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posted by Isabel Miller
Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 7:49 am

Comments

Once again Champaign County had problems with is “vendor” that was selected by the County Clerk.

Only the 4th election in a row that has been messed up.

https://www.news-gazette.com/election/2024/election-24-i-can-t-believe-that-we-have-this-issue/article_48404012-9be3-11ef-9b6d-67a5fa12053b.html

Comment by champaign lite Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 7:57 am
The sun came up this morning, just as my husband said it would.

Comment by Dog Lover Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 7:57 am
Thankful to be in Illinois, now more than ever.

Comment by Proud Papa Bear Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:05 am
It seems like the extreme elements within the Democratic Party are pushing out key voting blocks that helped Biden defeat Trump in 2020. Now that Republicans control the White House and Congress, look for more “wedge” issues to hit Illinois on immigration/open borders, campus unrest, clear support for Israel, women’s sports, crime and other social issues that might be a root cause of sacred cow far left Democratic positions that progressives will very likely refuse to discuss in an open manner.

Comment by Sheila Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:10 am
Quentin Fulks was the campaign manager for the Fair Tax Amendment and lost. He is the deputy campaign manager for Kamala Harris and lost. Why does he keep getting campaign jobs?

Comment by Spirit of Pesotum Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:11 am
There will be libraries full of volumes about how Donald Trump reshaped the political landscape of the US and took over the GOP. He simply defies logic when it comes to figuring out how he has done what he has.

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:13 am
Democratic support collapsed in Illinois. +16 to +8 in four years is incredible.

Without a gerrymandered map, it would have been a massive realignment.

Comment by LPDad Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:14 am
At least now there’s a reason for the Veto Session, to back out of the Electoral Compact agreement before it becomes awkward.

On the positive side for everyone, it’s good chili weather.

Comment by Former ILSIP Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:17 am
Last week I posted a comment saying I wanted to know who we are as a nation. I have my answer, and it’s heartbreaking.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:20 am
Quentin Fulks loses again.

Comment by Pawar Lost Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:21 am
The rain stopped. Illinois results mostly what I expected.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:22 am
Lots of angst among residents of Sangamon County with the local leadership following the Sonya Massey murder, yet the incumbents all won their seats on the board.

Comment by Grimlock Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:23 am
The people were desperate. And in their desperation they have turned to a man they don’t fully understand. (Paraphrased from The Dark Knight).

The Dems need to figure out something fast nationally and that has to start with being a party running FOR something and not just mostly AGAiNST something. The republicans own Against.

Comment by Moved East Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:26 am
In the words of our esteemed late colleague Bill, “Whooops!”

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:28 am
Well… here’s to Pritzker using the next four years to polish up his presidential credentials for 2028. We’re a big state with a supermajority control of congress and the resources to serve as a bulwark against likely incoming federal chicanery.

Especially with a likely very narrow control of the House being gained by the Dems, the Illinois delegation is also going to play a critical role hampering the GOP’s agenda by control of the national purse strings.

Hope that older Dems take the hint for a change and step aside before it’s too late as well and actually let a new generation take over the new reality rather than hoping for a return to the now lden days of the 90’s. I’m looking at you, Durbin. Your time in the sun has long-since passed, let folks born in the 60’s to the 90’s take a crack at being a junior senator from Illinois in 2027.

Comment by TJ Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:29 am
caveat, “supermajority control of the state house,” I meant, not of congress.

Comment by TJ Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:29 am
Woke up to the sun shining bright after a couple days of rain and gloom. What a wonderfully refreshing new day!

Comment by Reynaldo Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:30 am
Trump has massive negatives yet he wins in a landslide. Maybe the Democratic Party ought to look at its agenda or at least its messaging. They come off like a scold no one likes to be lectured and talked down to. Imagine if it was Rubio or Hailey on the Republican side it would have destroyed the Democrats
Someone has to take a truly center position. At least Trump is done running for president and 4 years may seem long but it will pass

Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:30 am
Every day I wake up and thank God for cook county

Comment by NewToSpringfield Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:35 am
JB woke up with a smile on his face.

