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* Lynn Sweet…
Control of the Senate is at stake in the Tuesday Georgia runoff elections with Republican contender and Illinois native Sen. Kelly Loeffler having deep, formative ties to downstate Illinois and Chicago.
Loeffler was born in central Illinois, received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her MBA from DePaul.
As a grad student and later as an adult in the business world, Loeffler lived in Lincoln Park and the Gold Coast, records show.
After she married Jeffrey Sprecher, the founder and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange Inc., a commodities exchange where Loeffler was an executive, the couple lived in Atlanta in 2008 and also owned high-end condos in the Palmolive Building, 159 E. Walton Place.
* Mark Brown…
As a veteran of Chicago’s political wars, Clem Balanoff has surely seen a little of everything that election campaigns have to offer.
So when Balanoff says, “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” that must count for something.
Balanoff was referring to the leave-no-stone-unturned campaign field organizations mounted on behalf of the two Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate in Georgia.
* As of late last night, both Democrats were ahead, prompting a tweet from the governor’s chief of staff that I added Illinois context to…
If the current GA trend holds up, the state's budget problems could very well become much less horrible https://t.co/puaZoVhVha
— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 6, 2021
* Maxwell is also right if the current trend holds…
Senator Dick Durbin just got a lot more powerful.
— Mark Maxwell (@MarkMaxwellTV) January 6, 2021
* And…
Three of them were from Illinois https://t.co/2wItj2zxYk
— Dan Vock (@danvock) January 6, 2021
*** UPDATE *** Mayor Lightfoot…
The victories in Georgia last night may be 700 miles away, but they will have a major impact for us here in Chicago. This moves us all a crucial step closer to implementing the Biden Harris agenda–from COVID-19 relief and rebuilding our local economies to criminal justice reform and environmental protections. Let no one ever question the importance of investing in, organizing and mobilizing folks in Black, Latinx and Asian communities again. I congratulate Senators-Elect Warnock and Ossoff, and I salute other leaders and organizers on the ground in Georgia, including Stacey Abrams and my friend Mayor Bottoms, for the years of work they have done building to this moment. Democracy prevails
…Adding… Heh…
Watching Illinois Twitter wig out over the Georgia pronunciation of DeKalb County and waiting for them to learn that the county seat is … Decatur.
— David Heinzmann (@davidheinzmann) January 6, 2021
* Related…
* What’s left to count in Georgia’s Senate runoffs
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 3:52 am
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waking up to the prospects that Mitch McConnell will no longer be Senate Majority Leader is priceless. Today’s sedition antics by some GOP senators and congress people will not be forgotten. The extent of corruption by russian influence into the GOP must be investigated.
Comment by truthteller Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 5:07 am
2021 is really starting to look like a much better year than last year. Spring time in America. Can’t remember where I heard that. Oh well, I’ll just ask McSweeney.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 6:29 am
The “Flight” from Illinois for warmer weather and the type of jobs that Georgia offers is changing the political landscape in the south. You’re welcome Georgia…and America.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 6:32 am
Wonderful news and a lot of credit goes to the incredible Stacey Abrams who has done so much to change the political landscape in Georgia.
She grew up in my hometown of Gulfport and although I wish that she had done her magic in my backward home state I am very happy with the role she played in the critical GA senate races.
Comment by former southerner Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 6:50 am
It took me at least 5 minutes to remember that Roland Burris was a Senator.
Comment by Excitable Boy Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 6:59 am
If I was in the Republican Party these days there are two things I couldn’t do fast enough.
1. Move on from the soon to be former President. He probably single handedly sunk the party in Georgia.
2. Reached out to Joe Manchin in West Virginia to gauge his thoughts on flipping parties. The Democratic party of today left people like him on the side of the road a long time ago.
