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*** UPDATE *** I forgot to post this, so I’m putting it at the top…

Today, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) expressed their support for State Representative Sam Yingling’s bid for State Senate.

“Sam’s legislative career has focused on property tax relief, reform, and promoting affordability and access to housing for all Illinoisans. His work on local government consolidation and homeowner rights, combined with his leadership on reducing the property tax burden on property owners, make him worthy of our support,” said Michael Oldenettel of Jacksonville, Chair of the REALTORS® Political Action Committee Board.

“That is why the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) is ‘all-in’ for Sam’s Senate bid and recently increased its financial support of his campaign so that he can continue to champion policies that enable all Illinoisians the opportunity to achieve the American Dream of homeownership,” continued Oldenettel.

State Rep and candidate for Illinois State Senate, Sam Yingling, said, “I am very proud to have the support of the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) in my race for State Senate. REALTORS® are one of the backbones of small business in our communities. As a REALTOR®, I have seen their commitment to helping people pursue their dream of homeownership. This has inspired my career of public service, which I will carry to the Illinois State Senate.”

* Politico…

Republican Rep. Rodney Davis and Democratic Rep. Sean Casten are outpacing their intra-party opponents in fundraising, though no one can keep up with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.

The 8th Congressional District Democrat has banked $11 million — double what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has on hand at $5.4 million — after raking in $1.1M in the fourth quarter of 2021.

In the race to represent the newly shaped 15th District, Davis raised $420,699 in the fourth quarter, according to FEC reports, and has $1 million on hand. His GOP opponent, Rep. Mary Miller, raised $164,262 in the same period and has $414,795 in the bank.

In the 6th Congressional District, Casten raised $699,384 and has nearly $1.6 million on hand. His Democratic opponent, Rep. Marie Newman, raised $337,876 and has $573,120 cash on hand.

And in the newly created 3rd Congressional District, Democrat Gilbert Villegas, a Chicago alderman, raised $386,473 and has $377,055 in the bank in his race to best Democratic state Rep. Delia Ramirez, who raised $113,2018 and has $110,443 cash on hand.

In other races: Rep. Lauren Underwood in the 14th District said she raised $752,011 during the fourth quarterly FEC filing period and reported nearly $2.1 million cash on hand. And in the 17th District’s open seat, Republican Esther Joy King raised $639,970 and has $655,957 in the bank.

* Coming a bit late to this…

It’s going to be a battle to replace Frank Zucarelli as Thornton Twshp Committeeman. Thaddeus Jones, State Rep and Cal city Mayor circulating petitions. #ILPrimary pic.twitter.com/FOqOdh4Enz

— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) January 27, 2022

* Apparently, this clownish appellate court candidate didn’t get the word that session is canceled…

* From a Richard Irvin campaign fundraising email authored by Jeffrey R. Brincat, who was forced to resign from the Illinois Racing Board by Gov. Pritzker after allegedly making an illegal campaign contribution…

Corruption here is simply the norm and places a tax on the head of all Illinoisans. Let’s make this the “old” Illinois.

* Some guy named Chase Thrasher is running for governor…

My name is Chase Thrasher. I’m from Olney, a little town in southern Illinois. I am 34 years old and a single father to an amazing 4-year-old son. I have been a Correctional Officer for the last 7-and-a-half years and have lived in Illinois for the past 25 years.

I am running for Illinois Governor in 2022 as I have long been dedicated to serving Illinois and want to make this state a great place to live, for you, for myself, and for generations to come.

And, yes, that’s his real name. There are four people named Thrasher on the state payroll.

I gather that he is a Republican, but that word appears nowhere on his website. Then again, Richard Irvin’s first campaign ad didn’t use the word, either.

* Speaking of Richard Irvin, the Bears hired head coach Matt Eberflus last Thursday. Yesterday, just four days later, Eberflus and new general manager Ryan Poles held a free-wheeling, 90-minute press conference. It’s now been more than two weeks since Irvin formally kicked off his campaign and he has yet to grant a single interview that I’m aware of.

…Adding… From a member of Rep. Bob Rita’s (D-Blue Island) political organization…

News From the Actual Front: Rita’s organization started circulating last week. 6 days they got 1000 signatures door to door. No cocktail parties. No social media meetups. Just good old fashioned field work. Didn’t get one complaint about people not answering doors for covid or any other reason.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:35 am

Comments

“The 8th Congressional District Democrat has banked $11 million”

As he’s in a safe seat, I would hope he’s going to spread that wealth around a little bit during a tough year for Democrats…I imagine he’s likely getting phone calls about that already.

Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:38 am
It’s been two years now and I still can’t figure out what the big deal is about masks. What are Devore & his crew “fighting for”? The freedom to expose others to and be exposed to a virus?

Comment by LakeCo Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:39 am
Richie Irvin: The well-financed candidate-in-the-shadows ?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:40 am
Ooops

Anon @ 11:40
sal-says

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:41 am
==The freedom to expose others to and be exposed to a virus?==

The freedom to never have to consider other people. If you boil it down to that, it explains a lot of the ethos beyond masking.

Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:42 am
Mary Miller announced she was running against Davis on New Years, so none of the money in this most recent report is from the time period where she was in the race. She probably should have gotten started sooner, but I’d expect her next quarter to be an improvement financially, otherwise she’s going to have some trouble.

Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:43 am
It’s too bad we can’t put a real diaper over Tom Devore’s head

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:44 am
Tyrant, Idiot? Sounds like the era of bipartisanship is over. Unless of course DeVore was discussing his own redeeming qualities.

Comment by The Dude Abides Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:45 am
==Yesterday, just four days later, Eberflus and new general manager Ryan Poles held a free-wheeling, 90-minute press conference. It’s now been more than two weeks since Irvin formally kicked off his campaign and he has yet to grant a single interview that I’m aware of. ==

Well, TBF, Head Coach of the Bears is way more important.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:46 am
Wanna actually see why the GOP is failing in Illinois?

Krishnamoorthi, Casten, Underwood, Foster, Schneider…

All five districts, at one point, were considered GOP.

The losing of ground in and around Cook (the collars) isn’t just “a map” thing… it’s a “we give up” kind of thing.

Throw in Kinzinger…

Of course Krishnamoorthi can lock in $8 million. He works hard, does national media, understands “back home”… and now in a very safe seat.

Times changed, the GOP shrunk, and years wasted with Oberweis dreams, and Ives hopes in campaigns too.

Reset, Regroup, Recruit… look at the candidates running now… they doing any of that for the GOP?

Nope.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:46 am
Mr. Thrasher sure seems conservative, especially his bit on his site about the latest Bogeyman Critical Race Theory. However, right at the top he calls himself…”Principled. Proven. Progressive.” And yep, didn’t see a party identifier anywhere.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:47 am
So Devore wants to be a judge? His behavior is more like a petulant middle school student.

His his writing is worse than a middle school student.

I cannot even imagine what his courtroom would be like, but he is laying out the argument for anything goes/Jerry Springer type of courtroom. But I bet he is pretty autocratic.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:50 am
I dunno…

“The Milk Carton Mayor”

Has a nice ring to it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:50 am
Oh. My bad. That’s on me.

Krishnamoorthi locked in $11 million.

Whew, and apologies

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:55 am
Devore is another in a long line of sanctimonious Republicans who choose to fight other Republicans that don’t meet their threshold for approval, instead of fighting Democrats. Organizations where everybody rabidly believes exactly the same thing are cults, not political parties.

Comment by Proftlike Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:56 am
Mr. Thrasher pulled a Democratic ballot in the 2018 primary. He did not vote in the 2016 or 2020 primaries. He pulled Republican ballots in 06, 08, 10, 12.

Comment by Stix Hix Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:56 am
= I gather that he[Thrasher] is a Republican =

My money is on him being the 2022 version of Kash Jackson.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 11:57 am
=== News From the Actual Front: Rita’s organization started circulating last week. 6 days they got 1000 signatures door to door. No cocktail parties. No social media meetups. Just good old fashioned field work. Didn’t get one complaint about people not answering doors for covid or any other reason. ===

I love this. Old school precinct work gets the job done every time.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:03 pm
4 of the last 8 (not 7) govs went to prison, Mr. Brincat.

Comment by KOL Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:04 pm
I appreciate anyone that uses the term “face diaper.” It tells me all I need to know about them in two words.

Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:04 pm
==Mr. Thrasher sure seems conservative, especially his bit on his site about the latest Bogeyman Critical Race Theory. However, right at the top he calls himself…”Principled. Proven. Progressive.”==

Perhaps Libertarian. Or trying to revive Sam McCann’s Conservative Party.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:08 pm
“National Guard Called To Look For Milk Carton Mayor”…

See, it’s fun.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:08 pm
Oswego Willy right on the mark with his 11:46 comment…sadly.

Comment by Middle Way Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:12 pm
Check that, it’s actually 4 out of the last 11! Math is hard

Comment by KOL Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:14 pm
==4 of the last 8 (not 7) govs went to prison, Mr. Brincat.==

With 3 more of them who didn’t go to prison closely associated with people who did.

Thompson and Edgar with Cellini.

