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* Lynn Sweet…
Delicate discussions among top Democrats in Illinois have been taking place since a Jan. 17 meeting about the control and structure of a coordinated campaign for the 2022 ticket.
Accounts of what happened at that meeting vary regarding the views of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s political team on the role of Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., on the coordinated campaign. […]
“I think we can be a lot further along. We need more cooperation,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told the Chicago Sun-Times on Friday.“We’re moving in the right direction but too slowly.”
What’s at issue?“There are a lot of personalities tied up in this. We got to put them aside for the duration of the campaign. We got to focus on November and focus on victory and do it together,” Durbin said.
Is this about control? “I don’t know if that is the reason. It could be something else. But whatever it is, it’s unacceptable,” Durbin said.
I dunno. I mean, I do get his point, but Sen. Durbin opposed the governor and seized control of the state party and now he’s publicly whining that the billionaire won’t fund his apparatus, which might not even be constructed to be fully in compliance with federal election laws. That might be seen in some quarters as a bit on the presumptuous side. Just sayin, Dick.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:07 am
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I believe there is a new election for party chair after the June primary, and the Gov has a slate of candidates..
Comment by Wow Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:18 am
When winning is losing.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:20 am
===Sen. Durbin opposed the governor and seized control of the state party and now he’s publicly whining that the billionaire won’t fund his apparatus, which might not even be constructed to be fully in compliance with federal election laws. ===
It’s embarrassingly comical that those so willing and gleeful to refute and “defeat” Pritzker so they can have their own thing…
Have at it. “Good luck”. Godspeed.
lol
Pritzker owes the state party ZERO, actually Pritzker owes the state party less than zero, and it would be even better if in the end Pritzker literally used the state party as that pass thru like before, wholly ignoring ungrateful folks who so publicly wanted to embarrass the governor by excluding the governor.
Have it, go crazy, court labor (labor that already has dismissed ya) pretend to be relevant… “you won”.
Everything earned by this move by Durbin and Kelly came true… not part, or half, all of it, and none of what had been promised, including the legality… happened either.
The governor should go it alone, help the statewides, help the caucuses as they need, all legally, all within parameters, and just leave Durbin and his lil club to their own devices.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:23 am
Durbin has spent a lifetime trying to accumulate power…it seems he doesn’t know what he wants to do when he gets it.
Maybe focus on trying to pick up some Democratic seats in November, Mr. Whip?
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:25 am
It is mind blowing that Durbin and his team did this last year. Was winning so bad?
Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoondom Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:25 am
Dick you got what you wanted. Get your jersey on and get in the game.
Comment by Galway Bay Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:27 am
Still waiting to see the nirvana that was supposed to be achieved with Kelly’s selection as party chair.
Lesson to be learned: if you want a man’s money, don’t start by kicking him in the posterior.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:28 am
The bad blood created by this “win” is forcing people to take sides. And they’re not siding with the Senator.
Comment by FIREDup! Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:31 am
The romantic in me would like to see Pritzker send them a $1,000 check.
Out of the blue, just send a check, a “G”.
The poetic beauty of it, but…
They, including Durbin, wanted it “this way”, so why all the beefing?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:31 am
Durbin is off his game. This party chair debacle was one of the early clues and the enduring repercussions are not insignificant.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:41 am
Truly brilliant strategy to render the state Democratic Party completely unworkable, lie to and insult the governor in the process, and then give quotes like this to Lynn Sweet in the hopes of…what? Insulting the governor into giving money??
If JB does anything for the party he should make sure Durbin is completely cut out. And then beat Kelly in the June chairmanship race. Well done, Dick. Truly brilliant work here.
Comment by Anchors Away Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:41 am
OW and argued a lot about the DPI leadership fight at the time. I was a strong Robin Kelly supporter. I like her politics, I’m not a fan of Harris, and I thought that after years of having to deal with MJM leading the party, Durbin deserved a shot at running things. I was also not nearly as concerned about fundraising issues as many others. All that being said, at this point I’m absolutely sick of the bickering and in-fighting. Durbin is likely done in 2026 and Pritzker has a bright future ahead of him. He could very well run for Senator or President one day. The fact that Durbin/Kelly couldn’t just sit down in a room with Pritzker/Duckworth and come to some sort of power-sharing agreement or timeline or something after the DPI chair election is frankly ridiculous. It seems like these leaders (and their staff) care more about their egos than party operations.
