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* This doesn’t make any sense to me. “Damaged goods”? How is that in any way an effective argument against US Rep. Lauren Underwood? How was she ever “damaged”? So why would the Pritzker people allegedly use that line against her if it cannot possibly be explained or proved?
This is just a weird and puzzling development…
One public poll released last month showed Underwood and Krishnamoorthi leading Stratton, and the Pritzker team, according to multiple sources, is focusing first on discouraging Underwood from a Senate run. […]
Multiple sources told NBC 5 Chicago Pritzker and his team are working behind the scenes, telling donors Underwood is “damaged goods.” […]
At a news conference Monday, Pritzker denied he was discouraging anyone from entering the Democratic Senate primary.
Pritzker was asked by the same reporter Monday whether he was telling any candidates that “it’s not their turn.” He said it was a “ridiculous” claim…
Remember, I ran for Congress when I was 31 years old, and there were an awful lot of people who said to me that ‘it’s not your turn.’ I ran anyway. I think in fact, we need, you know, more young people in the new generation. You know, we’ve had lots of people serving in public office when there’s an open opportunity, everybody who’s interested in running should step forward and do so. I would not dissuade somebody from running for public office.
Now we’ve moved on to “damaged goods.”
Also, the alleged “damaged goods” claim is never explained. Perhaps because it can’t be explained.
This whole thing is odd.
* And that poll? C’mon. The organization backing Underwood has yet to disclose who conducted its alleged poll despite repeated requests for disclosure, which never, ever happens…
This group has yet to disclose the name of their pollster https://t.co/WEcQTtDotK
— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) May 2, 2025
Fishy as all getout. I refuse to believe anything out of that operation until I see the actual poll, if it really exists. Could that possible survey concoction be why Underwood is labeled as “damaged”? Seems like a stretch. She didn’t run the “poll.” And if it is the case, then why were the “poll” results prominently mentioned in the story?
* Underwood’s consultant made a very good argument that the alleged attack is nonsensical and wouldn’t work…
That post was deleted, by the way.
* Hey, maybe it’s all true. The Pritzker folks do have super-sharp elbows, after all. And three Black women (Robin Kelly, Lauren Underwood and Juliana Stratton) are interested in the job, so something may have to give. But if Team JB did say this, then they’re really stupid. They ain’t usually stupid. And I’ve not heard a peep about any Underwood oppo.
Something just doesn’t smell right here.
Gonna be a wild year, campers.
Your thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 2, 25 @ 9:25 am
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I follow Anne Caprara on Bluesky, and she was heated about this yesterday. Quoting her, with a minor edit for filter reasons:
“I’m not going to link to this story bc it’s [bs]. When your story is all unnamed “sources” who won’t put their name behind their accusations that should give pause before airing. The Governor, his team, and myself personally have a lot of respect for Congresswoman Underwood.”
Comment by Homebody Friday, May 2, 25 @ 9:40 am
This race is going to be wild.
Comment by So_Ill Friday, May 2, 25 @ 9:43 am
Same group that funded whacky republican candidate to chose opponent? Dirty trick politics are what these highly skilled political operatives do. Went way too far on this one. But they hide in the shadows and move on.
Comment by 44 Friday, May 2, 25 @ 9:56 am
The lede is weird/odd, agreed. But the most real and relatable statement in this story for any of us who work around the Dome is this:
“He’s a bully, and his staff is worse,” the official said.
Comment by DownStateD Friday, May 2, 25 @ 9:58 am
I’m shocked, *shocked*, to discover that JBs team, known for playing super well with everyone, are trashing someone through whispers while pretending they are angels.
I can’t believe it. I’ve never heard of anything like this from them. We should take Anne’s words on this at face value because no member of that team has ever obfuscated or downplayed their moves in an attempt to hold up JB’s branding as an all around swell guy.
Now that’s out of the way, I have this truly remarkable bridge to sell you.
Comment by VK Friday, May 2, 25 @ 9:58 am
I think if Underwood enters the race, Stratton doesn’t win, so a lot is riding on her decision.