Quinn being Blago’s LG and him stating in 2006 along the lines of he was “the most ethical candidate.”

Plus Rauner not allowing a budget for 2 years and all the suffering it caused was criminal in itself.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:19 pm
What would Devore do without his “dictator?” It’s not as if he is anything like a competent…anything.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:24 pm
“old” Illinois, forgot the “s”

Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:34 pm
DeVore has quite the potty mouth–he should wear a face diaper whenever he speaks and for more than one reason.

Comment by Nobody Sent Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:46 pm
Go Rita. Good to see some old fashioned hard work.

Comment by ;) Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:49 pm
The Doofus of Greenville should never be a candidate for the Appellate Court. Thomas DeVore’s inflammatory rhetoric and pursuit of lame-brained anti-science theories could certainly render any of his legal decisions as questionable. Name calling, petty commentary and profanity are certainly not the traits of a seasoned jurist.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:50 pm
Does Mr. Chase Thrasher have a running mate?

If he does, my oh my, what a rough day for the Sullivan campaign.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 12:54 pm
(Tips cap to - Middle Way -)

Sullivan should switch gears, run for Senate, get a bunch of cash from places all over the country, make a run at it that way…

Of course, stealing valor… versus a combat wounded veteran already serving in the Senate is a tall ask.

Lots of California dreamin’ I suppose.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 1:06 pm
OW…to your Senate comment, I recently went to a party gathering in the burbs. Some relatively prominent individuals were talking up Peggy Hubbard as a candidate because she had a military background and matched up nicely with Sen. Duckworth. Hmm, who in a more sane world might have potentially filled that same role better? (snark intended)

Comment by Middle Way Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 1:30 pm
===Thornton Twshp Committeeman. Thaddeus Jones, State Rep and Cal city Mayor circulating petitions===

This is really a strong indication that our state’s political system is overdue for a complete reform and restructuring when you have legislators and mayors actively seeking precinct committee positions personally instead of the local party being a group of party activists seeking to elect democrats. It’s not a good idea to have a local political party committee made up of the people that committee is supposed to be working to elect.

If you want someone like me to believe that the efforts to end political corruption and politically motivated hiring have been successful I’m going to need to see a state and local parties that’s core leadership and membership isn’t state and local elected officials.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 1:32 pm
===Hmm, who in a more sane world might have potentially filled that same role better? (snark intended)===

The GOP is behind the 8-Ball in multiple ways, for sure… no bench to turn to for candidates… the candidates running aren’t up to much of any stature to win.

I just wanna be Sullivan’s media buyer… raining cash.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 1:41 pm
More Illinois politics mischief with Rod Blagojevich’s cameo account. This time at the expense of Marie Newman.

https://twitter.com/daveweigel/status/1488578355624648714

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 1:45 pm
Mayor announced on MLK day, missed the first day of black history month to speak?

Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 1:53 pm
=== This is really a strong indication that our state’s political system is overdue for a complete reform and restructuring when you have legislators and mayors actively seeking precinct committee positions personally instead of the local party being a group of party activists seeking to elect democrats. It’s not a good idea to have a local political party committee made up of the people that committee is supposed to be working to elect. ===

These are not precinct committeeperson spots - these are Township Committeeperson spots. I’m not sure you are aware, but in Cook County there are 50 Ward committeepeople and 30 Township committeepeople and if there weren’t elected officials running for these spots, many of them would be vacant. The party activists you speak of just do not exist in many places.

Also, these are unpaid positions and it takes a lot of work to raise money, get volunteers, and do the things that are necessary to get people elected.

To your final point, I guess you will never be convinced that political corruption or politically motivated hiring has ended because this is not going to change. Even “reformer” type elected officials run for these spots.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 2:38 pm
==News From the Actual Front: Rita’s organization started circulating last week.==
Person who openly states that they were not circulating the first two weeks a group could circulate decides to back seat drive and bash fellow Democrats for trying new stuff. Always constructive for our party.

Comment by Nuke The Whales Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 3:03 pm
=== Person who openly states that they were not circulating the first two weeks a group could circulate decides to back seat drive and bash fellow Democrats for trying new stuff. ===

Please. The people trying “new stuff” have been bashing the traditional party organization for years now. It cuts both ways.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 3:46 pm
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild was going to endorse Yingling until they saw the way he spelled his name.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 4:28 pm
“Sullivan should switch gears, run for Senate, get a bunch of cash from places all over the country, make a run at it that way…”

Sullivan maybe is already eyeballing it. I was phone pulled over the weekend, included a lot questions about both Sullivan and Duckworth oddly.

Comment by Siriusly Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 9:22 pm