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* Politico…
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former Illinois state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has ramped up fundraising in his 2022 campaign for Illinois Secretary of State, a position long held by Jesse White, who’s retiring after this term.
Giannoulias has secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial support for the open seat, including $400,000 raised in a single week, according to filings with the state Board of Elections.
Big-name donors include clean-energy innovator Michael Polsky, Black Opal CEO Desiree Rogers, and top Democratic Party contributors Michael Sacks and Bob Clifford, who each donated $6,000 (their wives each donated $6,000, too). Starting in January, the limits for individual contributions rose from $5,800 to $6,000 and corporate donors can now donate $12,000, up from $11,600.
Giannoulias’ team says he also has the support of Ariel Investments Co-CEO John Rogers Jr., former U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Vistria Group Co-CEO Marty Nesbitt, as well as organized labor. Rogers, Duncan and Nesbitt got to know Giannoulias on the campaign trail for former President Barack Obama’s first presidential run when they were known to play pick-up basketball games.
The former state treasurer, a position he held 10 years ago, filed paperwork for his candidacy on Jan. 11 and was putting out feelers weeks before that. He most recently conducted six virtual town halls focused on communities around the state. He ran a statewide race for U.S. Senate against Republican Mark Kirk.
Money was never going to be the issue with Giannoulias. His ability to put together a campaign that can guide him through what could be a crowded primary is and will remain the question.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 11:59 am
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Based on his Twitter feed, it seems like Alexis is much more focused on federal issues than anything that would be the responsibility of the SOS
Comment by Stepping stone Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:04 pm
Just what Illinois needs now, Michael “Jaws” Giorango name in the news again. Who could forget Alexi’s connection with him?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-03-15-chi-060415giannoulias-story.html
Comment by Thomas The Train Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:08 pm
Glad to see Alex has put behind him the Broadway Bank loan situation.
Comment by Friends of Mark Kirk Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:10 pm
== Based on his Twitter feed, it seems like Alexis is much more focused on federal issues than anything that would be the responsibility of the SOS ==
We just experienced perhaps the most significant transitions at the federal level in our country’s history, that’s where all the political Twitter energy is, and he’s more than a year out from the primary. At some point in the next year I’m sure he’ll tweet about DMVs, but that probably won’t be meaningful in the election, because, it’s Twitter.
Comment by Disgruntled IL Democrat Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:14 pm
I forgot how tired I was of every Alexi Giannoulias story mentioning that he played a few basketball games with Barack Obama…
Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:15 pm
The thing about Alexi is , with money, he’s willing to have an open mind. Alexi likes to get to know people. Just ask Michael Giorango.
Comment by Stand of Guy From Chicago Heights Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:16 pm
Two words: Broadway Bank. I don’t think there’s enough money out there for him to avoid having that snugly fit around his neck by his opponents.
Comment by Original Rambler Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:17 pm
Post Rauner and JB and the possibility of a Rickets what is now the ‘Rich Guy’ line in Illinois statewide politics?
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:22 pm
If Dems find themselves saddled with Alexi as the nominee, along with Frerichs and the “Frerichs Tax” issues, it opens the door for the GOP, with moderate and electable candidates, to take a couple statewide offices… solely on the candidate on the slate.
The GOP knows this all too well, horrible candidates in statewide runs all but handing the Dems the office.
The more crowded, the more Alexi can get moderately competent campaign folk, the more likely the Dems will lose SoS with Alexi.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:25 pm
- Original Rambler - Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:17 pm:
Alexi has previously said he led all lending at Broadway Bank. I wonder what the loan patterns looked like demographically?
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:42 pm
Organized labor support? Hey Broadway … put your supporters in lights.
Comment by UnionDem Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:44 pm
Isn’t the lieutenant governor planning to run for SoS? Who gains if primary pushed back from mid-March?
Comment by John Lopez Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:45 pm
=== primary pushed back from mid-March?===
When is this happening?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:46 pm
Might be mid-year before delayed Census 2020 data released, which may require special session to do the Remap? The GA or a judge could push back primary from mid-March (Texas 2012, how Ted Cruz elected to U.S. Senate).
Comment by John Lopez Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:49 pm
=== Might===
So you don’t know.
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:50 pm
“Post Rauner and JB and the possibility of a Rickets what is now the ‘Rich Guy’ line in Illinois statewide politics?”