Underwood is a vastly superior candidate.
Comment by So_Ill Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:01 am
Is Underwood an Idealist (lofty goals) or a Pragmatist (practical solutions)?
I honestly don’t know but I prefer politicians that are weighted to reality, compromise, and practical solutions.
(also, I think we are watching a “don’t want nobody that nobody sent” thing with Underwood.)
Comment by 40,000 ft Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:03 am
I don’t doubt someone did say those things about Underwood. I don’t even doubt someone who *said* they are with JB said those things, in order to spread the rumor around by attaching it to a well-known name and giving it an automatic perceived sense of credibility.
What I do doubt, is that anyone actually with JB in reality, said any these things.
Underwood might not be the intended target here, it might be JB who is the target.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:05 am
Seems very believable to me. The Pritzker political folks are very aggressive in their pursuit of power. Party unity ain’t their strong suit. They went too far with this one. If they had character they would just apologize to Underwood but not holding my breath.
Comment by Here Here Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:06 am
==The organization backing Underwood has yet to disclose who conducted its alleged poll==
Even funnier when you realize that organization is “focused on recruiting, training, and electing Democrats with a background in science to public office.” Not very scientific of them to not cite their sources.
Comment by City Zen Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:09 am
=== Underwood is a vastly superior candidate. ===
Maybe to you.
Comment by Remember the Alamo II Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:14 am
There have been plenty of complaints about Underwood, but I do not see how you substantiate those “damaged goods” claims to a public audience.
And, a win is a win, but the Republican incumbent she beat in 2018 was tragically ill-prepared going into that race. They did not take her seriously and paid heavily for it.
Comment by Dirty Red Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:14 am
With all this scrapping over one seemingly bogus poll, you’d think someone would just conduct a real one.
Comment by Quibbler Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:16 am
I don’t know who or what to believe in this situation. But, I would hope the voters would decide not other politicians in the Democratic primary.
Comment by Steve Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:17 am
=Not very scientific of them to not cite their sources.=
Unless either the group backing Underwood–or even the Governor’s office–is using the claims of “attorney client privilege,” “executive privilege,” “trade secrets,” “proprietary information” or other excuses to deliberately not reveal the source of the “damage goods” quote.
Comment by Leatherneck Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:31 am
Underwood is an idealist and a pragmatist.
She has strong progressive views on the economy, civil rights, and election integrity, among other issues.
She’s been a workhorse, and not a showhorse in Congress. She’s been a leader in legislation on health care, including for veterans, women’s health, and mental health.
She’s also been effective in her Dem House leadership role at refocusing Democratic candidate strategy and communications.
I suspect that if there are candidate debates, she’d be the most effective debater.
While I think she’s the best candidate, I’m not sure she should run. If she stays in the House, she has a good chance to eventually rise to a top leadership position. Senate seats don’t open that often, and it’s easy to see why she’s tempted to run.
Comment by Keyrock Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:33 am
Just for fun some reporter needs to ask the Governor at the next press conference whether Durbin’s outgoing Senate seat is also “bleeping golden.”
Comment by Leatherneck Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:33 am
I’ll bet a big chunk of our Governors inherited fortune……Stratton campaign has a poll…..
Comment by It's always Sunny in Illinois Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:34 am
“We’ve got the goods on you, so you better stay in the House, or we’ll use it.” Seems like the play here. Is it a bluff or could she end up being damaged goods? Probably the former.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:34 am
This entire story is uninformative inside baseball nonsense, i.e., standard product for American ‘political reporters.’
This is what we have in this country instead of journalists who know anything, can explain how anything works, or why it works the way it does.
“Somebody said something mean about somebody else in politics,” whoo boy give everybody a Pulitzer for this one.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:39 am
==“I’m not going to link to this story bc it’s [bs]. When your story is all unnamed “sources” who won’t put their name behind their accusations that should give pause before airing…”==
Wonder why people might pause before attaching their name to that. No caps lol.