Comment by The Real Downstate Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:42 am
Durbin should have realized the opportunity he had when MJM quit and instead asked to be able to name the Vice Chair and asked JB for the ability to continue running the coordinated campaign, this time with a shot of JB $. Heck, he could have gotten his pet project the IDCCA a boost of JB $ in that deal too. Instead, we have…whatever is happening now.
Comment by The Real Downstate Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:44 am
===…and argued a lot about the DPI leadership fight at the time. I was a strong Robin Kelly supporter.===
We did.
I appreciated your candor. I also appreciated your honesty to thought. It was good.
You say above “was”… is that a past tense to the discussion, or now a past tense to the current situation, losing your support.
===The fact that Durbin/Kelly couldn’t just sit down in a room with Pritzker/Duckworth and come to some sort of power-sharing agreement or timeline or something after the DPI chair election is frankly ridiculous.===
Why… would… or better… should… Pritzker?
Durbin won.
Have at it. Go crazy, go be that state party that was craved.
Pritzker owes less than zero then, and now.
It’s not ego as much as a thirst for power. Welp, folks wanted Pritzker sidelined. He’s sidelined. “Now what?”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:47 am
This is just silly. They’ll be 34 committeemen and women seated after the primary. One would think JB and Durbin could agree on one they both can tolerate.
Comment by Roman Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:50 am
Counterpoint to virtually all of the previous comments: Maybe a state party is healthier when it’s not owned by the billionaire/top-ranking elected official. Lots of people went to bat for JB when he was attacked for being a billionaire. He was using his money against his financial interest and to support candidates who’d also do that. But buying a state party is not the same thing, people.
Comment by Torco Sign Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:52 am
The Lynn Sweet story seems to be more about the gov’s folks doing an end run as they still simmer over almost winning the DPI chair election. Their egos, and Durbin’s ego, all need to shrink and get real. This is classic blue state BS. If we were a competitive state, we wouldn’t have the luxury of these inner party ego battles.
Comment by Odyssey Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:54 am
===But buying a state party is not the same thing, people. ===
Except you want him to fully fund it.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:56 am
===The romantic in me would like to see Pritzker send them a $1,000 check.===
That would be so funny.
You won, senator. Go do whatever it was you planned to do with a chair who can barely participate. Oh, wait–you did have a plan, no?
Comment by Leslie K Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:58 am
Durbin and his team of bros lit the match, poured on the gas and are now complaining its on fire.
Comment by Predecessorage Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:59 am
I still like Kelly. And honestly, I’m a partisan hack who will support whoever the hell is chair. If JB backs a central committeeperson who I like more than Harris this summer, then I may be conflicted about who to support. Not that my support means anything to anyone.
You’re right about Pritzker not needing to work things out with the other side. It would be best for the party if they did, but JB has the cash so he doesn’t need to care. I’d love it if he were to be the bigger man, so to speak, and funded the party despite the loss. But that fight was so bitter that nobody can blame him for not doing so.
And I guess we shouldn’t expect these people to get into a room and sort things out. If they had the capability to do so, then there wouldn’t have even been a contested DPI chair race. They would have (and probably should have) spoken at length ahead of time, cut a deal, worked things out, and jointly announced who they supported.
Comment by The Real Downstate Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 11:59 am
===Except you want him to fully fund it.===
“We beat you, now fund our idea because we say so”
I don’t think it works that way, especially when you publicly wanted the loss by Pritzker to also be a “statement”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:00 pm
Dems arguing about things is hardly news.
Back when JB started his race for Governor Forbes magazine had his net worth at 3.2 Billion and this year Forbes magazine has his net worth at 3.6 Billion. If he doesn’t want to write a check then he should not write a check and spend or invest the $400,000,000 he added to his net worth on another hobby.
Dems will be fine with or without his money.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:02 pm
===I’d love it if he were to be the bigger man, so to speak, and funded the party despite the loss. But that fight was so bitter that nobody can blame him for not doing so.===
Like I said… here’s your offer in a reality;
I don’t think it works that way, especially when you publicly wanted the loss by Pritzker to also be a “statement”.
It’s not being petty, or not being a bigger person, even you told me it’ll work.
