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* I’ve spent way too much time the past 24 hours answering calls and texts about who Kennedy’s choice may be. Tomorrow morning can’t come soon enough…
Breaking: Hearing Chris Kennedy choice for Lt Gov is Ra Joy from Change Illinois #ILGov 18, waiting for confirmation
— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) September 13, 2017
Others I’ve talked to have heard the same thing, but others say they’ve heard it’s somebody else. We’ll see.
I always think about a ticket’s bumper sticker. “Kennedy-Joy” is actually pretty good. Lots can be done with that.
Ra’s background is here.
…Adding… Great point in comments…
Kennedy lost his father to gun violence & Joy lost his son to gun violence.
*** UPDATE *** She went with it…
Chris Kennedy has chosen his running mate, sources told NBC 5 Wednesday.
Kennedy is expected to name Ra Joy, the executive director of CHANGE Illinois, as his pick, multiple sources told NBC 5.An announcement is planned for Thursday morning, according to Rebecca Evans, a spokeswoman for the Kennedy campaign, who has not confirmed the choice.
Joy’s son, Xavier, was gunned down earlier this summer. Xavier wanted to be involved in politics.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 1:48 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Kennedy lost his father to gun violence & Joy lost his son to gun violence.
Comment by Fax Machine Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 1:50 pm
I love how Twitter has made Mary Ann Ahern into Bob Woodward.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 1:51 pm
Is there even one downstater on any ticket? Talk about missed opportunities.
Comment by Jibba Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 1:55 pm
===Is there even one downstater on any ticket?===
Bob Daiber.
Also, Ameya Pawar’s running mate is the mayor of Cairo. And Tio Hardiman’s is from Champaign.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 1:56 pm
===Talk about missed opportunities.===
Talk about commenting before doing a simple Google search.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 1:57 pm
Mea culpa. It was mostly rhetorical. But you gotta admit, they’re rare and fringe. I spend most of my time wondering who all these people are. I barely heard of Pritzker before 6 months ago.
Comment by Jibba Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:02 pm
Litesa Wallace is also a downstater by the Chicago definition of downstate (any of the 95 counties besides Cook/Lake/McHenry/Dupage/Kane/Will/Grundy)
Comment by Fax Machine Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:02 pm
===But you gotta admit, they’re rare and fringe.===
Litesa Wallace is neither.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:03 pm
Tyrone Coleman may be rare, but it’s too soon to say if he’s fringe. Lol.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:04 pm
And downstaters don’t use Chicago’s definition of downstate.
Comment by Jibba Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:05 pm
Ra is a good and thoughtful person who knows everyone.
Not that the other candidates aren’t.
If the choice of a LT Gov. running mate is intended to show good judgement and if this is true then Mr. Kennedy has succeeded.
Comment by Layed up Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:05 pm
===And downstaters don’t use Chicago’s definition of downstate===
Speak for yourself.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:06 pm
Now, please get back to the topic at hand.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:06 pm
If this be the case. There is no joy in old blues ‘ kennel.
Comment by blue dog dem Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:09 pm
This is an excellent Primary and General Election pick. He has a compelling and powerful life story. And he has been working to reform Illinois government.
I’ve heard he is also a very powerful speaker. Creative and spot on. Maybe this is what they mean by a campaign re-set.
Comment by WizzardOfOzzie Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:09 pm
The notion that a Lt Gov pick is going to get the Kennedy train back on track is laughable. When he finally brings in the big campaign dollars and can actually articulate a reason why he wants to be the Gov of IL, maybe then we should start paying attention. Until then, hes the JEB! of IL politics.
Comment by Red Ranger Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:11 pm
I thought Tio Hardiman was from Campaign, IL.
Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:13 pm
Is OW going to the presser?
Comment by blue dog dem Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:17 pm
- blue dog dem -
As the great Brent Musburger would say to “help” those gambling on the NFL…
“You’re looking live… ”
Unless the Kennedy Crew sends a car for me in Oswego, I will not be attending.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:21 pm
He might be a good man, I just don’t see how this helps Kennedy where it matters - he needs to be able to raise money. Kennedy-Joy makes for a nice bumper sticker/yard sign, but those are not free.
