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* We’ve been talking about the millions of dollars being spent by the Economic Freedom Alliance here for weeks. The group, funded by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, has pumped big bucks into ads attacking Sen. Sam McCann and boosting Gov. Bruce Rauner.
I told subscribers last week of the rumors connecting the Ricketts family to the IMA contributions and the parallel rumors about Todd Ricketts’ alleged desire to run for governor in four years.
* Greg Hinz…
At the center of the story are outgoing Illinois Manufacturers Assn. President Greg Baise, the independent expenditure group he leads and business and political activist Todd Ricketts, the part owner of the Chicago Cubs, finance chair of the Republican National Committee and—if numerous political insiders are to be believed—the potential head of the Illinois GOP and possible candidate for governor if GOP incumbent Bruce Rauner loses that job on Nov. 6. […]
All of this is occurring as Republican chatter builds about what will happen after Rauner and the tens of millions of dollars he’s plowed into the party are gone.
Ricketts reportedly is interested in stepping up his activity, perhaps with Griffin as a partner, insiders say. The Ricketts clan does have quite a political pedigree, with Todd Ricketts’ brother, Pete Ricketts, now the governor of Nebraska, and his sister, Laura Ricketts, a leading national Democratic donor.
Chairman Schneider, in an interview, said his term has well over three more years to run and “at this point,” he expects to complete it. But he conceded that considerable concern about the future is being raised in a party in which conservative activist state Rep. Jeanne Ives almost defeated Rauner in the March primary, and conservative activist Dan Proft, with help from wealthy businessman Dick Uhlein, has been running millions of ads on behalf of Illinois House candidates he says will be independent of both Rauner and Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan.
“I definitely think there will be a change in leadership of the party after Rauner loses,” Ives says.
The far-right has always coveted the party chairmanship, so the fight will be brutal and Schneider will need a new bank to back him up if Rauner loses. Ricketts and Ken Griffin could be it.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:08 pm
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Previous Post: Raoul heads into home stretch with new negative spot
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===Gov. Ricketts?===
When pigs fly.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:11 pm
Sox fans + Cardinals fans = probably not governor Ricketts.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:13 pm
The guess here is that Ricketts will find a way to co-exist with the far right. His pockets seem to be deeper than Uihlein’s too, which will make him a perfect pigeon for professional grifters like Dan Proft.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:15 pm
While I’m better friends with Tom, I’ll be interested in where Todd is “at”, solely at this point with the given that Raunerism is not only a failure, but a colossal mistake.
I’m as likely to hear from Todd as I would be JB, so you can say… my options are pretty wide open.
My mocking here is this;
Illinois needs a governor and governance.
The Raunerite GOP needs to find footing as a party where Republicans can see Raunerism has expired.
I want, if he wins, JB to succeeed, Illinois needs a governor, as I hope the GOP here irradicates Raunerism and helps in the governing, as Pritzker reaches out to Republicans, not the Raunerites.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:16 pm
Dude couldn’t even run a bike shop! Of course, that means he’d be perfect for guv.
Comment by Mincer Ray Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:19 pm
Unlike Rauner, Todd Rickets has been openly staunchly pro-Trump, so he can offer that to the far right. Might hurt with the 70% of Illinoisans that are either moderate or liberal though.
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:28 pm
Yo, Papa Joe, rather than spending hundreds of millions on Todd for the Illinois right, how’s about spending that money on Bryce Harper for right field?
How many toys do your adult kids need? They don’t play with all the ones they have now. You’re spoiling them.
Did you see how your ballclub scored down the stretch? Harper is a much better ROI.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:30 pm
===Todd Rickets has been openly staunchly pro-Trump===
Yeah, that’s gonna shrink the rest of the Party, so they’ll have to figure out how to be more Illinois aware and less inclined to embrace Trump… or be Kasich, which would be my ideal preference.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:31 pm
The Ricketts are the far right.
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:36 pm
It’s not news, but I’m still tickled to read that Ives said “after Rauner loses” not “if Rauner loses”
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:39 pm
If Joe Ricketts has any say on how his money is spent, the ILGOP is heading back to the Jack Roeser days. I wonder if Alan Keyes will start warming up in the bullpen.
Comment by TominChicago Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:45 pm
The Illinois GOP is fundamentally anti-choice, anti- gay rights, pro-assault weapons and now pro-Right to Work.
Kinda tough to win statewide races on that platform.
On the otherhand, Ricketts and Griffin ought to be able to pick up the phone and talk to Governor Pritzker and have a reasonable conversation.
So, why spend millions and, more importantly, put yourself in the position of having to deal with Ives and Proft?
Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:48 pm
This is really some seriously good stuff;
===The Illinois GOP is fundamentally anti-choice, anti- gay rights, pro-assault weapons and now pro-Right to Work.
Kinda tough to win statewide races on that platform.===
Raunerism is all that, less the uber-left, costal, linosine liberal social agenda… we know that has no constituency too. It’ll be confusing, but…
===On the otherhand, Ricketts and Griffin ought to be able to pick up the phone and talk to Governor Pritzker and have a reasonable conversation.===
That could help in a Kasich way of trying to rebrand, and seek reasonable, and help a governor govern, and be in the discussions. This *might* be smart(?)