This is a very apt but depressing question.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:55 pm
A lot of big names in the mix for Secretary of State: Mike Hastings, Juliana Stratton, Walter Burnett, Karen Yarbozo, Anna Valencia, and now Alexi.
Comment by Frumpy White Guy Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:56 pm
I could absolutely see him winning a primary and losing the general because of Broadway bank. Democrats can do better.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:57 pm
Let’s see what Senator Hastings starts raising and what his thoughts are on Alexi having labor with him. My bet labor goes with Hastings long before the Alexi the Banker
Comment by Hard D Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:57 pm
What are the odds that Alexi just has a passion for improving the DMV and has no plays to use it as a springboard to run for higher office.
Comment by City Guy Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 1:02 pm
Broadway-Bank-scandal. Whether involved in it personally or not in the loan debacle…family ties, my friend, Alexi.
Comment by Pizza Man Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 1:07 pm
=== His ability to put together a campaign that can guide him through what could be a crowded primary is and will remain the question.===
I hope Alexi Giannoulias has realized that he will need to release his tax returns for the last decade with enough detail to address any concerns the public might have about what he has been up to on account of what the bank he used to work for (and kind of own) was up to.
I hope Mr. Giannoulias knows he needs to release those returns before it turns into a demand from opponents.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 1:23 pm
Didn’t Alexi and family use a big dividend payout they took from Broadway before the bank went under to quickly buy/open another bank in NY. They did it quick because if Broadway failed they could not get licensed.
Comment by BigLou Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 1:32 pm
I admire his team’s strategy to get out in front, be aggressive about it and plant their stake in the ground hoping to scare off others. But that doesn’t change at the fact that he’d be a horrible candidate in a general and would likely handover the secretary of state’s office to the Republicans.
Comment by Shytown Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 1:32 pm
- John Lopez - Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:49 pm:
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 12:50 pm:
1) Legally it takes congressional action to push back the Census apportionment and redistricting data deadlines. Right now the Census Bureau is just blowing deadlines illegally. The redistricting data by law must be provided by April 1, but there are bills in Congress (just bills) to push the deadlines back. There are other bills, like the voting rights omnibus, that would force nonpartisan redistricting for federal elections. HR 1, which passed the House last congress, as a voting rights omnibus was not so expansive, but it’s likely this is again a big Democratic priority.
2) If Illinois has no redistricting in place by June 30, there is a constitutionally mandated commission.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11360
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 1:41 pm
The ILGOP can bring back this video: https://youtu.be/ybDGureYdnE
Comment by Northfielder Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 1:52 pm
i agree with those questioning whether illinois is ready to line up behind another rich white guy with a questionable background. alexi is likable, but i think people are fed up. in an off presidential year election with a democrat in the wh and progressives pushing agendas in dc, the suburban battleground will become more important than ever. hastings is a suburban guy with a sizable african american base, as well as a strong african american component to his political organization. i think his background as an army officer provides assurance to progressive minded, yet not far left leaning suburbanites who are looking for an opportunity to elect somebody who isn’t rich, and who can speak to the moderates. i worry that his vote in favor of the ilbc criminal justice reform could hurt with some, but i think that vote will win some support in the african american community. in short…no more rich white guys.
Comment by blue line Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 1:58 pm
blue line said “Alexi is likable.” I met Alexi once in person and definitely did not find him likeable. Arrogant is the first word that comes to mind. I don’t know if he is always that way on the campaign trail, but it was my experience.
Comment by City Guy Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 2:06 pm
He’s sending out e-mails, and it is pretty annoying in that I never expressed the slighest interest in the SoS race and related to that, there is no unsubscribe link on it.
Comment by Crash Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 2:35 pm
Alexi: Take a U-turn. License suspended on your quest for SoS post.
Comment by Pizza Man Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 2:37 pm
Alexi please just go away.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 3:09 pm
City Guy - doesn’t matter if his heart is in the right place. He’s got a failed bank in his past with some pre-failure shenanigans that netted his family a nice cash payout. Think of the commercials and planted news stories. He can win a crowded primary but a well funded GOP opponent will beat him since he’ll come out plenty bloody.
Comment by Original Rambler Thursday, Jan 21, 21 @ 5:41 pm