Comment by P. Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:44 am
If the governor and his team have a reputation for having sharp elbows then the story probably has some validity. Wouldn’t be the first time this type of shenanigans came up. My thought is they are very afraid of Underwood because frankly she has a better story. A relative unknown who won in an republican district and has really been an exemplary member of congress. It is really an easy sell to the public. I hope she runs and wins it would be a huge improvement over our current Senators.
Comment by regular democrat Friday, May 2, 25 @ 10:46 am
Twitter March 20, 2024 “Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hate have no place in Illinois, or anywhere else in our country, and I am honored to have worked with Wadee’s…”
Congresswoman Lauren Underwood
Comment by Greg in Sherman Friday, May 2, 25 @ 11:09 am
After living through Blago and Rauner, it’s kind of refreshing that “having sharp elbows” is considered a big criticism of the governor’s office.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Friday, May 2, 25 @ 11:14 am
“Damaged Goods” is an interesting choice of words. That’s very strong, particularly consider other options typically used including; “flawed candidate” which seems more gentle without being derogatory. “Damaged Goods” has a slight mysogynist tinge to it. IMHO
Comment by Downstate Friday, May 2, 25 @ 11:19 am
The Pritzker folks are brawlers, and frankly they’d be stupid to NOT be trying to pressure Underwood out of the race. But this specific quote is double blind (unnamed sources saying it’s what unnamed people are saying), and it doesn’t make much sense as an attack.
My best guess is that Pritzker folks are throwing their weight around and that “damaged goods” is a bit more of someone else’s somewhat intentionally inflammatory characterization of what they’re saying.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, May 2, 25 @ 11:34 am
I can understand them wanting to promote Stratton, but that doesn’t mean they need to diss other candidates. JB’s team does itself no favors doing that. Take the high road.
Comment by low level Friday, May 2, 25 @ 11:43 am
Given the rough history between the Pritzker and Robin Kelly forces, who figured bad blood between Team JB and Underwood would be the talk of the race?
Comment by Roman Friday, May 2, 25 @ 12:25 pm
=== Your thoughts? ===
I can definitely see some loose cannon trying to discourage Underwood from running. But it sounds like this was either someone fundraising for Stratton calling her donors and explaining why they thought Stratton would win, or someone trying to do Underwood a favor by calling her donors, and telling them that Underwood will be damaged goods if she runs against Stratton.
To the second point, I will say its absolutely true. If Underwood, Kelly or anyone else runs, I expect Stratton to campaign to win, and anyone may very well get the Ken Dunkin treatment.
However, the story that the Underwood campaign is trying to push is that Underwood, Raja, and potentially Kelly are somehow viewed as a threat to Stratton, and not only do I not believe that, I cannot imagine Stratton’s campaign feels threatened.
Yes, all three serve in Congress. But in terms of having a Democratic political base, not all Congressional Districts are created equal.
Here’s Dem Primary Ballots for Congress from 2022:
1st - 87K
2nd - 56K (Kelly)
3rd - 47K
4th - 37K (Garcia)
5th - 82K
6th - 57K
7th - 75K
8th - 42K (Raja)
9th - 76K (Schakowsky)
10th - 52K
11th - 44K (Foster)
14th - 37K (Underwood)
Excepting Chuy Garcia, whose Latino district has a much smaller number of registered voters because of the large immigrant population, Raja and Underwood have the smallest number of Dem Primary voters of any Chicagoland Democrat in Congress.
Heck, there are plenty of county officials in Lake, Cook, Will, and DuPage who can boast far larger Democratic support than these three, and they can run as outsiders who are not part of the “DC swamp.”
Pritzker/Stratton, by contrast, recieved more than 800K primary votes in 2022.
So, is Team Stratton worried? Not if they are smart. In fact, discouraging one person from running makes no sense. If she is going to have one opponent, 3+ is better, especially having Raja and Underwood duke it out for suburban votes.
PS if I see this data on another blog without attribution, I will be unamused.
PPS I agree with the previous posts that a story citing unnamed sources accusing unnamed people is just the kind of thing we do not need from news organizations.
