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* Tom Kacich…
Rep. Rodney Davis, barely into his third term in Congress, is back in a familiar position: targeted in the 2018 election by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
He also has had constituents conduct a sit-in at his Champaign office, a former foe talking about running again and a sister, who lives in Springfield, encouraging voters to contact their congressman to voice support for former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
Davis is an outspoken opponent of Obamacare who said last month that Republicans would “repair this broken law and … replace it with something better.” […]
Davis had protesters camped out in his Champaign office Monday who were unhappy about his stance on health care policy.
Tom also reported that David Gill is considering a sixth attempt at a congressional bid.
* Today, Kacich received a long e-mail from Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) saying she’s “open” to a possible bid. From the end of her e-mail…
Ammons wrote that, “I think it speaks volumes that after, as you pointed out in your column, less than 90 days since his re-election, Congressman Davis has already been identified as a target in the 2018 election.
“There is clearly a dangerous leadership vacuum in Washington and a troubling absence of compassionate public and community service. I, along with many of my fellow constituents in the 13th, are very frustrated and concerned by Davis’ unquestioning support of Trump and his executive orders. The 13th Congressional District is a diverse and varied demographic; Davis is disregarding the concerns and voices of at least half of his constituents. His decision to ignore the questions of voters by repeating unsubstantiated and false talking points lends to the extreme and partisan gridlock that we are experiencing in our state and nation.”
Underestimate her at your own peril. But Trump beat Clinton 50-44 in that district. He only lost three partial counties: Champaign, McLean and Sangamon. University communities and African-American voters were the main reason.
* However, like I said before, something is definitely happening in parts of that district…
The Local Laborers Union 362 hall in Bloomington Thursday night was at capacity as residents gathered to learn how to push progressive values “in a time that’s antagonistic to them.”
That’s according to organizer Bob Broad. The event was called “INDIVISIBLE: Fighting the Trump-Rauner Agenda.” Broad explained it’s part of the national Indivisible movement.
From a reader…
Unbelievable turnout in Bloomington last night for the third BloNo area Indivisible training. People were sitting on the floor in multiple rows, people were standing along every wall. People came from Pontiac and rural McLean Co.
Her photo…
That’s two big rallies in just a couple of days in that town.
* Also, somebody is doing a good job trolling Davis online and at public events with a “Flat Rodney” cardboard cutout. From the Washington Post…
Opponents of Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) are trolling him over his town halls — or lack thereof
@FlatRodneyDavis !!!!! He shows up for constituent meetings!! pic.twitter.com/cm9spYnsDG
— phillynormal (@satin411) February 3, 2017
* But Rodney is taking it in stride…
I’ve always wanted to be in 2 (or 5) places at once like both voting in DC & being back in #IL13. Looks like I’ve shaved off a few lbs too! https://t.co/FTlNX5lobN
— US Rep Rodney Davis (@RodneyDavis) February 2, 2017
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:13 pm
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How many of in Bloomington at that meeting are in IL18 though?
Comment by yeah but Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:19 pm
===are in IL18 though? ===
District boundaries ain’t walled… yet. May not be all voters from 13, but they live right next to it. If there’s a hot race, they’ll be around for it.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:22 pm
I’m a big fan of Ammons but it seems her work on IL laws is not done yet and trying to jump up to DC would derail her progress locally and across IL. Maybe i’m being selfish but I hope she stays in the ILGA for a few more years.
That being said can somebody tell Gill to take a cycle off? Maybe there is a township or county spot he could get elected to first…
Comment by frisbee Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:37 pm
I’m still dubious that Ammons would play in the rest of that district, but lord knows she’d give Davis hell. It’d be fun to watch.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:39 pm
I don’t know much about Davis, but I gotta admire the Tweet.
Comment by The Way I See It Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:59 pm
–How many of in Bloomington at that meeting are in IL18 though?–
Difficult to distinguish since the maps divide our communities into different districts. However, if their Democrats, their’s probably a better than 50/50 chance that they are in the 13th since the map did try to shove as many democratic precincts in as possible.
Also, you live in one district and walk precincts in another.
Comment by Ahoy! Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:05 pm
LaHood’s in hiding, too-
http://wglt.org/post/residents-reach-out-representatives
And, Carol, if you do run, you have my vote!
