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* UPDATED x2 * Pritzker says he agrees with Durbin on need for new party leadership

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* Background is here if you need it. Gov. Pritzker was asked today: “To be clear, you agree with Sen. Durbin that we need new leadership at the party?”

“Yes,” the governor said.

I’ll update this in a bit.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Pritzker was asked to clarify something he said earlier when he was asked about Durbin’s comments regarding Speaker Madigan’s party chairmanship…

Look, I agree with Senator Durbin that opponents were able to tap into voters’ concerns about corruption and their lack of trust in government. There are real challenges there, and you know that I have proposed significant ethics reforms that I know that the legislature needs to take up. The Republicans and the billionaires that sided with them were effectively able to use the speaker as their foil. And that hurt our ability, our state’s ability to get things done.

And the truth is that Democrats are standing up for the middle class and getting important things done to support them. But it is clear that Senator Durbin is expressing something that I think is accurate.

…Adding… Press release…

Last night in a television interview, Senator Dick Durbin said about Speaker Michael Madigan: “All across our state – and the advertising told the story – we paid a heavy price for the Speaker’s chairmanship of the Democratic Party…I hope he takes that to heart and understands that his presence as chairman of our party has not helped.”

Today, during his daily COVID-19 briefing, Governor Pritzker was asked if he believed Madigan should step down as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois. He responded with a “yes.”

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement in response:

“Let me be clear: a superficial and political demotion as Chairman of the DPI does nothing to end Madigan’s reign of corruption as Speaker of the House. His position at the heights of our state government is where he derives his power and where he still diligently gives Governor Pritzker his marching orders. Suggesting the Speaker step down as party chair is a cop out.”

*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…

Please see the following statement from Chairman Madigan:

“I am proud of my record electing Democrats who support workers and families and represent the diversity of our state. Together, we have successfully advanced progressive policies that have made Illinois a strong Democratic state with supermajorities in the legislature. Illinois is the anchor in the ‘blue wall’ that has been reconstructed in the Midwest, and I look forward to continuing our fight for working families as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:07 pm

Comments

The gauntlet has been thrown?

Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:09 pm
Boom!

Comment by Bored Chairman Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:13 pm
Yeah… But the billionaire who was caught avoiding property taxes isn’t the man to deliver the “clean up corruption” message.

Comment by AndyJD Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:15 pm
Finally. But won’t mean much unless he is backdooring a lot of deals. Do not underestimate Madigan.

Comment by Denise Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:15 pm
As I mentioned in a previous post, this is the first easy step in “Chapter 1″ of the Restoring Trust in Springfield storybook.

Comment by What Do We Do Next Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:16 pm
=Yeah… But the billionaire=

One thing that…it wasn’t illegal.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:21 pm
= The Republicans and the billionaires that sided with them were effectively able to use the speaker as their foil. And that hurt our ability, our state’s ability to get things done=

So you lost the CA because your party leader is compromised due to corruption. Interesting self-incrimination, as JB had over a year to pressure MJM to move on.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:22 pm
On July 18th I thought Madigan shoulda resigned.

It’s November 5th.

The damage is already done.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:22 pm
Pritzker should promise to fund reps that go against Madigan. Take away Madigan’s money advantage and I’m sure Madigan will be old news by 2022.

Comment by Chicagonk Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:23 pm
=== Pritzker should promise to fund reps that go against Madigan.===

Nope. No way. No.

We already had one governor own 2 caucuses.

Ask President Lightford how it helped her.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:25 pm
Everyone wants to blame the Speaker. May I ask you Mr. Governor is it the Speaker’s fault that the Graduated Income Tax initiative completely failed, or did it have something to do with the pathetic campaign or terrible messaging that you were overseeing?

Is it the Speaker’s fault that your COVID-19 response went off track and instead you went on Meet the Press or these other national news shows to bash Trump and his response?

And I am so sure that your election had nothing to do with the Speaker or any political operatives affiliated with him.

If you believe these things are true, then you will have a tough time 2 years from now. Leaders take responsibility for their actions. Everyone else looks for someone to blame.

Comment by Powdered Whig Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:26 pm
===Pritzker should promise to fund reps that go against Madigan===

Here’s the thing about that: Pritzker will be around for another 2-6 years. Labor unions which almost universally support Madigan will be around forever.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:27 pm
…In other words, simple solutions are usually neither.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:28 pm
Pritzker lost a golden opportunity to make himself stand out on this issue. With Biden in the White House, and possible funding from Griffin/others in 2022, I think the Guv is gonna have a tougher time than his cake walk in ‘18.