So, make it work.
You can’t decided to try to make an example of the man you hope will fund your dream idea.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:03 pm
===Dems will be fine with or without his money.===
This whole post and the cite to it disagrees with you.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:04 pm
===Except you want him to fully fund it.===
This is the biggest issue with not allowing the billionaire Governor to run the state party. Even if you like Durbin or Kelly more, you have to acknowledge that IL Dems opened the door wide for JB in 2018 because they thought it would take a billionaire to beat the millionaire and that in turn he would fund the party. You can’t do the second half of this grand bargain without actually letting him take the reins.
Comment by The Real Downstate Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:05 pm
- Leslie K -
The public disclosure of the check, that would be so delicious, served cold, and publicly eaten too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:06 pm
This is just another example of why Durbin is well past his prime. He is also chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I wasn’t impressed by how he handled the confirmation hearings for Justice Jackson either.
Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:07 pm
The two sides did try and work out a power sharing agreement at the time. It’s was Durbin and Bill Houlihan who rejected it. They wanted to go it alone. And they got to do that! It’s now not JB’s fault that the state party is a flaming dumpster fire. He may want to help bc he’s a good guy and cares about other Dems - but I’m not sure I would after Durbin’s comments in this article.
Comment by Anchors Away Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:07 pm
==He is also chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.==
And the Senate Majority Whip. He’s running the show in Washington. Why not let Pritzker do the same in Springfield? Is their relationship truly that terrible or does he really think that Pritzker or his higher-up staffer are that incompetent?
Comment by The Real Downstate Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:09 pm
===Why not let Pritzker do the same in Springfield?===
Quite the “180” you personally have here.
I can show you this 180, if you choose.
:)
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:10 pm
OW, I’m a lefty, so I still don’t love that a billionaire is governor and could take control of the state party. Hence the idea that the election of Kelly was a statement. But like I said, we welcomed him in and elected him. It’s too late to go back and besides, he’s been a great governor! Open the door the whole way and let’s see if he can run the political operation as well as he runs the executive office. He deserves the chance.
Comment by The Real Downstate Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:13 pm
My thinking has definitely “evolved” on this issue, as a politician might say
Comment by The Real Downstate Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:14 pm
“This whole post and the cite to it disagrees with you”.
Not the first time that has happened.
We Dems disagree with each other all the time, but we seem to come together as the election approaches.
I seriously doubt Team Pritzker will run their own slate, but you never know. If they think they can win without hurting the party they should give it a try.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:16 pm
===“ evolved”===
I’m of a belief, as an observer, unless it evolves to Kelly stepping down, a public mea culpa, “we were wrong”, there’s no upside, that I see, to Pritzker engaging in this
You might need more Darwin-like “super evolving”
With respect, and I do, again, fully appreciate your open and honest candor, yet again.
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:17 pm
==Everything earned by this move by Durbin and Kelly came true== I haven’t seen OW so on point since he took on Dear Abby. Bravo!
Comment by Tom Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:18 pm
The Governor is running his own slate of State Central committee people. And Durbin’s “people” are fighting every single one of them.
Comment by FIREDup! Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:19 pm
“I seriously doubt Team Pritzker will run their own slate, but you never know.”
They already are.
Comment by Captain Renault Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:24 pm
Nothing says party unity like Gov. Pritzker’s pick for party chairman Ald. Michelle “ Latinos are being the crybabies” Harris.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/02/03/concerns-and-campaign-plans-mount-as-chicago-remap-battle-drags-on/
Comment by Jockey Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:25 pm
Pritzker lost, he’s cranky, whatever. Meanwhile the entire time Madigan was really just caring about house elections, Dick Durbin was supporting county party chairs, still does, a group which is sharing good work on elections processes via zoom trainings now. Dick stepped in and helped. Power accumulation? LOL He’s now the Senate Judiciary chair, again, taking on more work. and doing good. we are lucky to have him in office.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:30 pm
(Tips cap to - Tom -)
===Hence the idea that the election of Kelly was a statement. But like I said, we welcomed him in and elected him.===
If you think just on those two sentences… and then after think on this…
===It’s too late to go back===
Then you *know*…
Kelly resigns, public mea culpa, rally around Pritzker, that’s likely the only move.
