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Former Republican Pete DiCianni has officially declared his switch to the Democratic Party as he announces his candidacy for DuPage County Recorder.
His ties to local Democrats, including DuPage County Chairman Deb Conroy, have stirred controversy within the DuPage GOP.
“I have closely observed DuPage County and have listened to the needs of its people and businesses, especially over the past decade,” Pete DiCianni said in a letter to constituents.
“I will be running as a Democrat in the primary election. Though I still have conservative values, sadly, the ideology of the Republican Party of DuPage is one I can no longer support. The DuPage GOP views words like moderate and bipartisan as four-letter words. This view has cost the party dearly the past few election cycles.”
“Regardless of a political party label, I will remain bipartisan, always support law enforcement, champion comprehensive public education, foster economic development, and be an advocate for people from all backgrounds, especially those who need the most help.”
DiCianni previously served as a Republican as DuPage County Board member and Mayor of Elmhurst.
Incumbent Democratic Recorder Kathleen Carrier is already facing Liz Chaplin in the primary. DiCianni may have seen an opening.
* Some local Dems aren’t buying it…
Hmmm. I wonder what “Democrat” put this “Democrat” up to this latest scam. People need to pay attention & vote accordingly.
Posted by Team Bluepage on Friday, November 17, 2023
* I checked in with DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy today. Conroy, a Democrat, said it was true that DiCianni did help her campaign last year. And she said believed DiCianni was done with the GOP and they are done with him.
Still, she said via text, “I think he will have a hard time finding a home in the D party out here.”
Your thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 11:44 am
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This is bound to be a continuous trend in DuPage and eventually Will. The Republican Party does not offer someone a pathway to a successful future in Illinois anymore (unless you’re in two certain congressional districts downstate). This actually happened in the NW Burbs already when Paul Froehlich switched sides. The writing was on the wall about the future of Republicans in the region.
Conservatives in Chicago learned this lesson long ago, which is why the Democratic Party there is such a chaotic big tent. You have some “Democrats” there who are more conservative than some suburban Republicans…
Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 11:50 am
Sounds like he’s rolling the dice on an election where the vast majority of attention will be elsewhere on the ballot. Fly low and either slide in or get a losing number big enough to start attracting some checks.
Comment by Roadrager Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 11:52 am
Smart move tactically as he will likely face incumbent Kathleen Carrier and another female opponent in the Dem primary.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 11:55 am
The D by his name on the ballot will help those who aren’t paying attention. The rest will wonder why it took 6+ years to come to the realization the DuPage R side had fallen off the deep end. Oh yeah….because it best serves him.
Comment by Politix Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 12:02 pm
I see the Chuck Redpath approach to running for office in Sangamon County is now being applied in DuPage County.
Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 12:03 pm
It’s a sign of what’s happened to DuPage that “run as a Democrat” appears to be a viable option for certain Republicans.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 12:05 pm
This isn’t just about winning.
It’s also about former allies walking away from you. I’m hearing feelings of abandonment at a lot of moderate Republican doors in these suburbs.
Comment by walker Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 12:14 pm
Unfortunately I agree with him about Republican Party in this state and it is why DuPage is Democratic. But it is all about him and always has been. I was done with him when he wanted to stay mayor of Elmhurst and be on County Board at same time. Hope he goes down in flames. Get new blood and not double dippers
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 12:20 pm
Don’t trust politicians who switch parties.
Comment by Huh? Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 12:26 pm
“… the Chuck Redpath approach … .”
He’s the second person who comes to mind when I hear the term “Sangamon County Republicrat” … .
Comment by Anyone Remember Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 12:27 pm
Welcome, brother.
Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 12:31 pm
Tired: = the Chuck Redpath approach =
Wired: Recognizing the polarization of the two-party system prompting centrists to re-evaluate their political affiliations as each side shames them.
Comment by Dirty Red Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 12:34 pm
The Republicans will never regain any control in DuPage and he knows it. Not sure how it turns out. There may be a path for a conservative type democrat out there.. On another note where is OW?
Comment by Regular democrat Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 12:51 pm
I don’t want to read too far into this. There are a lot of idiosyncrasies and personality conflicts at play in addition to the partisan dynamics.
