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* Press release…
This morning, Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia endorsed Chris Kennedy as the next Governor of Illinois. During a press conference at New Era Windows cooperative, an employee-owned manufacturing plant on Chicago’s southwest side, Garcia thanked Kennedy for his commitment to challenging the status quo and bringing fundamental change to Illinois.
“There is only one person running for Governor who has a chance to defeat Bruce Rauner and be the progressive leader our community deserves: Chris Kennedy. That’s why I am proud to stand here today and support his candidacy for Governor,” Garcia said. “I trust Chris Kennedy to deliver on the key issues facing our community. He supports giving low-to-middle income students free college tuition for at least two years at Illinois community colleges and trade schools. Chris will fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and he believes health care is a basic human right. That’s why he has signed on to one of the main tenets of the Bernie Sanders platform: Medicare for All.”
Garcia highlighted that Kennedy has continued his family’s legacy as a champion for worker rights. It’s a legacy that began in 1966, when Kennedy’s father, the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, joined César Chávez as he ended his 25-day water-only fast to advocate for the Farmworkers Rights movement.
In 1988, when Chávez held a 36-day fast to highlight the harmful impact of pesticides on farmworkers, Kennedy joined Chávez and fasted in solidarity with him for three days.
Kennedy thanked Commissioner Garcia for his endorsement saying, “I am honored that Chuy Garcia has joined the Kennedy-Joy campaign today. He has spent his career fighting for those forgotten by the powerful and the political insiders,” Kennedy said. “He knows that we need to make a big change in Illinois. We need to break up the failed status quo to help working families.
“We need a $15 minimum wage. No one should work full-time and live in poverty. We need to strive to provide health care to every man, woman and child in Illinois, and we need to end the property tax racket that allows powerful politicians to personally profit while our public schools get less. Together, we are building a movement from the bottom up to not just change a governor but to fix a broken, rigged political system that has failed the people of Illinois.”
* Ald. Rick Muñoz also endorsed Kennedy today…
Chuy Garcia: mentions @BernieSanders campaign as he endorses @KennedyforIL "I still feel the Bern" #ILGov18 pic.twitter.com/2kpjJXm79y
— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) September 28, 2017
Garcia was one of the most visible supporters of Bernie Sanders’ primary race.
* More…
Also on Thursday, Kennedy is holding a major fundraiser with the guest of honor, his mother Ethel Kennedy. Several of his sisters also will be in Chicago for the event, which is focused on women supporting Kennedy.
He most definitely needs the money.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 11:47 am
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As a fellow resident of our palatial and upstanding community, I propose a toast to Mr. Kennedy. A dignitary of the finest clothe and a gentleman ensconced in regality and virtue. Pip Pip…
Comment by WilmetteWillard Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 11:49 am
What’s Chuy smoking these days?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 11:51 am
Cue the ILGOP press release about the pop tax in 3…2…1…
Comment by Grand Avenue Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 11:54 am
This is a pretty big get. If Kennedy can get any money, he should give JB a run for his money (no pun intended).
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 11:54 am
===Garcia was one of the most visible supporters of Bernie Sanders’ primary race.===
The Chuy Garcia endorsement is building around the Kennedy thematic campaigning that is what Kennedy is trying to rally his supporters around.
It’s a smart campaign move, given how this campaign is trying to do its retail campaigning.
If the Kennedy burn rate continues next filing period, without even spending on media, they may be running on fumes if they can get enough signatures to even run.
The Kennedy Crew is showing some life here…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 11:55 am
I see that Chuy is still reading from his notes
Comment by The Muse Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 11:58 am
“There is only one person running for Governor who has a chance to defeat Bruce Rauner *AND* be the progressive leader our community deserves: Chris Kennedy.”
The conjunction makes Chuy’s assertion plausible.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 11:58 am
Big endorsement. The Bernie folks will take notice. As will the public sector unions.
Biss left a massive opportunity for Kennedy to consolidate the left against JB. Ra Joy was a good starting point, and Chuy’s endorsement builds on the campaign’s theme. The Kennedy campaign’s messaging has improved dramatically.
To the Pritzker-ites who complained that Kennedy has sought to minimize endorsements of their beloved leader in the past… those were endorsements from party regulars. Any endorsements that Kennedy gets from actual reformers that have fought the Madigan-Rahm status quo are particularly valuable because they reinforce the narrative that Kennedy is the actual change agent in this race.