Comment by The Muse Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:31 pm
==The notion that a Lt Gov pick is going to get the Kennedy train back on track is laughable.==
Well, Kennedy’s biggest problem right now is that he literally can’t even collect signatures right now. Joy solves that.
But I suppose you then have to turn to his second- and third- biggest problems, and no, Joy doesn’t solve those.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:35 pm
Seems like an ok pick. Looking forward to the post-pick vetting process.
Comment by Anon0091 Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:41 pm
Have they asked him his position on Boycotting Israel?
Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:46 pm
Kennedy campaign just emailed to supporters telling them sign up to be first to know, just from reading the description it sounds like Ra Joy, obviously big assumption. But that along with the rumor mill and Kennedy campaign not getting out of its own way, I’m gonna say it looks done.
Comment by Southwest Burbs Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:49 pm
Ra Joy is a quality human being on top of everything else. Great pick.
Comment by The Way I See It Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:53 pm
This could be a game changer if played correctly. Kennedy could campaign on redistricting and property tax reform.
Change Illinois had an extensive network supporting redistricting. This network has value.
The problem was with a poorly designed amendment. Kennedy could draft something much better.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:54 pm
Ra Joy seems like a smart pick for many candidates. Not sure its smart for Kennedy given the reports of stumbles on the campaign trail the candidate has made.
If the commentary about Joy’s abilities bear out then he could outshine Kennedy on the trail.
Comment by Anonish Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 2:57 pm
Excellent choice this will revive the slumping kennedy, make him a much more visible member in this obnoxious primary dominated by JB and his constant attacks on donald trump.
Comment by iggy Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 3:03 pm
From the Kennedy Campaign’s email blast 25 minutes ago:
“Our pick for Lieutenant Governor has devoted their life to service, and knows the importance of working for political reform and advancing democracy for all.”
That looks like confirmation that it’s Ra Joy, but we’ll see tomorrow.
Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 3:04 pm
“Kennedy could campaign on redistricting…”
Not sure how that’s going to help him separate himself from Pritzker. JB has supported many government reform efforts over the years including redistricting reform. It actually may just help him highlight how he’s been very independent from Madigan. Also, did Kennedy support redistricting reform? Did he write checks? Did he make it a priority?
Comment by Anon0091 Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 3:10 pm
Anon0091- you mean like charter schools? Or do you mean Rod Blagojevich’s reforms, by being one of his biggest re-election supporters?
Comment by LilLebowskiUrbanAchiever Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 3:23 pm
Ra is a good guy. I don’t think he is a game changer, but show the Lt. Gov. candidate that is.
Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 3:25 pm
No, I mean like the Independent Maps campaign and BGA and other government-reform causes. Caricatures are a challenge when they don’t conform with real life.
Comment by Anon0091 Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 3:33 pm
Here is the map of the 9th Congressional district:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ey1FQ6f24uc/TviC22bc2hI/AAAAAAAAA9E/0nvN12_H314/s1600/CD9.jpg
Someone please explain to me - better yet, someone please ask Mr Joy - how anyone from Jan Schakowsky’s staff can claim that they are against gerrymandering with a straight face.
Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 3:40 pm
hmmm. some interesting things here. from a violence concerned constituency to an arts constituency and links to a group that’s actually concerned with door to door politics…Schakowsky. This brings good things and a fresh take…someone who is political but not in elected office.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 4:16 pm
I rate this as an ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Ra is well known in IL politics but not aure how this helps at the electorate level.
Comment by Illinoisian Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 4:57 pm
For people who know Joy, because I don’t - is he qualified to be governor? Since that’s the main (stated) purpose of this pick?
Comment by Perwinkle Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 4:58 pm
===…qualified to be governor? Since that’s the main (stated) purpose of this pick?===
After Ole Slip and Sue, the bar is embarrassingly low…
I’ll just leave it at that I guess…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 5:02 pm
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Comment by Sandra miller Wednesday, Sep 13, 17 @ 11:42 pm