===We Dems===
You support Sullivan, you typed you can’t support Pritzker, and this…
===I seriously doubt Team Pritzker will run their own slate, but you never know.===
A little less Sullivan, a little more Dem, you’d know the score.
Also, if you’re a Dem not supportive of Pritzker, why would you want him running the state party.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around a Harold Washington Dem that supports Sullivan… now this… whew.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:35 pm
“Dems will be fine with or without his money.”
If Durbin believed that, he wouldn’t be asking for his money.
But he is, so he don’t.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:38 pm
Team Durbin/Kelly lied to the governor about their intentions, mocked and maligned his closest staffers, told Democrats he was “just like Rauner” trying to take over the Party, eschewed the Governor’s very solid legal advice both in private and then in public, made a political headache for him in a cycle when Pritzker arguably has the most important and expensive race, didn’t invite the Governor or his team into the Party when they won (by one vote), have failed to build anything they said they would build, have failed to raise the money they claimed they could get, and now, in a moment when the statewide ticket is facing potentially hundreds of millions spent against them by Ken Griffin - Dick Durbin’s solution to this vast and insane failure is to once again publicly insult the popular and rich Governor who holds the fate electorally for virtually every Democrat in the state in the hands of his political and personal fortunes?
Really? That’s the plan??
Comment by Anchors Away Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 12:48 pm
===a coordinated campaign==
In my experience this phrase is meaningless in the State of Illinois and will be the label they apply to whatever they wind up doing regardless of whether or not it is a “coordinated” campaign. I hope my experience is limited and not accurate to what may be in the works.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 1:02 pm
===Dick stepped in and helped.===
Never has one person, or side, won, and yet… not won anything they thought they should have.
Help, not help, Durbin needs to move on with his win and run the state party.
Dial for those dollars… oh, wait.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 1:46 pm
Anchors Away,
I hear you and mostly agree that the guy writing the checks should be able to choose the party chair in much the same way the Prez picks the DNC chair. I also agree that team Pritzker warned about what should have been the deal breaking legal problem with Kelly. But let’s be frank. Neither side is playing well in the sandbox and Team Pritzker is seeking revenge against those that they believe betrayed them in the party chair race.
Comment by Captain Renault Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 1:48 pm
===But let’s be frank. Neither side is playing well in the sandbox===
Durbin won, Pritzker is required to fund the group he lost to?
Is this a comedy sketch?
How is it not playing nice? Durbin won, no one stopping Kelly from fundraising, I mean, except the FEC, which they were warned about, and then ignored, then redesigned the role to be ceremonial, which they said wasn’t needed…
It’s a farce. Let Durbin clean it, without Pritzker money.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 1:51 pm
If you won’t stay bought, then you have to be able to self-fundraise.
Comment by SAP Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 1:52 pm
I never fully understood the petty Durbin gripes about MJM’s state party money machine back in the day, but now I think I do. Durbin wanted a piece of the take whether he earned it or not. Madigan just ignored him and went about his business. He didn’t need Durbin.
JB, on the other hand, is in the same position, but rather than ignore Durbin, he is trying to take away the only small victory Durbin had, which was control of the Central Committee.
Durbin may be a great US Senator, but his ground troops remind me of the old TV program “F Troop.”
Comment by Suburbanon Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 2:11 pm
The Anne Caprara talking points are laughable/absurd. After promises to historically fund the party after 2018, those promises weren’t fulfilled, but we get another promise to historically fund the party in 2021, now only if the party will elect Harris who couldn’t even consistently show up to DPI meetings. Democrats like JB. His overly controlling, vindictive Pennsylvania COS who gets tattoos of their enemies so to never forget… she can go away
Comment by Democratic Unity Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 2:45 pm
=== those promises weren’t fulfilled===
Madigan left the chairmanship in 2021. It’s not like they both (MJM and Pritzker) were close.
===we get another promise to historically fund the party in 2021, now only if the party will elect Harris===
It was pretty clear then too. No one should be surprised. If you are…
Durbin won. Isn’t that enough? Now go fund it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 2:54 pm
===Democratic Unity===
You’re actually an Irvin staffer, right?
Comment by Predecessorage Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 2:55 pm
Pritzker is not going to commit to fund a “coordinated campaign” until he knows who the Secretary of State candidate is.