Comment by Really Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 7:12 am
Manchin has *more power* in a 50-50 Senate than a 51-49 Senate…
Why would Manchin, who has made a career of being a person of compromise want to switch parties to promote gridlock?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 7:21 am
To the post,
A significant win for the United States, moving further away from “alternative facts”, the politics of racial hate, and more reflective and honest to the makeup of Americans
For Illinois, Covid relief, and a national recognition of the real damage states have felt dealing with Covid, Illinois feeling that pain especially hard.
It will be interesting, the Illinois delegation, will they vote against helping Illinois in Covid relief? If so, they will be on the record voting against passed legislation that benefits their districts and state… for anger.
Significant win, if it holds up, for America… and Illinois
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 7:28 am
=== Says the …===
Person who refuses to let the Proud Boys be the voice and image of a party that this current President looks to… “to standby” like today
Supporting a party embracing overt anger and racism, nope, I’m not a Trumpkin.
The Republican Party needs a cleansing, and Trump losing and Georgia flipping could begin a rebirth.
You may support racist politics, so you be you. Supporting the Trumpkins is supporting what is wrong in society.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:01 am
Willy, look out, looks like you’re not “Republican” enough for Sweat Tea.
Sweat Tea, let me explain something to you.
For those of us over 40, and a sense of history, there was a time, not long ago, when Trump, his antics, and sychophants would’nt have been given the time of day by the GOP.
Those days are long, long gone. You are witnessing the death of the Republican party as it’s been known post WWII.
What will replace it? That’s already been answered. Facism.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:03 am
- Flyin’ Elvis’-Utah Chapter -
If you don’t support fascist, racist thinking, you can’t be a Republican.
No, you can’t be a Trumpkin. Yep, who knows what will rise from the ashes, but the ashes became so by Trump first losing, and to the post, Georgia likely flipping two seats, one being the pastor of MLK’s church, the minister of John Lewis too…
… and Illinois should be grateful that the gridlock that may had occurred seems removed.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:11 am
Like it or not, Illinois is going to do better under Biden than Trump (COVID 19 relief), and now it appears Illinois should do even better (Durbin).
Comment by pool boy Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:33 am
“It took me at least 5 minutes to remember that Roland Burris was a Senator.”
It took me less than 5 minutes to forget that Carol Moseley Braun was a Senator.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:42 am
“For those of us over 40, and a sense of history,” And some of us remember when the (even if it was just lip service) Republican branding was such as “A Kinder, Gentler America” and “Compassionate Conservatism.” Both seem so quaint now.
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:43 am
Funny to me is that the stable genius really stuck it to himself and his followers. He telegraphed it and anyone with a little common sense saw it coming a long time ago.
With respect to those who see this as a watershed moment, I have to disagree. The senate will be 50-50 at best. That is still a victory for the democratic party for sure. And for America, b ut 50-50 isn’t what they hoped for. Th house also moved closer to 50/50. The saving grace was the Biden/Harris win. They have 2 years to make a difference before the midterm elections. Campaigning started yesterday.
This is a victory over Trumpism and the authoritarian insanity of his term, but it is nowhere near the end of the war.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:45 am
- former southerner - Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 6:50 am:
“Wonderful news and a lot of credit goes to the incredible Stacey Abrams who has done so much to change the political landscape in Georgia.”
Amen.
Comment by mrp Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:47 am
“Looks like this year will be better than the last.” - Counting Crows
Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:48 am
And, heaps and heaps of praise to Stacey Abrams for her tireless efforts to get us here.
Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:49 am
The juxtaposition of Loeffler, who ran a very racist campaign, hailing from Illinois while 3 of the 10 African American senators to have served have been from Illinois is sitting oddly in my head. I hope the days of posing with klan members for photo ops and using racism to unify and win over voters are done. Good riddance.
Comment by EssentialWorkingMom Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:52 am
Oh how funny it is that the “mail-in” votes are what may put Ossoff over the top.
