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* From a press release…
[Yesterday] Alderman Howard B. Brookins, Jr. challenged the nominating petitions of his primary opponent, Congressman Bobby Rush (IL-01). After extensive review, Rush submitted less than 750 valid signatures. Illinois election law requires 1,314 valid signatures for the 1st Congressional District.
“For years Bobby Rush has not shown up for his constituents and it’s clear the community is no longer there for him. There’s no doubt that losing touch with the district resulted in desperate attempts of fraud. From hundreds of signatures outside of the district to blatant forgery, I’m confident the Board of Elections will find enough evidence to remove him from the ballot,” said Alderman Brookins.
Multiple discrepancies found in petition sheets:
Multiple signatures from the same person on different petition sheets.
One signer signed for another person or multiple people at a single address.
Circulators signed their own sheets.
Circulator signatures do not match.
Notary notarized his own signature.
Circulators repeatedly visited the same addresses and collected duplicate signatures.
Some sheets have no signatures and only printed names.To see examples of these, please follow these links:
Subscribers know more.
* Greg Hinz has the react…
Rush spokesman Stanley Watkins said the congressman’s campaign has not yet had a chance to review the challenge, but predicted the incumbent “will have sufficient signatures” to remain on the ballot for the March Democratic primary.
The Brookins camp is using well-known election attorney Mike Dorf to pursue the challenge. An even better known election lawyer, Mike Kasper, also is working for Brookins but on other matters, spokesman Tom Bowen said. Kasper’s other clients have included Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
A second challenge also was filed against Rush by another party, according to Board of Elections records. Details were not immediately available.
Resolving a petition challenge can be a lengthy, complex process. By law, those who sign are supposed to be registered voters in the district that’s involved, but sometimes people move. In other cases, attorneys for both sides argue over whether a signature is or is not legitimate.
*** UPDATE *** Check out the last line in this tweet…
ICYMI, @capitolfax recaps challenge to #RepRush petitions. https://t.co/W6MiLDwNCG I'm pretty sure Bobby doesn't have an election lawyer yet
— Thomas C. Bowen (@thomascbowen) December 8, 2015
Yikes.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 9:50 am
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Well, at least this will free him up to work on his son’s campaign.
Comment by Century Club Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 9:52 am
Related: Brookins petitions for his committeeman spot in the 21st ward were also challenged.
Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 9:56 am
Is he sharing staff with Dorothy Brown? Good grief!
Comment by burbanite Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 9:56 am
Too early to tell.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 9:57 am
Darn. My heart is broken.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. One of my least favorite Congresscritters and the architect of Senator Roland Burris’ scheme.
Buh bye Bobby.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 9:58 am
What a way to go.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:00 am
Rookie mistake by a veteran who has taken his district for granted. Good riddance!
Comment by Stones Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:03 am
I’m sure the new critter’s voting record will be markedly different than that of Rush.
Comment by Junior Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:05 am
I’ve done some petitioning in my time and it’s not uncommon for a signer to also sign for their spouse. You’re likely to find something that like in anyones petitions. That page that has all printed signatures looks pretty incriminating though.
Comment by NorthCenter Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:12 am
Definitely sloppy signature gathering. But I sure hope this is not Chairman Madigan going after Rush because BFC has a viable house challenger. I did not know she could OBJECT to her primary opponents the same way she objects letting a bill be heard in committee or sent to the floor. This all seems very persnickety.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:13 am
This might be an unintended “going gently into that goodnight”…
The petitions thenselves? That’s not going down swinging, it’s trying to get by, maybe.
Wow.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:14 am
Lack of attention, and reliance on people who couldn’t produce. This just isn’t that hard. The right handful of trained, local people could have gathered enough good signatures for Rush in a week or ten days.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:16 am
Isn’t Brookins one of Rahm’s allies and the head of the Black Caucus. What’s the backstory?
Comment by Always right Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:18 am
Yikes. This isn’t just about untrained or “bad” circulators, how does a congressional campaign of an incumbent even submit these sheets?
Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:21 am
Agreed, Walker. Could be he felt impervious. For good reason - the Cook county political system isn’t known for its accountability with the public. I’m sure he felt pretty safe.
Comment by Junior Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:30 am
Junior, I think most long-time Congresscritters consider themselves invincible, for good reason, no matter where they’re from.
You get the occasional huge upset, like with Cantor, but they’re rare by design.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:36 am
Can’t a circulator sign a petition he circulates?
Comment by ? Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:40 am
Agreed, Word.
Comment by Junior Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:41 am
“This might be an unintended ‘going gently into that goodnight’…”
Failing to try isn’t trying to fail, but this is pretty darn close.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:51 am
Here’s the real fun part folks, I’m pretty sure Rep Rush doesn’t have an election attorney yet.
Comment by Tom B. Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:55 am
**Can’t a circulator sign a petition he circulates?**
Yes.