Walker’s point is the most important part. Moderate Republican voters aren’t receiving any messaging from Republicans that reflects their values. What they hear instead is Republicans clamoring for moderates to leave the party. When they do, conservatives tend to say “good riddance” instead of trying to win them back. There’s basically a bipartisan consensus that the Republican Party should be smaller.
Comment by vern Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 12:54 pm
He’s welcome to run as a dem, and I hope he votes as a dem. He won’t get my vote… too much history that works against him.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 1:26 pm
An opportunist he is.
Comment by Frumpy White Guy Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 1:27 pm
” a continuous trend in DuPage and eventually Will.”
Eventually?
The current Will County board has a republican chair, because one of the board Ds just walked out of the first voting session to choose the chair. That gave republicans the majority vote and the ability to choose the board chair.
They just don’t switch in Will County(yet) in mid career like this.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 1:57 pm
Speaking of Deb Conroy and crossing party lines, aren’t we still waiting for GOP to condemn the threats of violence against her and her staff?
Comment by Dirty Red Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 1:59 pm
He’s not the only Republican running as a Dem in Dupage. There is at least one Dem candidate for judge who is a Republican as well. She is running as Dem because she’s already said she can’t win as a Republican.
Comment by Frida's boss Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 2:00 pm
==Moderate Republican voters aren’t receiving any messaging from Republicans that reflects their values. What they hear instead is Republicans clamoring for moderates to leave the party. ==
Well, I’m not sure they’re hearing a whole lot of welcoming talk from Dems, either, tho.
I think it’s more about he thinks it’s easier to win as a Dem than a Republican. And man, who woulda ever thunk that we’d say that about DuPage County?
(Personal and idiosyncratic issues may be the real reason, though.)
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 2:20 pm
Whenever anyone mentions someone switching political parties…I’m reminded of the disapproving scowl on my old man’s staunch Republican face.
I’ve inherited the same scowl…for the same duplicitous reason.
Never (ever) trust a party switcher.
Comment by Dotnonymous x Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 2:27 pm
Never (ever) trust a party switcher.
Have you seen what’s happened to the Republican party in the last 10 years?
Comment by The Truth Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 2:44 pm
= Never (ever) trust a party switcher. =
In general, I’d agree. But these days, the GOP is pushing people out.
Comment by JoanP Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 2:44 pm
=I think it’s more about he thinks it’s easier to win as a Dem than a Republican.=
Yep. The Democratic Party hasn’t reached the litmus/loyalty stage in vetting candidates - yet.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 2:44 pm
===Though I still have conservative values, sadly, the ideology of the Republican Party of DuPage is one I can no longer support.===
So, this right here isn’t saying anything about what his actual values are or what specific part of the Republican Part of DuPage’s ideology he can no longer support is.
While announcing that he is running in the Democratic Primary he doesn’t actually explain about what his values are or how they align with Democrats. “Democrats are more bipartisan” or “Democrats are more willing to work with moderates” isn’t actually explaining why any person that identifies as Democrat to vote for him. It seems like he’s just expecting the Democrats to support him because he says he’s a moderate Republican that has conservative values that just doesn’t like what the Republicans are doing.
Time to start talking about the issues, bud.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 2:59 pm
-But these days, the GOP is pushing people out.-
That’s a Republican problem…if they are ashamed of their party, they should stay and fix it…politically.
Comment by Dotnonymous x Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 3:08 pm
I’ve seen what’s been happening to the Republican Party for the last ten, twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty years… all the way back to Richard Milhous Nixon …so yeah.
Comment by Dotnonymous x Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 3:14 pm
=if they are ashamed of their party, they should stay and fix it=
The party is giving the people what they want. It just doesn’t play in DuPage county. The fix has to come from the voters.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 3:33 pm
@CD-”While announcing that he is running in the Democratic Primary he doesn’t actually explain about what his values are”
It’s literally in his next line.
“I will remain bipartisan, always support law enforcement, champion comprehensive public education, foster economic development, and be an advocate for people from all backgrounds, especially those who need the most help.”
While not a full platform it does actually show what he supports
Comment by Frida's boss Friday, Nov 17, 23 @ 4:25 pm