Comment by don the legend Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:53 am
“Like it or not, Illinois is going to do better under Biden than Trump”
I remember the same expectations for Illinois from an Obama administration. Even with Emmanuel as Chief of Staff, it had no impact.
Comment by Blue blood Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 8:55 am
This is almost the same scenario on a national scale for the republican party, that the Illinois democratic party had dealt with when the larouche faction emerged. There was a clear right way and a clear wrong way for the republican party to handle it.
The republican party chose… poorly.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:00 am
Just amazing.
The Biden admin will have an easier time passing their platform, not going to be without compromise but it’ll actually stand a chance to get a vote.
Comment by Left of the Lake Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:01 am
If Biden wants anything done he better get it done in the first two years. It seems to be a recent trend that a President with the House and Senate waste opportunities the first two years and then have to deal with their party being in a minority in either house or senate. Yes should be great for Durban maybe he can do something for Illinois for a change. We would probably be better looking to Duckworth
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:04 am
Stacey Abrams Persisted … despite all odds
And Field, Field, Field, Balanoff-style
Comment by walker Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:04 am
=== Oh how funny it is that the “mail-in” votes are what may put Ossoff over the top.===
When a party’s message is “don’t trust the mail in votes” so their voters don’t use it, the malpractice versus “owning the libs” comes squarely in play.
A Biden midterm now comes into view too, with both chambers at least run by Democrats in DC, how will that change the calculus in Illinois… for Pritzker in 2022, for Dems, and how will the Raunerites tilt “finally”… go full “Rauner”, but not “Trumpkin”, go full “Trumpkin”, even to a point to alienate Raunerites… or will the Edgar/Dillard types find a voice and place and see Chicago/Cook/Collars and use the Biden midterm to go after the fiscal but tone down and tamp down the Trumpkin anger, hate, racism, and then build?
Winning elections means running exceptional absentee/mail in programs, not call them “fraud”, as a first example.
“We’ll see”
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:10 am
Sweat Tea, GOP members like Edgar and Ryan and a host of others who knew how to win elections and accomplish public policy goals would be driven out of today’s GOP.
Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:16 am
“or will the Edgar/Dillard types find a voice and place”
OW, those days are over. Republican primary voters are simply too far right at this point for any reasonable Republican to win a nomination for governor or senate. I hope I’m wrong, though.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:20 am
In two weeks, this country will be moving away from 4 years of nation-wide, mass indoctrination of Stockholm syndrome. I hope that this nation recovers from it. We have two, hopefully four years, to do that.
Comment by Pius Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:27 am
=== Republican primary voters are simply too far right at this point for any reasonable Republican to win a nomination for governor or senate.===
Looking at Georgia, as the immediate example, the further Right the ILGOP swings, the more regional it will become, and while a map might be “Red”, counties don’t vote, and what will transpire is a handful of angry white regional insiders who stir up the “masses” of their super minority and lose any chance at governing
And I wanna be real clear, crystal clear.
Illinois is a better place with TWO parties that are arguing policy and politics for a better Illinois.
Rauner tapped into and sowed division, be it regional, economic, “city vs. rural”… the moderate he needed so Diana could save face, that fractured the fractures… in the end, between Edgar and the Right, Rauner had no base. That’s not a two party option, Rauner was an agenda that finally ran its course.
Pritzker needs a two party Illinois too, compromise works best when all have skin in the game.
It’s not “the map”, it’s Raunerites and Trumpkins wanting that “anger” vote, not the popular vote. Huge difference.
