working families all across our city.”

SEIU Local 1 candidates who won their race:

Ward 3, Pat Dowell
Ward 7, Greg Mitchell
Ward 8, Michelle Harris
Ward 12, Julia Ramirez
Ward 14, Jeylu Gutierrez
Ward 16, Stephanie Coleman
Ward 17, David Moore
Ward 19, Matt O’Shea
Ward 20, Jeanette Taylor
Ward 22, Mike Rodriguez
Ward 23, Silvana Tabares
Ward 25, Byron Sigcho-Lopez
Ward 26, Jesse Fuentes
Ward 28, Jason Ervin
Ward 29, Chris Taliferro
Ward 31, Felix Cardona
Ward 32, Scott Waguespack
Ward 33, Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez
Ward 34, Bill Conway
Ward 35, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
Ward 37, Emma Mitts
Ward 39, Samantha Nugent
Ward 40, Andre Vasquez
Ward 42, Brendan Reilly
Ward 47, Mathew Martin
Ward 49, Maria Hadden
Ward 50, Deb Silverstein

The following SEIU Local 1 endorsed candidates will be entering a run-off election that will take place on April 4, 2023:

Ward 1, Daniel La Spata
Ward 4, Lamont Robinson
Ward 5, Desmon Yancy
Ward 6, William Hall
Ward 10, Ana Guajardo
Ward 11, Nicole Lee
Ward 21, Ronnie Mosley

* Updated mayoral map from Frank Calabrese…

…Adding… Each dot represents 10 voters…

here are dot density maps for yesterday's mayoral race:https://t.co/2aNgjQhnjI pic.twitter.com/SPXrkC3Ec7

— fgregg@mastodon.social (@forestgregg) March 1, 2023

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