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:17 pm
Davis’s social media posts and replies are hilarious. He works that district pretty hard and his staff is fairly accessible. What point would a town hall prove? Let people scream at him? What does that accomplish?! I would wager that few (or none) of the people complaining about Rodney’s district work have never requested a meeting with him or even tried to meet with his staff. They are just huffing-and-puffing on Facebook and Twitter.
Comment by Curl of the Burl Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:24 pm
The only time Gill ran in the current 13th CD, he came within a hair of winning. In 2012 Gill defeated the his primary opponent, backed by the DCCC, Durbin and the Dem party establishment. Then he finished within a factional of one per cent behind Davis. In 2016 Davis was so scarred of Gill’s independent challenge that he knocked Gill off the ballot even though Gill had filed a gazillion more signatures than Davis!
Comment by Johnny Justice Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:29 pm
–Tom also reported that David Gill is considering a sixth attempt at a congressional bid.–
I move that once you get to the sixth time running to get the same office you get the tag “perpetual candidate” always in front of your name.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:30 pm
Also, don’t forget that a lot of Trump backers are not happy with Davis because the Congressman dumped Trump when the Access Hollywood video came out. While those folks may not vote for Davis, they would not vote for candidate identified as a Dem on the ballot, but they may well vote for an independent!
Comment by Johnny Justice Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:34 pm
==Exchange e-mails on file update.==
That’s not been my experience at all. I’m on his mailing list but only get notified of events at the last minute, and half of those are closed. I call once a week or so, and only get an “answer”- which is to say, a form letter that’s kind of vaguely on the same topic- every third try or so. I’m glad you’ve had better luck, but that doesn’t speak to everyone.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:39 pm
–Tom also reported that David Gill is considering a sixth attempt at a congressional bid.–
Woof, what a glutton for punishment.
–What point would a town hall prove? Let people scream at him? –
Said the people who dismissed the rise of the Tea Party. How’d that strategy work out?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:40 pm
I was at the meeting last night and we split by congressional district at one point and it was close to 1/2 and 1/2 13th and 18th, maybe slightly more people on the 13th side of the room. That Flat Rodney Davis picture was taken at the Laborers hall last night too. Davis says it’s die hard democrats, but my experience last night was it’s regular people who are extremely worried about a variety of topics.
Comment by Rayne of Terror Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:53 pm
She went all in with Bernie Sanders, I’m sure he will come campaign for her in that district. I think Sanders did well in that congressional district too.
Ammons is very raw, and this is a large district. She will have to put thousands of miles on 72,74,55, and a little 57. I don’t know if she is up for it.
That being said Rodney hasn’t faced a real opponent either and has never had to govern being the party out of control. If it’s anything like 2006 he could be in trouble. And worst of all its probably out of his hands because he’s aligned with trump whether he likes it or not.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 2:18 pm
Best of luck!!!
Comment by Dooooode Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 2:18 pm
==I think Sanders did well in that congressional district too.==
Well, he’d spike turnout on the campuses, but then you’ve got the creamy middle of that district to think about…
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:01 pm
Is there a website to see election results by congressional district? I’d love to see how Munger and Kirk did in this district. Those might offer a good clue on the Blue/Red split of the district. I think Trump/Clinton was an outlier for future prognostication.
Comment by Downstate Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:05 pm
Let Ammons run. Let them dig up every vote and every word she uttered in the People’s Republic of Urbana and all the ridiculous, Marxist crap they advocate there. Put it all on the table, and Rodney will coast.
Comment by Norma Desmond Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:51 pm
–Norma Desmond–
That’s an interesting choice of handle, to say the least.
You identify with Norma, do you?
That might explain the loony “Marxist” and “People’s Republic of Urbana” rhetoric. Because Norma was insane.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/ba/26/51/ba2651a1661262eb7e601e67f1b153af.jpg
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 4:19 pm
Found this NYT site with election results by county. http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/illinois
I was surprised by how well Kirk did in Rodney’s district. Won every county, except for Champaign and Madison (and those are only partially in Rodney’s district.
Kirk was a less than mediocre candidate. I’m having trouble seeing Rodney being seriously challenged.
Comment by Downstate Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 4:35 pm
Losing Rep. Ammons would be a blow to statewide advocates for human services. She really understands the policies affecting vulnerable communities. I have nothing but respect for Carol. The silver lining would be having someone like her to fill a seat in what will be an inevitable midterm massacre in D.C.
Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 4:36 pm