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* Greg Hinz…

He’s in.

Chicago businessman Jonathan Jackson has filed federal paperwork to run for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Chicago, almost certainly a sign that the son of civil rights leader, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and the brother of former congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. will enter the race. […]

An official announcement is expected next week.

Several other candidates already are in the race, including Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd; state Sen. Jacqueline Collins, D-Chicago; and county workforce development official Karin Norington-Reaves.

* Press release about the same district…

Pat Dowell, Alderman and Committeeman of Chicago’s Third Ward, and candidate for Democratic Nomination for Congress in the First District of Illinois, this week announced endorsements from major political players supporting her campaign.

“I am very humbled by the growing support for our campaign. There is a lot of work to be done on this campaign and in Congress. I am so grateful to have the help of so many folks,” said Pat Dowell.

Dowell announced endorsements from:

Former Ambassador and Senator Carol Moseley Braun
State Senator and Committeeperson Mattie Hunter
State Representative and Committeeperson Bob Rita
State Representative Lamont Robinson
State Representative Kam Buckner
Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry
Alderman and Committeeperson Howard Brookins
Alderman Carrie Austin
Alderman and Committeeperson Sue Sadlowski Garza
Alderman Maria Hadden
Alderman Brian Hopkins
Alderman Michele Smith
Alderman and Committeeperson Tom Tunney
Alderman and Committeeperson Scott Waguespack

* Fundraising appeal…

Friend,

I have a big announcement to share.

I’ve mentioned before that Illinois Policy plans to take on government union bosses this year. And we’ve finalized our strategy, the Full Slate Strategy.

What does the Full Slate Strategy look like?

Recruit pro-free-market candidates who will fight for taxpayers.
Illinois Policy will identify and support candidates who care about their neighbors and community, not special interests and government union bosses.

Give voters real choices.
Voters deserve candidates who aren’t tied in with the corrupt establishment. On average over 50% of house seats are uncontested. Incumbents run unopposed and voters’ voices go unheard. We’ll give voters options in 2022.

The 2022 elections are pivotal - Inflation is the highest it’s been in 30 years, emergency powers are slowing economic progress, and government union bosses continue to fight parents on public education.

In order to successfully launch the Full Slate Strategy, I’ve set a goal to raise $625,000. I am personally asking for your support to take on government union bosses and the special interests.

Will you donate $25, $50, $100, or any generous amount to recruit pro-free-market candidates? Click here to donate >>>

We are recruiting, thoroughly vetting, and training pro-free-market candidates to run for office where the current incumbent lawmaker faced no opponent in 2020.

To date, our team has interviewed and vetted qualified candidates to run in 37 of these districts.

Once completed, we are then asking potential candidates to sign a commitment form.

This shows that they are steadfast in ending “business as usual” in Springfield and Chicago.

Donate $25 >>>
Donate $50 >>>
Donate $100 >>>
Donate $250 >>>
Donate $500 >>>
Donate $1,000 >>>
Donate $2,500 >>>
Donate Any Amount>>>

In less than a year, Illinoisans have seen two tremendous victories that many believed were politically impossible:

The decisive defeat of the progressive tax.
The long-awaited end to Mike Madigan’s tenure as the nation’s longest-serving legislative leader.

These are major wins, but this is only the beginning. With your continued support, we will recruit better legislators and local leaders who will continue Illinois’ comeback story.

Thank you,

Matt Paprocki
President
Illinois Policy

* Politico…

Democratic Rep. Marie Newman, who’s also running in the IL-06 congressional primary, has been endorsed by the Cook County College Teachers Union Local 1600, an AFT/IFT local. Newman also won the support of the National Organization for Women PAC, Feminist Majority, and the National Women’s Political Caucus.

* More…

* Kaegi botched COVID tax relief: The Cook County assessor cut values based on jobs he thought neighborhoods would lose due to the pandemic. It was a wild miscalculation that worked out well for some, including Mayor Lori Lightfoot, not so well for residents of a poor South Side neighborhood

* ADDED: Kaegi responds

…Adding… Press release…

Today, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 and the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council have endorsed Sam Kukadia for Cook County Board in the 9th District. Mr. Kukadia is a business owner and member of IUOE Local 150 seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the Cook County Board. These endorsements, coupled with Mr. Kukadia’s raising more than $50,000 in one week, shows he is gaining early momentum in a race that could get crowded in the coming weeks.

“Brother Kukadia as a member and Local 150 contractor, not just talks the talk but walks the walk when it comes to protecting working families. He understands workers deserve fair wages and benefits for an honest day’s work. He will ensure that the men and women in Organized Labor have a seat at the table while serving as a Cook County Board Member,” said President Business Manager James Sweeney of IUOE Local 150.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 11:38 am

Comments

Isn’t the IPI … “non-partisan”

===What does the Full Slate Strategy look like?

Recruit pro-free-market candidates who will fight for taxpayers.
Illinois Policy will identify and support candidates who care about their neighbors and community, not special interests and government union bosses.===

What Democratic candidate(s) checks those boxes?