Comment by LPDad Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:38 am
“Please don’t feel silly for hoping. Please don’t feel stupid for being surprised. You let yourself find joy and confidence in goodness despite the odds. You worked hard despite knowing what might happen. These things are not silly. They are reminders of humanity. You did that.”
~Taylor Schumann

Comment by yinn Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:38 am
We found out who we really are as a nation yesterday. I’m incredibly sad this morning to have been correct in my internal assumption over the last few months.

Comment by Osborne Smith III Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:50 am
Trump’s victory may impact Illinois residents’ taxes. As part of the package to renew the Trump tax cuts, Trump has called for lifting the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:50 am
The Democrat Party needs to do some soul searching about their message to rural Americans and union voters. The loss of the Glen Poshards and Brandon Phelps Democrats in Illinois may be all fun and games here, but nationally speaking its one of the reasons why Trump was elected.

Comment by Joe Biden Playing Golf Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:53 am
While he “won” took great pleasure in voting to not retain Steigmann. JIB should have bounced him 15-ish years ago.

Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 8:55 am
@Spirit of Pesotum giving him credit for the losses but not for Senator Raphael Warnock’s win?

Comment by The Most Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:01 am
=Trump has called for lifting…=

He has called for a lot of things.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:02 am
Dancing the Hucklebuck.

Comment by Say What? Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:04 am
“…that has to start with being a party running FOR something and not just mostly AGAiNST something.”
Couldn’t agree more with Moved East

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:07 am
Ha ha

Comment by Anthony Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:07 am
What were the results for the IL 3rd Appellate Court races?

Comment by Suburban Dad Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:16 am
Thought I was up on current events and news.
Did not see this coming.
At all.

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:25 am
This is not political although I saw it on a election night broadcast.Seems some ballot’s in a Texas college town got ripped. So the students were asked to submit new ones, however some of the kids could not sign the paper because they were never taught cursive.

Comment by bob Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:32 am
There’s an old Simpsons quote I always appreciated where the vile Mayor Sideshow Bob defends himself from corruption charges by saying, “Your guilty conscience may force you to vote Democratic, but deep down you secretly long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king.” Nearly 30 years later, I guess that line still holds up.

Comment by Treefiddy Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:34 am
The Simpsons always predict the future. Always.

Comment by Rounding Numbers and Bases Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:49 am
Looking at countywide results in Will County, there is a developing pattern emerging.

The county went blue at the national level in this election, but by a fraction of a single percentage point so far.

In 2020, it was almost 9 points blue. There are still provisional ballots to count, but that’s not enough to move the 8 point swing between the two elections.

The county exec, who won by almost 9 points in 2020 - is only leading by about 2 points in this election. The county clerk looks like it might flip to republican at this point. The current county clerk was appointed by the county board and exec after the resignation of the previous clerk earlier this year.

Contrasted with Rachel Ventura, who absolutely blew out the opposition by 15 points. Similarly, Lauren Underwood also increased her margin of victory in this election over 2020 at the county level.

At least at the county level, there’s a clear demarcation developing between old democrats and new democrats. The public overall also clearly sees a difference.

The stage is set for some primary challengers, but knowing how the local democratic party works at the county level they are going to push down any challengers - likely until they lose democratic control of the county completely.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:51 am
McLean vs Peoria counties & Kendall vs Will counties are an interesting comparison, with the caveat that there are still some outstanding votes.
The resiliency of downballot Dems surprised me a bit.

Comment by SIUEalum Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:57 am
Think in way to early, JB may be to liberal for America

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 9:59 am
Quoting a friend who died a few years ago, I am no longer surprised by the things people do, but I am sometimes disappointed.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 10:06 am
A great day and historically one to be remembered. I am feeling great that we have a better chance. Nothing surprising in Illinois although some local races did surprise me. Democratic Board in Mclean County now.