So, yeah. Yes, it’s a great day. What happened in Georgia, that should give pause to Illinois, as we cheer a chance to get help denied… if 2022 is more Raunerite, more Trumpkin, “more cowbell”… Georgia has shown what motivated voters can do when seeing the options we have in Illinois that embrace that super minority election options
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:32 am
13 days, 14 hours, 25 minutes……
Still holding my breath.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:36 am
Things do look much better for us here in Illinois, as we have a much better chance to get state and local funds from DC. It’s fitting that we should, given the hypocrisy and phoniness of those who attack our state because of its fiscal condition but have been silent or actually voted for Republicans under whom the national debt and federal deficit exploded. Also, Illinois taxpayers have probably been paying more federal income tax than what they get back, compared to many “socialism” hating red states who have been getting more federal tax dollars than their residents have paid in.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:40 am
I think much of the so called Illinois exodus were African Americans that moved to Atlanta.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:44 am
Since Trump rode down his escalator in 2015, the GOP has lost the House, Senate and White House.
But today IL Reps LaHood, Bost and Miller will stand with him to deny Americans their vote for President.
Never forget.
Comment by Scott Cross for President Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:51 am
Please give my kids some real relief on student debt. For example, one of them studied for seven years in pre-med and medical school, and her debt is staggering. Yes, she has a nice income, but I honestly wonder if she’ll ever be able to pay off that debt. She says she advises younger people not to get into the business if they’re in it for the money.
Comment by Southern Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:52 am
State and local relief may be possible now, but I wouldn’t celebrate too fast. People like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema will be looking from bipartisan cover from those like Susan Collins. In 2009, Collins proudly trumpeted that she got $100 billion cut from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. She had no particular objections, just that she wanted to exercise her power that way.
That package also included nearly $1 billion in viral and respiratory pandemic preparedness funds that Collins crusaded to kill.
The point being that we will see weird cuts from potential aid packages and weird restrictions on funds as well when the moderates are driving the boat.
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/us/politics/11cong.html
https://www.rollcall.com/2009/04/27/sen-collins-defends-role-in-axing-pandemic-flu-funds/
Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 9:52 am
The president singlehandedly wrecked the GOP. If he was decent he could have very well won the election, having done well in a crisis, and boosted his party. But today we will see a major example of why he and his party lost, with authoritarian kowtowing over certifying the presidential election in DC.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:00 am
=I think much of the so called Illinois exodus were African Americans that moved to Atlanta.=
Exactly.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:02 am
Wonder if Mitch would still kill the $2000 checks if he had to do it over again. A GOP household in line for an extra $2800 might be able to live with “socialism” for a couple of years. I don’t think this was as big a factor as Trump’s behavior, but it might turn out to be a but-for cause of Osoff’s win.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:11 am
=I think much of the so called Illinois exodus were African Americans that moved to Atlanta.=
History repeats:
Senator Stephen Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska Act:
After the passage of the act, pro- and anti-slavery elements flooded into Kansas with the goal of establishing a population that would vote for or against slavery.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:12 am
The tribalism will not end on both sides. This thread proves that. The play to inflict pain in hopes of a bailout proves this. Both parties in Illinois are to blame for our position. Just because we have this chance what will change? Will Chicago kids be able to take online AP courses from the north shore schools? Downstate? Or will you just pay for the bloated retirement and reap no rewards for your kids? Online learning has been championed by unions. Will we have the courage to consolidate 800 plus districts? Will we supplement with online and release thousands of teachers to level the field for all kids? Nah. We have hopes of a bailout. Yay. Us. Keep saying how good this is. Those that can, move. If Democrats cared about kids, they would make real change and actually help them all. Yes, the virus that the numbers show on this site is not fatal in under 80 by any measure. What about the drug and mental health of our teens? It doesn’t matter. Obviously.
Comment by Fighter Of Foo Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:19 am
I hope the Governor is paying attention to what occurred in Georgia. If he turns his back on Black Legislators given his unpopularity south of I80, he will not be the Governor in 2022.
Comment by realtalk9912 Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:21 am
==the virus that the numbers show on this site is not fatal in under 80 by any measure==
That is a bald faced lie.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:28 am
== ==the virus that the numbers show on this site is not fatal in under 80 by any measure===
It’s this type of tripe that is callous to those who lost their lives and to the health workers who have lost hundreds of thousands to this virus.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:31 am
“A Kinder, Gentler America” and “Compassionate Conservatism.” were slogans made up for politicans who let millions of Americans die because they were gay and caught a disease.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:38 am
He doesn’t like it when Democrats control both political branches at tbe state or federal level.