If Alexi is on the ticket, I would be shocked if there is a check or a coordinated campaign.
Alexi is a Robin Kelly person and visa versa, did Durbin not foresee that when he backed Kelly?
Comment by Three Blind Mice Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 3:03 pm
===…until he knows who the Secretary of State candidate is.
If Alexi is on the ticket…===
I like where your head is.
Durbin, however, is backing Valencia, along with Pritzker, so it might be one of few agreeing points these days.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 3:10 pm
== Predecessorage==
I would never support Irvin or any of those looney Republican excuses for Governor candidates. I’m just a passionate Dem leader who strongly supports JB, RK, and DD. But I support working together, not expecting the new DPI to go in alone/separate from other Dems to remind people of how ridiculous the Republicans are and how Democrats are making real change. People are predicting a difficult and razor tight year ahead, so holding on to these impactful changes may only be possible if we don’t exclude each other from opportunities to coordinate.
Comment by Democratic Unity Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 3:14 pm
“It’s not like they both (MJM and JB) were close”
Just not buying into that idea.
Without MJM help Pritzker would not be Governor. JB hired MJM folks, JB gave MJM 10 million bucks and signed into law projects like the 90 Million rail car brake job bill that helped out a MJM law client.
Not close? They were joined at the hip, two peas in a pod and partners in government and politics.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 3:28 pm
Durbin’s desire for DPI was always weird, and had JB gotten behind a candidate who had ever been outside of Chicago, Durbin’s candidate would’ve lost.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 3:46 pm
===Without MJM help Pritzker would not be Governor. JB hired MJM folks, JB gave MJM 10 million bucks and signed into law projects like the 90 Million rail car brake job bill that helped out a MJM law client. Not close?===
These are Republican talking points.
It’s odd, you’re embracing so much GOP thought.
Asked and answered, here, often.
===Just not buying into that idea.===
Why I’m not wasting time, you’ve chosen an odd part from Harold Washington to Jesse Sullivan so search the Google, here, you’ve progressed further away from where you think.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 3:53 pm
===People are predicting a difficult and razor tight year ahead, so holding on to these impactful changes may only be possible if we don’t exclude each other from opportunities to coordinate.===
It sounds like the HDems, SDems, labor, and Pritzker are excluding DPI, it’s not that big of a loss, lol
They were up till recently merely a mail indicia for HDems.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 3:56 pm
Democratic Unity…Anne Caprara gets tattoos of her enemies so she never forgets? That’s some badassery. You go girl. You got my vote.
Comment by Shytown Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 3:59 pm
==Shytown==
Caprara being too busy acting like it’s high school against Dems perceived disloyal for having a different opinion of DPI leadership, instead of using every available advantage like discounted DPI mail to get our Dem governor and agenda re-elected isn’t a compliment… being petty may be positive where she’s from, but when IL Dems need every vote in 2022, those who want to wage childish fights should sit down
Comment by Democratic Unity Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 4:25 pm
===Caprara===
Yeah, here’s the sitch, keep up;
Kelly said she could do the job, no changes, that was untrue. Others told Durbin it was impossible, that was true.
It was said, *even here in comments* that the decision was to teach, make a point, to show Pritzker… that was the goal of the exercise… to take power.
That’s not on Caprara, Pritzker, that now, Durbin, coming hat in hand, can’t grasp that they won, and need to go at this alone.
Pritzker owes the state party nothing, less than nothing.
Every single warning, “red light”, stop sign was ignored to put Pritzker in his place and help Durbin win.
Durbin won. Won as was predicted by others, not as Durbin sold it.
So… “how’s that working out?”
===…when IL Dems need every vote in 2022, those who want to wage childish fights should sit down===
Meh. LOL. Meh.
Dems will get their cash. Pritzker is a team player.
Isolating and freezing out DPI, that’s for sport and fun, “you won, but we’ll take it from here” kinda move that is hardball politics when taking on a sitting governor worth 10 figures.
Too bad. You won. No sympathy.
But go on, tattoos and child-like pettiness… I’m sure that’ll lead to compromise, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 4:33 pm
The real problem was “yes woman” Harris as the candidate. Primed to be the same for the guv. Arsenal is right that a different candidate would led to a different outcome.
Comment by elaobserver Monday, Apr 11, 22 @ 6:11 pm