Comment by Suburban Operative Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:28 pm
===May I ask you Mr. Governor===

Here comes the barrage. “Fire for effect!” lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:29 pm
“The Republicans and the billionaires”

This is getting old. Someone needs to show him the vote count. ~42% republican support + 18 billionaires in the state of which 6 named Pritzker are not the reason the Gov has egg on his face. The CA passes if it was this simple but yes blame the super minority party and one billionaire.

Comment by 1st Ward Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:29 pm
Would he feel the same way had his amendment won? Nah

Comment by drama mama Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:30 pm
Let the speaker draw the map, then walk away and take that hit. I don’t think the dems actually understand how valuable that would be.

Comment by Anon for Now Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:33 pm
Ironically agreeing with Durbin might help Madigan hold on as Speaker. Neither are incredibly popular with the House Democrats and those members do not being told what to do. Not to mention they need Madigan to draw the map.

Comment by southsider Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:34 pm
Overdue. One man is sinking the whole party.

Comment by El Conquistador Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:34 pm
=== Overdue. One man is sinking the whole party. ===

If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

Kim Foxx lost Suburban Cook as did Marie Newman. Madigan’s fault? We know how those two are just Madigan flunkies. Right?

Comment by Powdered Whig Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:37 pm
Suburban Operative - Agreed. He’s going to have some battle scars from the pandemic and the fair tax also. Hence, I think this move by Pritzker and Durbin is smart. Most common people won’t even know who Don Harmon is and if there is a new Speaker, I guarantee their negatives likely won’t make much difference in people voting for the Governor unlike the current Speaker. From the Governor and Senator’s perspective, the Speaker has become a net negative instead of a net positive for the Democratic Party of Illinois, so it’s time to cut ties.

Comment by AD Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:40 pm
Please explain why they need Madigan to draw the map? Is there some special skill looking at dem precincts and rep precincts. The current Map is so outdated (drawn to have 67 Dem) that it almost seems like an outdated argument. Not to mention, I think Pres Harmon has some experience with the map as well.

Comment by Paul S Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:40 pm
If Pritzker wins re-election it will be the Pat (Squezzy) Quinn 3 country 19,000 vote win model

Comment by SIU Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:42 pm
What happened Tuesday was a flesh wound. The real damage could be done in two years when the Dems are running on a tax increase that they own, not the voters.

Comment by Birds on the Bat Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:43 pm
=== it will be the Pat (Squezzy) Quinn===

Y’all really have this rapid response thing down well. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:44 pm
=it wasn’t illegal=

He paid $330,000 to the county after the fact. Whether it’s “illegal” doesn’t matter to MOST people. It looks inappropriate, entitled, and doesn’t help fight Madigan who uses the exact same “it’s not illegal” phrase.

Comment by AndyJD Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:45 pm
=== Dems are running on a tax increase===

Meh.

Show me the candidates, the 14 districts… that’s 14… to take control, 20 in the Senate… and can’t beat someone with no one…

The Dems will first force Raunerites to vote to just social services, and other issues to frame it as “X wants to take away your healthcare, X wants to hurt you children, close their schools”

Districts, you need lots of folks, candidates. Kifowit in Kendall county was unopposed.

If you think it’s that simple… lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:47 pm
Look, Pritzker and Durbin have to do what they think is right for the future of the party, and yeah, Illinois republicans burned in the Madigan message, so fine.

But that said, what they’re doing is navel gazing the problem away. Look around the country. Dems thought they were going to flip chambers in a half-dozen states, they were assured the US Senate and 5-10 pickups in the House. None of that happened. Down ballot Ds got swamped everywhere. They better find the reason for that because it sure as heck wasn’t Madigan in all 50 states

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:48 pm
=== If Pritzker wins re-election it will be===

Winners. Make. Policy.

Land doesn’t vote. Voters vote.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:49 pm
Trying to blame the Speaker for the Fair Tax loss seems like a losing strategy.