===So, why spend millions and, more importantly, put yourself in the position of having to deal with Ives and Proft?===
They may marginalize Proft…
I’m waiting to see how this could shake out, Rauner hasn’t lost yet, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:54 pm
Memo to the die hards: Historically, the ownership of the Chicago Cubs has generally been Republican.
This predates the Ricketts by more than a century.
President Taft’s brother once owned the team. Mayor Thompson, briefly, served as club president before his first mayoral term. William Wrigley, Jr., was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. The Tribune was a Republican sheet before the corporation purchased the Cubs.
The notable exception was Adrian C. Anson, who was elected Chicago City Clerk on the Democratic ticket. He was also a proponent of segregating MLB which held until 1947.
The Comiskey were Democrats and Charles Comiskey’s father was a long time alderman. The old Comiskey Park location (built atop a municipal dump) was chosen in part because of a tip as to where a new street car line was going to be built.
Comment by Practical Politics Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 1:58 pm
Great, rich Republican guys are already lining up for political offices they are not qualified for. I had been hoping that the rich guy thing was a fad.
How about trying moderation and experience?
Comment by Jibba Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 2:10 pm
–Great, rich Republican guys are already lining up for political offices they are not qualified for. I had been hoping that the rich guy thing was a fad.–
No worries. As you know from the deep-thinkers among the Raunerbots/tronc edit board/IPI all the rich dudes are going to move if Pritzker wins.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 2:20 pm
I have to say the political consultant master plan to drain the ultra rich is working swimmingly.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 2:30 pm
“The Comiskey were Democrats and Charles Comiskey’s father was a long time alderman”
The 1919 W.S. scandal occurred because he paid his Players like a Republican.
Comment by a drop in Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 2:42 pm
According to Forbes there are 17 billionaires in Illinois
Why not save time they can draw lots for Governor and spare us the negative campaigns
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 2:44 pm
Gov Ricketts?
Who thinks Ives isn’t going to run again? Anyone who gets 48.5% in a primary against an incumbent governor is running again.
Also: if Harold comes within 6 points of Raoul, she’ll run for Governor as well.
Crowded field.
Comment by DarkHorse Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 3:24 pm
The last thing we need are more super rich people running for Governor. What is up with our campaign finance laws that the only people who can run have to be incredibly wealthy?
Comment by Just Me Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 3:47 pm
== According to Forbes there are 17 billionaires in Illinois
Why not save time they can draw lots for Governor and spare us the negative campaigns ==
16 … 1 seems to be happy as Sherrif at the moment
Comment by RNUG Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 4:02 pm
The principal owner of the Chicago Bears made a sizeable donation to Jeanne Ives last year, but that didn’t create much of a stir. Isn’t football a bigger draw than baseball?
Comment by Practical Politics Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 4:13 pm
Campaign season’s underway
You better get ready for a brand new day
Hey, Illinois, whaddya say?
Todd Rickett’s gonna run today.
They’re singing now
Go Todd, Go.
Go Todd, Go.
Hey, Illinois, whaddya say?
Todd Rickett’s gonna run today.
He’s got the power, he’s got the greed,
To be the Right flank Republicans need,
So wait til next year, and it’ll be real,
to see Todd fly down to Springfield.
They’re singing now
Go Todd, Go.
Go Todd, Go.
Hey, Illinois, whaddya say?
Todd Rickett’s gonna run today.
Campaign time is here again,
You can catch it all on WGN,
To stomp the people, and tweet those clap back hands
The Ricketts have some crazy plans
They’re singing now
Go Todd, Go.
Go Todd, Go.
Hey, Illinois, whaddya say?
Todd Rickett’s gonna run today.
Comment by Ok Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 4:13 pm
===Isn’t football a bigger draw than baseball? ===
With 8 home games a year? Please.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 4:14 pm
Dupage Saint
According to Forbes there are 17 billionaires in Illinois
Why not save time they can draw lots for Governor and spare us the negative campaigns
This made me start laugh uncontrollably. You are spot on. Citizen’s United has changed our Democracy.
Comment by Ole' Nelson Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 4:23 pm
good points by Dark Horse
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 4:28 pm
@Rich:
Poor writing on my part. I should have been more clear. I did not mean the stadium attendance. I meant the overall media coverage and sports radio talk. Football seems to be newsworthy year round.
Comment by Practical Politics Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 4:32 pm
– Rich Republican guys are already lining up for political offices they are not qualified for–
As opposed to hard workin’ salt of the Earth types like ol’ JB, am I right?
Self awareness is a good thing.
Comment by JB13 Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 5:28 pm
JB13…what made you think I was excluding him?
As for Erika Harold, she is hardly qualified to be Attorney General, and not at all to be Governor. She’s simply entitled, but not rich.
Comment by Jibba Monday, Oct 22, 18 @ 9:42 pm
@ ok 4:13
You owe Steve Goodman a huge apology. Goodman may have been a Cubs fan, but I don’t think he would have been found of the Ricketts clan.
Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 1:34 am