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Schakowsky, Gutierrez endorse Lipinski’s Democratic opponent

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Illinois

In a rare break of the usual tradition of House incumbents either backing each other or staying neutral in a primary, Illinois Democratic Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Luis Gutierrez on Wednesday are endorsing challenger Marie Newman over Rep. Dan Lipinski.

Newman winning the backing of Schakowsky and Gutierrez dramatizes the intra-party Democratic divide that is animating this contest for the third congressional district seat.

Lipinski is one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress. Newman’s views are allied with Schakowsky and Gutierrez, prominent members of the Democratic progressive wing.

Informing Newman’s bid: In the March 2016 presidential primary, in the third district, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont Independent, beat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the district.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:33 am

Comments

Strange endorsements - especially considering the fact that neither of their endorsements mean anything in Lipinski’s district.

Comment by Too Much to Handle Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:34 am
Who will Robert Creamer endorse?

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:36 am
===neither of their endorsements mean anything in Lipinski’s district. ===

The district is at least 25 percent Latino.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:38 am
These endorsements will help Lipinski.

Comment by MOON Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:39 am
Despite his AFL-CIO endorsement, Lipinski is basically a Republican hiding out in the Democratic party.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:47 am
Jan has an over-inflated sense of her standing.

Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:48 am
=== neither of their endorsements mean anything in Lipinski’s district. ===

=== The district is at least 25 percent Latino. ===

Here’s the reality - The five Chicago wards with the biggest percentage of the 3rd Cong. District are 11, 13, 14, 19 & 23. If there are any old school Ward organizations left in the City, they reside in these Wards. Most of the Latino voters in this district will come from 13, 14 & 23. These organizations will be with Lipinski.

The five biggest Cook County townships that have the biggest percentage of the 3rd Cong. Dist. are Lyons, Orland, Palos, Stickney & Worth. These places aren’t the bastions of liberalism that Gutierrez and Schakowsky represent.

I don’t see Newman’s path to victory.

Comment by Too Much to Handle Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:51 am
===13, 14 & 23. These organizations will be with Lipinski===

Yeah? Look at how Chuy did in the two non-Madigan wards.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:53 am
Too Much to Handle - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:34 am:

Strange endorsements - especially considering the fact that neither of their endorsements mean anything in Lipinski’s district.

And even though Schakowsky supported HRC in the primary, she is a long time progressive who has been working closely with Bernie this Congress on a variety of issues.

Comment by TominChicago Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:53 am
She needs to get on the air lickety-split. The anti-Lipinski message is a good one, but I don’t think anyone’s heard it yet.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:54 am
Wow, they must see blood in the water. Maybe there is stock in that poll showing Newman with a 5 point lead once people find out how conservative Lipinski is.

Comment by Lunchbox Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:54 am
We may finally be able to get rid of this terrible example of a Democrat who only inherited his spot.

Comment by 33 ward Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:57 am
=== Yeah? Look at how Chuy did in the two non-Madigan wards. ===

I am aware, but Newman is not a Latina and does not have the name recognition or backing that Chuy had.

Comment by Too Much to Handle Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:57 am
===but Newman is not a Latina===

And neither is Danny boy.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:58 am
- Arsenal - is correct. Newman‘s campaign kinda reminds me of Jeanie Ives’. They’re both running against candidates who are well known but are out of step ideologically with the primary voters They both have a shot to pull a big upset if they had the money to reach voters.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:03 pm
===but Newman is not a Latina===

===And neither is Danny boy.===

But he is a known commodity in these Wards.

Comment by Too Much to Handle Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:04 pm
Marie is a strong, educated woman. She has leadership skills, something that Lipinski has never had. It is the time for good women to step up and lead. I think the voters will see that.

Comment by educationfirst Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:09 pm
==- Too Much to Handle - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:04 pm:==

But is he really? He’s not an MIA guy, but he’s not omnipresent either. And he’s completely out of touch with the progressive base of the Democratic Party.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:13 pm
Newman has my vote. Even with these endorsements, it’s an uphill battle.

Comment by Because I said so.... Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:14 pm
As a 3d District resident, got to agree with Too Much. While the district may be 25% Latino, it is Mexican/Central American Latino, not Puerto Rican Latino which is where Guitierrez comes from (I’m speaking where he comes from politically). Looking at how Chuy did in those wards does not necessarily mean a Gutierrez endorsement will work for a non Latino candidate endorsed by a member of a different Latino group- a Chuy endorsement would make a difference, but he’s got his own election to worry about. More than a few 3d District voters, myself included went for Bernie in the primary because we thought the process was rigged (yes I see the irony in discussing this with the process of how Lipinski first got in), but there was no way it would translate to a Trump vote in the general.The North Shore is a long way away from the 3d District in so many ways that I don’t see the Schakowsky endorsement based on what sells in Evanston selling in Oak Lawn. The question will be, has Lipinski stood up for the overall interest of the 3d District in day to day issues.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:23 pm
Any time Lipinski’s name pops up in the news is bad for him. His bread-and-butter is virtual anonymity.