Comment by Rahm's Middle Finger Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:06 pm
=Any endorsements that Kennedy gets from actual reformers that have fought the Madigan-Rahm status … that Kennedy is the actual change agent in this race=
Yeah, because the Kennedy’s are outside of the political insiders. LOL
The fact Kennedy could not get the unions on board just based on his family’s legacy alone is mind-blowing. It says a lot about his political ability.
Comment by The Muse Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:18 pm
===The fact Kennedy could not get the unions on board just based on his family’s legacy alone is mind-blowing.===
Not really. The financial considerations and Pritzker being able to show the financials to run and win I’m sure helped.
===It says a lot about his political ability.===
Maybe. Maybe not.
Ignoring the monies involved in this race makes this comment a bit hyperbolic.
Respectfully.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:22 pm
That Chuy sure knows winning.
Maybe Kennedy should support the pop tax and ask Mr.Bloomberg to help fund his campaign?
Comment by DuPage Bard Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:28 pm
===Chuy Garcia says Kennedy is only Dem who can defeat Rauner===
Said the guy who claimed he was the only one who could defeat Rahm. How’d that work out?
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:30 pm
Chuy’s endorsment of Kennedy dooms the Dan Biss campaign. This clearly is a race between JB and Cris not Biss. Dan Biss is running away from his profile: Wealthy Scholar elistest who is a career Springfield Poitiction. He needed the Chuy endorsement to transform into the people’s candidate.
Comment by Abyss Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:33 pm
Frankly, I think Chuy was the biggest individual endorsement to get - especially when the race is on to get Bernie voters motivated to work & vote for you.
Taking Rahm to a runoff & being Bernie’s #1 Illinois surrogate gives him street cred that no other politician in IL has.
Plus, with no Latino candidates or running mates, if someone can get the bulk of the Latino vote, it will go a long way in a crowded primary.
Comment by Fax Machine Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:33 pm
If Ramirez-Rosa calls Kennedy & says he wanta to endorse - how does Team Kennedy respond?
Comment by Fax Machine Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:35 pm
I’ll re-up some of what I said last night, then add on: Chuy doesn’t hurt, but only helps so much; he doesn’t really mean anything to anyone outside of the city, and inside of the city he only has real currency with the same kind of voters Biss and Pawar are chasing. Splitting that pool of voters between the three candidates hurts all of them.
Now, adding Ald Munoz, that’s interesting. Put him and Chuy together and you can ask if Kennedy is cooking something up in the Hispanic community. I wouldn’t suggest that they “trump” Mendoza and Gutierrez (though if you told me they have a better on-the-ground operation in Chicago, I’d believe you), but they *do* “answer” Mendoza and Gutierrez.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:40 pm
===he doesn’t really mean anything to anyone outside of the city, and inside of the city he only has real currency with the same kind of voters Biss and Pawar are chasing.===
In a four person Democratic primary, the City of Chicago is kind of a big deal.
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:46 pm
Gutierrez has no ground operation in Chicago & Mendoza’s ground game is the Speaker & Rahm, so while good endorsements they add nothing manpowerwise.
If Chuy & Rick Munoz can get the Chuy 2015/Bernie 2016 volunteer crew back together for Kennedy, that would be huge.
Comment by Fax Machine Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:48 pm
Chuy might be right. We’ll see.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:56 pm
==Chuy might be right. We’ll see.==
So far, I think your initial assessment of Kennedy has been borne out.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 12:59 pm
Ars, I wouldn’t disagree. Chris has been a mess. JB has hardly been any less of a mess, just a far more expensive one.
The only thing that’s changed since that assessment in any material way; is Chuy.
He has an extremely supportive constituency of support, greater than any of the other Kazoo players recruited by the others. The most flexible voters in this universe are the kind who will dislike Rauner and JB for the same reason.
Mess or not, Chuy makes a difference here. And he lives where the votes are in the primary.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:09 pm
the Chuy endorsement is not really about the Latinx vote. as many have noted, that vote is diminished by the proportion of Latinx who can vote, although the population served in Chicago alone is the second largest ethnic population. It is truly the future. The big get is Chuy is not more of the same. he is THE Bernie person. the white boyzzz and gurlz will take note. this is change vs. more and more of the same.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:10 pm
==If Ramirez-Rosa calls Kennedy & says he wanta to endorse - how does Team Kennedy respond?==
No differently than the response to pro-BDS Chuy…
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/chicagos-jesus-garcia-slams-attempt-thwart-boycott-israel
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:12 pm
Whether or not the Bernie wing truly believes Kennedy is one of them, they don’t have a choice here: if they help Kennedy win they have real influence. Biss is a lost cause. And at least Kennedy never hesitated when asked to choose between Obama and either Romney or Gingrich.
Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:13 pm
==Ars, I wouldn’t disagree. Chris has been a mess. JB has hardly been any less of a mess, just a far more expensive one.==
That goes too far, but I know why you wanna say that. Anyway, every Kennedy mistake looks, to me, like what you’d do if you were just going through the motions. That lines up pretty well with your idea that he was a nice guy without the fire in the belly.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:21 pm
==And at least Kennedy never hesitated when asked to choose between Obama and either Romney or Gingrich.==
OTOH, reflexive support of Obama isn’t really the Bernie crowd’s thing.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:22 pm
I’m a Bernie voter and a Chuy voter and have no intention of voting for Kennedy in the primary.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:25 pm
===And he lives where the votes are in the primary===
A guy, you claim to knock on a lot of doors. Tell us, what are people saying about Chuy’s support of the pop tax in Cook County and his refusal to vote to repeal it?
Lol, there’s a difference between political analysis and wishful thinking. And given your background as a Republican activist, I think readers should consider the source when you opine about a Democratic primary.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:26 pm
==I’m a Bernie voter and a Chuy voter and have no intention of voting for Kennedy in the primary.==
In my experience, this isn’t an uncommon sentiment. I’m not sure Chuy alone can change many of those minds.
Now, if Bernie himself were to endorse Kennedy, that’d be a game changer.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:35 pm
Another Bernie/Chuy activist with no intention at all of supporting Kennedy and I am not alone based on conversations with Bernie folks.
Comment by Lakeview lawyer Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:43 pm
Kennedy, a progressive with Bill Daley who brought us NAFTA and destroyed the factories in Chicago and downstate.
As for Kennedy being a friend of the public sector unions, ask union members in Champaign how they were treated when he was Chair of U of I.
And remember minority enrollment dropped 14% during Kennedy’s time at U of I.
Comment by jimbo Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:54 pm
I agree that this hurts Biss more than anyone in race. Relative to issue of Chuy/Bernie voters not supporting Kennedy that could very well be true, but all my union buddies are telling me they are supporting Kennedy despite their leadership endorsing Pritzker
Bottom line is race looks like its between Kennedy and Pritzker at this point.
Comment by Etown Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 1:57 pm
If Kennedy is going to rely on a robust field operation, it’s about time he started. He touches a lot of pretty surfaces, but hasn’t dived in operationally.
Comment by walker Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 2:21 pm
==And remember minority enrollment dropped 14% during Kennedy’s time at U of I.==
Define minority. Per UIUC stats, when Kennedy was at UIUC from 2009-2015, Hispanic enrollment increased 45% while AA decreased 13%.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 2:46 pm
There’s that winning smile, Chris. Poor guy. If he accidentally ran that into a window, you couldn’t unstick it with a backhoe.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 2:49 pm
I don’t see the Bernie voters showing up for this primary. What’s their draw? Bernie mobilized people who normally don’t vote. Democrats need to recruit the Bernie people to come out for the general. Biss went after them and might end up in 4th place ahead of Tio Hardiman. None of these candidates are exciting. Whoever wins the primary gets my vote against Rauner but the primary is like picking the least ugly brown suit to wear.
Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 2:52 pm
Unless Chuy is going to get Kennedy to event on time with a pressed shirt, his support won’t do much.
Kennedy fund raiser looks very desperate, he is calling in his best cards to try and get support and cash. Problem is his best support is just a handful of family members. Showing up on time to women’s events will do more for him.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 3:05 pm
Good day for Kenndy. JB should be very happy with Gutierrez and Mendoza endorsement. As a side note is it just me or is JB gaining weight. I noticed on his latest commercial his face seems bloated.
Comment by JB Bloat Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 3:14 pm
And on to news that matters…
Comment by Shytown Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 4:22 pm
Poor Chris Kennedy. On what should be his best day in months, Rauner spoils the party. Will anyone even notice this endorsement with all the furor over HB40?
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 5:10 pm
Cynic,
The answer is yes because it will be communicated to all of Chuy and Bernie’s supporters. You think people rely on traditional media to get their news???
Comment by Rahm's Middle Finger Thursday, Sep 28, 17 @ 7:05 pm