It’s like a phony spoof of themselves, a self-own… of course to grift… “as long as the money is coming”…

… it’s like a televangelist saying they want to recruit more people like you and me, but give us the dollars to make the echo chamber seem to grow.

All they need are leisure suits and a 4am infomercial to run opposite of Teflon cooking ware

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 11:51 am
Dear Mr. Paprocki,

Who exactly *isn’t* a taxpayer?

Sincerely. Describe these non-taxpayers.

Your pal,

Oswego Willy

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 11:53 am
The Jackson Beer Distributorship Deal still smells. Holy Cow.

Comment by Red Ketcher Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 12:21 pm
I really doubt it will happen but if some white candidate with somewhat of a base (mayor, legislator, etc) and some money(a big problem) they could actually win this race. They would be one term and done but with all those black candidates running that vote will be seriously diluted. Even with Jackson in the race.

Comment by Been There Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 12:25 pm
Ok, so I had some time to kill while at home with the plumber this afternoon, so I crunched some numbers based on IPI’s fundraising e-mail. The wording is a little odd, but I tried to give them the maximum benefit of the doubt where possible.

I’m assuming IPI doesn’t count primary or 3rd-party candidates as “opponents” for these purposes. I’m also assuming that any mid-session appointments get categorized based on 2020 results even though those Reps weren’t on the ballot in 2020. In the House, there were 61 districts where the eventual winner did not face a general election against the other major party. In the Senate there were 12, for a base total of 73 districts.

I think it’s fair to assume from the messaging from IPI that they’re not recruiting candidates against incumbent Republicans. That removes 12 House districts and 2 Senate districts from their target pool, leaving a total of 59 districts.

Of those 59 districts, I’d estimate very generously that 15 are winnable, meaning within spitting distance of 60/40 D in a normal year. I’m counting some real stretches there to be fair to IPI, it’s a good R year and strange things happen. Here’s the House list:

Michael Kelly
Kelly Burke
Stephanie Kifowit
Larry Walsh
Natalie Manley
Anna Moeller
Fred Crespo
Deb Conroy (not running for reelection but will still count her district)
Marty Moylan
Jonathon Carroll
Bob Morgan
Daniel Didech
Jay Hoffman

and the Senate “list:”
Mike Hastings
Christina Castro

Of those districts, there are announced Republican candidates in… 3 that I could find. Walsh, Carroll and Moylan have opponents. That’s it, with petition circulation halfway over. Maybe they’ll keep vetting through the summer and try to put candidates on the ballot in August, but that requires action from local parties who may not see eye-to-eye with IPI every time, and slated candidates don’t have as great a track record because they didn’t campaign the full year. So all that said, I’m calling baloney on their big recruitment program.

Comment by vern Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 12:42 pm
=== Illinois Policy will identify and support candidates who care about their neighbors and community … ===

Well that disqualifies any GOP candidate. As we’ve seen throughout the pandemic, the GOP is doing everything in its power to tank efforts to protect neighbors and the community.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 12:47 pm
It sure seems like Jackson has been handed everything in his life so far, from a job with Michael Milken in the 1980s to his own beer distributorship and minority construction business.

I sure hope voters don’t hand him this because of his famous family. Chicago deserves better. Bobby Rush has been collecting a paycheck and doing little more since forever. We could use an energetic and ambitious Member in that district to bring federal resources back to Chicago.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 12:53 pm
“Pro free market?” What a joke. The American economy has been so distorted by the tax system (incentives and disincentives) that there’s little “free” left. But it sounds great.

Comment by Sir Reel Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 1:11 pm
Laughed out loud when Pappy boasted about and claimed Madigan…nice try…live to his much this raises. Could give ‘Eiffie and RichieRich 2nd thoughts

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 1:25 pm
The non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute is looking for money?
When did Charles de Ganahl Koch stop paying their bills?

Comment by Chicago 20 Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 1:27 pm
Donate Any Amount>>> $0.00

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 1:38 pm
Cool, now I can get new business cards printed: “Government Union Boss, retired.”/s

Comment by G'Kar Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 1:43 pm
Vern nice job

So IPI apparently has been interviewing candidates for around 20 more districts than you have on your “winnable” list. 2018 might be the more applicable year to consider districts. I wonder if they have new map-level data.

Starting next week wouldn’t be too late for this petition cycle, especially with some paid circulators. I don’t know why IPI would be announcing this overall plan if they weren’t going to announce some names soon.

Comment by walker Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 3:35 pm
SJ-R is reporting that activist John Keating of Springfield is planning to announce his candidacy as a Green Party candidate for the new 13th Congressional. He ran in the 96th House against Scherer in 2020 as a Green.

https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/elections/congressional/2022/01/28/springfield-il-activist-likely-join-congressional-candidates/9229787002/

This was the same John Keating who was arrested on charges of arson at the State Fair last year.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Jan 28, 22 @ 3:45 pm