Some of you seem to think that district is frozen in 1980 and is the original Reagan Democrat district. That’s long gone.

Lipinski has been playing with house money for a very long time. If he holds on in this one, it’s a last hurrah.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:25 pm
=== it is Mexican/Central American Latino, not Puerto Rican Latino===

Didn’t Dan vote against the Dream Act?

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:26 pm
Rep. Lipinski and his crew were working the train stations a few weeks back. Conversely, I haven’t seen anything from Newman. No Lit, no signs, nothing. If I didn’t read CapFax, I would have assumed Rep. Lipinski was running unopposed.

Comment by ChrisB Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:27 pm
=== Marie is a strong, educated woman. She has leadership skills, something that Lipinski has never had. It is the time for good women to step up and lead. I think the voters will see that. ===

Not if the voters don’t have a clue about who she is.

Comment by Too Much to Handle Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:32 pm
—Didn’t Dan vote against the Dream Act?

Yep, and he flipped on it in November.

With the early primary it’s a tough race, but with the activated Dem base it’s not impossible. I’d still say the odds favor Lipinski.

Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:37 pm
Lipinski is awful. Time to retire him.

Comment by Ron Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 1:20 pm
Since I live here, I have a good feeling of what type of Democrats we are. Blue collar, union types. Not progressives. Sorry Schakowsky, your enforcement is meaningless. As far as the Latino community, I’d like to characterize most of this population as non-recent immigrants. My block is super diverse. Arab, Polish, Irish, Mexican, etc.. I would say blue collar and families are the major theme.

So I looked at Marie Newman’s profile a bit. She lives on the top of this district in LaGrange - probably the area that is more than a step higher in wealth and education than the rest of her district.

Progressives don’t like Lipinski. But there should be nothing wrong with a conservative Democrat. He represents his district almost perfectly. Church (and mosques) are super important in this part of town.

Lipinski conservative? I’d actually call him moderate compared to most Republicans. It is the pro-life stance that irks Democrats.

I emailed him yesterday - and asked to volunteer for his re-election. Or put a sign in my front lawn.

Comment by I live in Lipinski's District Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 1:34 pm
Latinos might make up a quarter of the population, but they represent a much smaller portion of the vote. Still, Lipinski’s original DACA vote will hurt him with liberal voters in the primary, just like his positions on abortion and Obamacare will.

He’s vulnerable, just don’t think Newman’s the candidate to pull this off. She’s completely unknown and is doing little to get her name out. I’m not sure the liberal groups who have endorsed her are putting their money where their mouth is…I’ve yet to see a cable commercial or single mailer, let alone a lawn sign.

Just checked Newman’s website and see she lists a group called “Northside Democracy for America” as one of her endorsements. Unless that’s referring to a group operating on the Northside of Bridgeview or the 19th Ward, it’s a pretty good indication she doesn’t know where the votes are.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 1:41 pm
There’s been huge growth in the Arab population in the Southwest Cook burbs. A swath of that district — roughly from Bridgeview to the county line in Orland Park — is home to one of the largest concentration of Arab-Americans in the nation. In a few years, they’ll be as many Arab voters as there are Latino voters in the district. That makes Lipinski’s DACA vote all the more problematic. Then again, Arab-Americans tend to be conservative on social issues, so his votes on abortion and gay rights won’t hurt him so much.

Comment by Telly Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 2:25 pm
I like Lipinski and will vote for him. He is not a conservative but is Pro-life like myself. The Democratic Party used to welcome pro-life voters now they try to chase us out of the party.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 3:35 pm
The Arab population is growing for sure. This demographic fits in better with Lipinski over Newman.

Newman’s supporters are numerous. But they don’t live in her district.

Comment by I live in Lipinski's District Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 3:35 pm
–The Democratic Party used to welcome pro-life voters now they try to chase us out of the party.–

Sen. Kaine got chased all the way to the veep nomination in 2016.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 5:33 pm
–Sen. Kaine got chased all the way to the veep nomination in 2016.–

and then proceeded to take on a pro abortion platform

Comment by Pritzker's Toilet Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 6:16 pm
–and then proceeded to take on a pro abortion platform–

Yeah, party platforms are treated like they came down from Mt. Sinai. That’s all anyone talks about on the campaign trail.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 7:19 pm
I wonder if the people in Jans district really knew what she stood for if they would vote for her over a more moderate D. Dan is out in the community his constituents know him and what he stands for he will win easily in both elections.

Comment by the Cardinal Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 10:44 pm
Dan communicates well. He often has open meetings at libraries and other community places. Nice newsletters updating us what is going on.

The fact of the matter is that most of his voters really don’t watch closely. There are not many incensed voters who want Marie Newman. Again, the incensed voters are outside the district.

Comment by I live in Lipinski's District Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:29 pm
Go home Mrs Newman be good wife and mom don’t have a chance

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 5:01 am
The district is 33% Latino.

Comment by Well Actually Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 12:02 pm