Comment by clec dcn Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 10:24 am
Criminal justice reform is so last year.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 10:28 am
10:28 was me

Comment by Occasionally Moderated Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 10:29 am
===Think in way to early, JB may be to liberal for America===

To the contrary, I think of the Democrats needing the next FDR, and he is one of the closest potential candidates to it - a pragmatic progressive who has easily convinced its citizens to return him to office. It would help if IL flourishes the next 4 years where he can tout “the Illinois Miracle.”

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 10:43 am
–tout “the Illinois Miracle.”–

keep dreaming. JB isn’t close to FDR. Please run him though

Comment by Anthony Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 10:55 am
To go from national to very local…

McLean County elected a Dem county board, so that’s a big local swing. The auditor position being retained by 55% of the voters is a major headscratcher, though. Literally nobody of note was in favor of doing so. Nobody even ran against her because everyone assumed the gig’d be eliminated.

Comment by TJ Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 11:06 am
IL. will be punished somehow the next 4 years. Along with the other blues.

Comment by Anotheretiree Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 11:28 am
Madison County keeps getting redder, as two Democrats lost County Board seats, though one of the slated candidates came very close to flipping.

Good news is that Katie Stuart won.

Comment by Justin Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 11:30 am
voters are heading back to the center. the percentages show it. and this includes in blue states.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 11:32 am
- voters are heading back to the center -

Nonsense. Harris was the center and 14 million Democrats didn’t turn out for her.

Democrats keep chasing the GOP to the right and this is what happens.

Comment by Excitable Boy Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 11:39 am
== The auditor position being retained by 55% of the voters is a major headscratcher, though. ==

Not really. Lot’s of low information voters out there. To them “eliminate the auditor” sounds like getting rid of the police.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 11:41 am
=they have turned to a man they don’t fully understand=
I beg to differ. We had 4 years of Trump and plenty of rallies and interviews. Harris is the one that isn’t understood because she avoided interviews and seemed to never have much to say regarding policy. She tended to flip flop a lot. That is a turn off to many voters. And she was all about Trump and silly catchphrases, not much about herself or her ideas.

Comment by Just a Random Guy Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 11:59 am
=IL. will be punished somehow the next 4 years. Along with the other blues.=
Get we get some examples please? And did this happen 2016-2020 or are you just trolling and fear mongering?

Comment by Just a Random Guy Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 12:00 pm
=voters are heading back to the center. the percentages show it. and this includes in blue states.=
Agree 100%. I’m seeing it with my own eyes and ears. People talk about how far the right went but refuse to acknowledge the left going just a far the opposite way. We all used to be a lot more center. There is a huge divide now, going both ways.

Comment by Just a Random Guy Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 12:02 pm
Harris didn’t even make it the votes of the 2020 primary process after announcing for President the year prior. Then she was named VP and given the immigration issue which she was widely pilloried for. Then voters said immigration was a top three issue in the election. Ooops.

Comment by jolietj Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 12:18 pm
“Last week I posted a comment saying I wanted to know who we are as a nation. I have my answer, and it’s heartbreaking.”

It’s very justified to be irate and vote out an incumbent or administration due to problems like inflation, immigration, etc. But our sacred covenant to each other has been shattered, by choosing someone who tried to overthrow our government. What does that say about Americans? Clearly we are no longer an example to the world. Hopefully democracy-loving nations strengthen themselves.

Mass deportations are coming right away, per the news. It would behoove many who would be impacted to pay attention—individuals and businesses.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 12:21 pm
FWIW my take:

The R’s have gotten much more popular by embracing some traditionally Left ideas. (Wars, speech, bodily autonomy)

The D’s are losing ground by embracing neocons who invented the Patriot Act, love Industrial War Machine etc

I’ve moved much further left after last 4 years and only people taling about that stuff are R’s

Personally, I want the uni-party to die and have the people build this back with the majority of common goals we share

Comment by Generation X Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 12:25 pm
===The Simpsons always predict the future.===

Archie Bunker got there first.

Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 12:45 pm
===by embracing neocons===

I have so many thoughts on this election, but I’m still processing.