Taxes go up. No reforms even considered.
Comment by He Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:42 am
For those of us in human services who suffered through the austerity measures of the Quinn years, and the weaponization of human services under Rauner, the news from Georgia this morning offers a ray of hope that relief for state and local governments will allow us to have a real recovery in Illinois — where we can begin to live up to the promise of our state government as articulated in the preamble of our state’s Constitution.
Comment by Andrea Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:44 am
The most politically and economically consequential action that could benefit Illinois this year would be to federalize the pension debt. Just think that one through. I personally think could be a financial disaster for the country, but it would be the “deal of the century”.
Comment by Chad Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 10:48 am
==Taxes go up. No reforms even considered.==
This might comes as a surprise, but DJT’s 1.9 trillion tax cut isn’t going to pay for itself.
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:06 am
=…federalize the pension debt.=
How about a Fed loan at or near zero interest to refinance the debt at a lower rate? Rates ain’t getting any lower.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:11 am
Oswego Willy,
Fair point in your response to my post above. My point was that a 50/50 split doesn’t necessarily mean that Dems get everything they want to push through but it is certainly better than the alternative of McConnell still controlling the floor. Harris should probably get comfortable with continuing to spend a lot of time in the Senate.
Comment by Really Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:29 am
I hope the Congressional Dems prioritize voting rights and other pro-democracy measures. It’s morally correct, politically advantageous, and will help to preserve the Republic until the Republicans get their minds right again.
The key question to me is whether the Dems will get rid of the filibuster entirely. I think they should, even though it is to their short-term disadvantage given the structural advantage the Republicans enjoy in the Senate. The American people have, for very good reasons, lost faith in the federal government. The Democrats have got to do straightforward, popular, useful things right away to help people get through this crisis. The saga of the ADA suggests that this can’t happen if the filibuster remains in place.
If we stay in Reagan’s paradigm for the relationship between American citizens and the state, we’re cooked, quite literally, but the Dems have to rebuild trust before we can start the necessary structural reforms. Steve Randy Waldman’s most recent post is very good about how to approach this problem.
https://www.interfluidity.com/v2/8149.html
Comment by Michael Feltes Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:35 am
Sorry, I meant ACA, Obamacare, not the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Comment by Michael Feltes Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:45 am
=Illinois is a better place with TWO parties that are arguing policy and politics for a better Illinois.=
Amen. Same goes for America.
=How about a Fed loan at or near zero interest to refinance the debt =
That is a brilliant (seriously) idea. Saves billions and still pays back the principle debt.
=Taxes go up. No reforms even considered.=
Pritzker has already called for initial spending cuts. Pay attention.
@Fighter of Foo obviously went to the Trump school of Twitter tweeting with his rambling nonsensical trope.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:47 am
Watching the GOP’s chickens coming home to roost this morning after four years of enabling Trump is delicious. Truly, you reap what you sow.
Comment by LakeCo Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 11:55 am
There’s a little twist in the U.S. Senate saga, that of the two independent Senators (Sanders and a woman who I don’t remember). It was reported that they normally caucus with the Republicans, which could still give the Republicans enough votes to block Democratic legislation. Sanders owes the Dems no favors after being backstabbed by the Party twice in two Presidential runs, and neither does the woman independent. Then the Dems lose a large part of their advantage, since VP-elect Harris has no ties to break with the Repubs at 52 effective anti-Dem votes to the Dems 50.
Comment by thisjustinagain Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 12:49 pm
Sanders does not “normally caucus with the Republicans”.
The other independent is a) not a woman (it’s Angus King from Maine), and b) like Sanders, caucuses with the Democrats.
Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Jan 6, 21 @ 1:56 pm