Comment by AlabamaShake Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 10:57 am
=== Can’t a circulator sign a petition he circulates? ===
It has been my understanding they can, but I always think its better if they don’t.
Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 11:09 am
Emancipation for those of us in the district, time for new ideas, energy, and accountability
in a district that needs it.
Thank u for ur service.
Comment by islandman Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 11:16 am
Do we know why Robin Kelly’s petitions were challenged?
Comment by Unknown Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 11:20 am
Are any of the people whose signatures appear alive?
Comment by Dan S Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 11:27 am
Petitions are challenged all the time for many reasons. Some of those reasons justified and some not. Sometimes when it is close you challenge an upstart to make them spend money and resources they don’t have. That being said the Congressman seems to have some issues.
Comment by Spliff Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 11:29 am
Many petition challenges are loaded with allegations intended to bluff the uninitiated first time candidates into withdrawing. Sometimes, a rival candidate with faulty petitions will object to a competitor in order to strike a bargain in which both sides withdraw their objections and proceed to fight it out in the primary.
Comment by 10-4 Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 12:13 pm
Howard Brookins looking pretty smart–wonder how much he knew ahead of time. Avoids a much bigger field if it were a wide open primary after a real Rush retirement.
Comment by Orzo Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 12:31 pm
I had to admit that when I saw the headline I thought back to the Family Guy when Peter forms a group to fight for fat people’s rights and then regrets saying that someone would be warm, buttery toast.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 1:16 pm
I wonder how Rush’s petitions have looked from previous years? Possibly just as sloppy, but never challenged.
If he’s kicked off it would be an embarrassing end to the guy who handed Obama his only electoral defeat-(and then had him drawn out of the district to prevent a rematch)
Comment by train111 Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 1:45 pm
Would be a tragedy for Rep. Rush to be removed from office this way. Let the voters decide. This is not a novice trying to get on the ballot with no real support. He’s an iconic figure in the African-American community.
Comment by Chicago taxpayer Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 2:01 pm
“This is not a novice trying to get on the ballot with no real support. He’s an iconic figure in the African-American community.”
He’s also a member of Congress. So it’s not too much for people to expect him to have his act together.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 2:32 pm
Wait a minute….. Are you suggesting that an incumbent, veteran congressman has to submit petitions according to the same rules as a challenger? Surely not in Illinois!
Comment by One of the 35 Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 2:38 pm
=== Would be a tragedy for Rep. Rush to be removed from office this way. Let the voters decide. This is not a novice trying to get on the ballot with no real support. He’s an iconic figure in the African-American community. ===
Whether you are a political novice or a 20+ year veteran, the law is the law. You gotta get the signatures or you won’t be able to run.
Comment by Anonymouth Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 2:38 pm
That snort followed by chuckling is from the current occupant of the White House.
Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 2:39 pm
Taxpayer - wrong. His staff alone could have gotten enough signatures - especially since their jobs are on the line.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 2:55 pm
“He’s an iconic figure in the African American community.”
Mrs. Train is AA, and I’d seriously bet she doesn’t even know who Bobby Rush is!! Nor would probably 90% of African Americans under the age of 50 or so.
Comment by train111 Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 2:56 pm
Looks like Brookins has read the Obama playbook on he won his state senate seat against Alice Palmer. Brookins is being sent to Washington like others before him.
Comment by Niles Township Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:05 pm
you are bobby rush and you have to do just one thing…one thing to get re-elected and you mess that up.
unreal.
Comment by DecaturGuy Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:05 pm
==Well, at least this will free him up to work on his son’s campaign.==
Mr. Flynn Rush doesn’t have enough signatures, either. Rush’s organization couldn’t pull it together for either one of them.
Comment by PsyOps Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:49 pm
**Rush’s organization couldn’t pull it together for either one of them.**
Organization? Rush has an organization?
Comment by AlabamaShake Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 3:54 pm
Rush’s decline has been slow, but steady. His successor even lost his former aldermanic seat to Bob Fioretti a few elections ago.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 4:42 pm
===Looks like Brookins has read the Obama playbook on he won his state senate seat against Alice Palmer.===
It would be the same only if Rush announced his retirement, then endorsed Brookins for the seat, then changed his mind at the 11th hour and scrambled in vain to get enough good signatures, only to come up short via a challenge by Brooins. That would be right out of the Obama playbook.
But this is a bit different than that. Quite a bit different in fact.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 5:50 pm
it’s not uncommon for a signer to also sign for their spouse
And surprisingly, it is still an invalid signature.
Comment by plutocra03 Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 6:05 pm
What would he be doing if he weren’t a Congressman.
(shivers)
Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 6:46 pm
“His (aldermanic) successor lost to Fioretti a few elections ago” … And that was long after the successor (Haithcock) had broken ties with Bobby.
Agree that whatever organization he had back in the day is fading fast. It has been for some time. And that you have to be at least 45-50 years old to know any of the history.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 6:17 am