Comment by Chex Mix Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:07 pm
Republicans and the billionaires that control them is becoming almost as obnoxious as Because Madigan

Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:11 pm
Perhaps the following analogy is appropriate or not.
Seems to me the decision to stay with the Speaker or not is not unlike the decisions that professional sports teams make all the time when it comes to retaining or signing a difference maker type of player who comes with significant baggage of one kind or another. For most organizations it all comes down to whether or not the player’s on field successes outweigh his negatives.
I assume the same calculations could be made as to the Speaker. When his considerable successes are less frequent or he’s considered a net negative, a change will be made.
Self preservation is the first three goals of nearly every elected representative.

Comment by Tommydanger Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:18 pm
Tommydanger - I think it’s more like the quarterback who plays a year or two longer than they should have. Kinda like Peyton Manning going to the Broncos. His defense was great and they won the Super Bowl, but he was pretty bad that year. Well, Madigan is like Peyton in this scenario and he just cost the Dems their Super Bowl.

Comment by AD Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:22 pm
Boss Madigain is not to be played with.

Comment by Mal Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:24 pm
When you come at the king, you best not miss…

Comment by Jed Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:25 pm
=== Madigan is like Peyton in this scenario and he just cost the Dems their Super Bowl. ===

See my comments above. Everyone wants to blame Madigan without any self-reflection on the poor decisions that they may have made that contributed to their own failures.

Comment by Powdered Whig Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:26 pm
We’ve seen this before with Madigan, when his own daughter wanted to run for governor. He’s not going to step aside unless he gets indicted and only the Feds have an idea when or if that will happen.

Comment by Glengarry Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:29 pm
Pritzker should think about his language.

55% of the state is not made up billionaires or Republicans. If that is true, I don’t think the Dems would have super majority and control both chambers for the last 20 years.

Less blame and more ownership. That’s what good leaders do.

Comment by Mr. Hand Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:30 pm
Of course King Pritzker wants to blame everything and anything for his failure on the tax. Had enough of King JB and Caprara.

Comment by ;) Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:30 pm
Lets face it.. Over 85% of Chicago or Cook County voters voted in support of the tax. Chicago and Cook County which is highly populated with minority voters. In other parts of Illinois which is more white is where the graduated tax had problems.

Chicago voters received the grad tax message clear and supported it. It was the voters elsewhere that voted against it. The demographics of those areas are mostly white and low minority.

Comment by Mal Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:30 pm
=== King===

Facebook is down the dial.

Speaker Madigan is a mitigating factor to the Fair Tax Flop, the flop itself begins and ends with those running that CA.

No one can say Madigan “helped”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:33 pm
Instead of criticizing the messaging lets pull of the demographics and see who supported the tax and who voted against it broken down by race. If a high number of minority voters ended up supporting the tax then it is clear that we can’t blame just messaging alone because the minority voters received the same message and supported the tax.

Comment by Mal Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:35 pm
=== Lets face it.. Over 85% of Chicago or Cook County voters voted in support of the tax. Chicago and Cook County which is highly populated with minority voters. In other parts of Illinois which is more white is where the graduated tax had problems. ===

You are kidding right? Check out these numbers from Suburban Cook:

Proposed Amendment to the Illinois Constitution
Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 872,180
1,599 of 1,599 Precincts Reported
Precincts Reporting Status Bar
% Votes
YES

53.34%
444,751
NO

46.66%
389,000

These are from the City of Chicago:

Proposed Amendment to the Illinois Constitution

Votes Yes % No %
886,055 631,124 71.23% 254,931 28.77%

You must one of the folks working on the messaging. LOL.

Comment by Powdered Whig Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:37 pm
Powdered Whig

thanks for proving my point. Now lets pull up the statistics by race. Lets see who the message failed with.

Comment by Real Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:39 pm
== Lets see who the message failed with.==

Illinois voters. Asked and answered.

Comment by fs Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:41 pm
- fs

Lets break it down and look at each of the statistics. Not just a statistic based on residence.

Comment by Mal Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:44 pm
=== thanks for proving my point. Now lets pull up the statistics by race. Lets see who the message failed with. ===

Not sure what point you were trying to make. Did you change your handle in the middle of a thread?

Also, from my post you can see that only 55.34% of voters in Suburban Cook supported the fair tax. That is far less than the 85% that was cited by Mal above. If the fair tax got 85% in the City and Suburban Cook, it would have passed. It was nowhere near that amount.

It doesn’t take a demographer to know that the suburbs are the critical battleground areas for statewide races/initiatives. The fair tax was a complete loser in the collar counties.