Comment by Thomas Paine Friday, May 2, 25 @ 12:28 pm
Interesting to know JBs motivation for showing his hand this early in a pivotal seat.
What gives?
Comment by Loop Lady Friday, May 2, 25 @ 12:42 pm
===What gives? ===
His lt. governor is running for US Senate. If he hadn’t endorsed her, you’d be wondering what gives.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 2, 25 @ 12:48 pm
For those who think the Governor and his teams “sharp elbows” are refreshing, you obviously haven’t gone up against his team.
Comment by Because I Said So…. Friday, May 2, 25 @ 12:50 pm
Started being a ‘wild year’ bout 1/20/25.
Comment by sal-says Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:12 pm
As to Underwood’s democratic votes in the 2022 primary,was she unopposed? I don’t remember. And I think she is in a much more Republican district then many Democratics like for instance Jan Schakowski so I think her wins are more impressive than those Democrats running in a traditionally Democratic district. I believe Underwood would be a formidable candidate
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:51 pm
==As to Underwood’s democratic votes in the 2022 primary,was she unopposed? I don’t remember. And I think she is in a much more Republican district then many Democratics like for instance Jan Schakowski so I think her wins are more impressive than those Democrats running in a traditionally Democratic district. I believe Underwood would be a formidable candidate==
Yes, she was unopposed. That was a completely idiotic post to compare primary votes for a congresswoman running unopposed in a purple district to a Lt. Governor (who was second on the ticket) running statewide.
Comment by So_Ill Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:13 pm
The mood of the electorate is sour, with Democrats at an all-time low with favorability in the high 20’s. Illinois Democrats should take seriously any candidate who has won in purple counties, which is what Underwood has definitely done. That performance bodes will for winning the general. Raja can boast some of the same.
Comment by here and now Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:34 pm
=== That was a completely idiotic post to compare primary votes for a congresswoman running unopposed in a purple district ===
Quigley was running unopposed and recieved 82K votes.
Schneider ran unopposed and recieved 52K votes.
The fact that she represents a Purple District is exactly the point. How many votes she can garner in a General Election does not matter, unless you think she is Glenn Poshard and can somehow marshal massive Democratic Primary turnout from people that normally do not vote Democratic. That seems like a tall order given how well Pritzker/Stratton have done in the collar counties and suburbs.
So what is her base in a Democratic Primary? She supported military aid to Israel, so she certainly is not going to run on Gaza and hope to rally college students and other disaffected progressives like Biss did.
Again, my point is that Underwood is trying to argue she is a threat to Stratton, and I do not think anyone within the Stratton camp sees it that way. The suburban unions that have backed Underwood in the past, for example, will likely be with Stratton.
Raja runs into the same challenges, but he is already sitting on a lot of cash and his consultants sure want him to spend it, and my guess is they will convince him to enter the race.
We can bookmark this conversation and come back after the primary and have a great laugh.
Comment by Thomas Paine Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:34 pm
This didn’t make it last time but I’ll try again:
Underwood - younger, has won a competitive race, and has experience at the federal level. That’s more compelling than an older opponent who has never won a competitive race and who has no Washington experience.
Comment by Torco Sign Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:51 pm
Now we know that Congresswoman Underwood must be viewed as a threat. I hope she stays in the race, and may the best candidate win.
Comment by Valerie Leonard Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:51 pm
I’m glad that the Democratic voters have a great list of candidates to choose from. I haven’t heard of very many names on the Republican side. Even so, the stronger candidates are Democrats, based on the names I heard on the other side. It will be a great race to watch.
Comment by Valerie Leonard Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:06 pm
the thing that makes me laugh is that it sounds like something someone would imply about a young woman. so it feels creepy and pointed and, yes, I think it came from a candidate. but not the Pritzker group. I suspect a sharp elbowed consultant from another group who got creative
Comment by Amalia Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:23 pm
When JB and Caprara say they didn’t do it, I believe them.
That doesn’t mean that one of their allies or team didn’t do it anyway. Candidates are surrounded by ambitious sharps in their own right.
Comment by walker Friday, May 2, 25 @ 4:09 pm