Comment by Powdered Whig Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:46 pm
===Labor unions which almost universally support Madigan will be around forever.===

I don’t think all of their members feel the same way as the leadership of those unions do.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:48 pm
Is this solely a messaging, Freichs, and Madigan issue?

I think the pandemic probably did not help his cause. I wonder how the suburban moms who had Johnny’s football season cancelled, if they flipped on supporting a Pritzker initiative.

Comment by Mr. Hand Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:50 pm
=== I think the pandemic probably did not help his cause.===

Pritzker polling to the virus is still good.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:52 pm
Noteworthy from the Crain’s article:
“Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider, who made Madigan the centerpiece of nearly every major campaign in the state, said in a statement that Pritzker’s comments today fall short. “A superficial and political demotion as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois does nothing to end Madigan’s reign of corruption as speaker of the House. His position at the heights of our state government is where he derives his power and where he still diligently gives Gov. Pritzker his marching orders. Suggesting the speaker step down as party chair is a cop out.”

Comment by Soxin7 Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:52 pm
Powdered Whig

Yeah, the point is suburban Cook County. Since you provided statistics based on residence can you now post statistics based on race?

Comment by Mal Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:54 pm
=== The survey found 60% of Illinois voters approve of Pritzker’s handling of the pandemic===

Nov. 3, Tribune, via Capitol Fax

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:55 pm
===”I look forward to continuing our fight for working families as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.”===

Translation: Bite me.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:58 pm
Can anybody remember how this amendment got on the ballot thus allowing JB to spend some his 2020 allowance?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 5:03 pm
Given a choice between polls and elections, I think I will go with the election numbers.
Pritzker took an issue that was popular for a decade and when he put his support on the line for it we all know Team Pritzker was crushed.
The vote indicates voters by a very large margin did not trust him.
Now he is following the old Pritzker’s playbook and blaming other people for his failure.

Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 5:04 pm
Can’t wait for the vote on who will be speaker of the house.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 5:10 pm
No one lasts forever…not even Madigan…

The pipeline from his employ to Com Ed employee
Is just way too obvious…

Comment by Loop Lady Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 5:49 pm
“Pritzker polling to the virus is still good.”

Since polling is so accurate these days….

Comment by 1st Ward Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 6:05 pm
Unless JB has the votes to install a new Speaker, this does not bode well for JB’s legislative agenda.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 6:08 pm
OFF-TOPIC

Did anyone see Wasserman’s tweet about Underwood “probably” winning? https://twitter.com/Redistrict/status/1324453377720373249

Comment by Lincoln Parker Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 6:13 pm
=== Since polling is so accurate these days….===

“Ok”

Never use a poll again. Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 6:16 pm
(It’s snark… lol)

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 6:17 pm
Madigan could be as honest as the day is long, but the perception is he is corrupt.

And the CA vote proved that the perception IS reality to the voters.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 6:19 pm
Imagine if the ILGOP had a popular platform of issues, with an opponent as unpopular as Madigan. Republicans are still a super-minority party, after years of Madigan attacks.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 6:30 pm
Random madigan ?, if he didn’t have all this heat would he have been less direct with his support of Kilbride? Also, he’s got to go and he knows it, he knew it was possible when he supported a billionaire. He can’t wait this out like Blago.

Comment by Rutro Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 7:12 pm
=Let the speaker draw the map, then walk away and take that hit. I don’t think the dems actually understand how valuable that would be.=

The hero we need, not the hero we deserve?

Comment by phenom_Anon Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 7:47 pm
Does JB really think his flat tax fail was due to MJM? As Joey B would say ‘Come on, man’

Comment by Annoyed Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 8:25 pm
So the Speaker has more clout/power than the governor and IL US Senator? That explains a lot of IL problems.

Comment by HighSox Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 8:54 pm
=So the Speaker has more clout/power than the governor and IL US Senator? That explains a lot of IL problems. =

Are you new to Illinois?

Comment by phenom_Anon Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 9:40 pm
So so weak of Durbin to blame the CA failure on the guy going down, LOL. That is a weenie move.

You gotta love the Madigan middle finger response.

Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoodom Friday, Nov 6, 20 @ 12:09 am
I don’t think the Black Caucus realizes how much leverage they have here. Be interesting what they do with it to push their agenda and propel their members into more leadership roles.

Comment by Almost the weekend Friday, Nov 6, 20 @ 9:14 am