Bottom line is when you agree with the crowds who say “We’re not going back,” then don’t present those same crowds with divisive figures from the aughts. Too much looking back, not nearly enough looking forward.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 12:46 pm
- then don’t present those same crowds with divisive figures from the aughts. -

No kidding. It should be common sense but here we are.

Comment by Excitable Boy Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 12:56 pm
People all over the country who are undocumented are talking today about what to do. They are parents, grandparents, own homes and businesses, have children and grandchildren born in the USA who have citizenship. They fear internment camps, the loss of savings and assets. Many will likely leave before the inauguration, breaking up families, and many giving up successful lives built over many years. They are afraid of being held for months before being deported, so they will leave. Many of them may be your employee, your friend, your neighbor. It’s going on right now, and decisions are being made. And the majority of us in this country voted for it.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 1:12 pm
Waiting for the final count regarding the House: I can still see Artax’ s left ear tip flicking…

I will be in stage one for a long time; amazed at how many people just chose against their own best interest. Then again, that’s why I picked my handle.

Anyway, in my mind, the campaign for the midterms started today.

Folks will get two years of finding out after yesterday’s… well, you know…

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 1:15 pm
***IL. will be punished somehow the next 4 years. Along with the other blues.***

We already receive one of the lowest amounts of tax money back from the fed (versus what we give). Even when Obama was in office.

https://smartasset.com/data-studies/states-most-dependent-federal-government-2023

Comment by Person 8 Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 1:39 pm
The Jackson County State’s Attorney’s race is tied, 10,805 votes each. Mail in and provisional ballots might decide it, or it could go to rock paper scissors.

Comment by Barnaby Wilde Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 1:42 pm
Always feels like to me that the party with the least amount of ideological purity contests internally wins.

Yesterday, felt like the inverse of when Evangelicals ruled the GOP right into obscurity after the Bush dynasty.

Comment by Generation X Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 1:44 pm
Some of this is simple pendulum swing.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 2:09 pm
Get we get some examples please? And did this happen 2016-2020 or are you just trolling and fear mongering?

The SALT cap comes to mind.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 2:28 pm
==Get we get some examples please? And did this happen 2016-2020==

Actually it did. Donald Trump withheld federal disaster aid from the State of Washington at the end of his term because he disliked the Governor of Washington. Nobody should underestimate the pettiness of Donald Trump. So, it is possible that Donald Trump could engage in some level of “punishment.” I guess we’ll find out.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 2:38 pm
–Nonsense. Harris was the center –

right…

Comment by Anthony Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 2:49 pm
I just gave a lecture to my students (I teach two classes of first-year students on MWF). It was good teaching them that now that they have voted, they need to spend the next four years measuring change in America. They need to ignore personalities and media pundits, and focus on empirical measures of progress. I suggested they look at GDP, Unemployment, wage gaps, cost of living, prices, etc. today, and track them over four years. Only then will they be able to make an actually informed choice four years from now, based on how policies implemented affect our communities and nation.

I told them the true measure of citizenship for an 18–19-year-old is not simply that they vote, but they spend the intervening four years coming to understand how policies influence the life of the Nation writ-large. For example, assuming tariffs, what is the actual outcome (of tariffs on prices and supply chains). Assuming the large support for women’s rights expressed, what strategies will be implemented regarding women’s access to abortion? Assuming the significant reduction in federal tax revenues, what changes will occur among the people, and with regard to federal expenditures?

Some students were sad, some were happy. And now that they are newly certified citizens for political purpose, they have a lifetime to create the communities and nation they desire.

Comment by H-W Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 3:07 pm
If you didn’t see Harris as the center, you just weren’t paying attention.

Comment by Tim Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 3:38 pm
Seems the 13th Ward almost went to Trump - Ward 13
Total Voters
Harris & Walz % Trump & Vance %
Total 18,551 9,329 50.29% 8,983 48.42%

Comment by Suburban Dad Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 3:53 pm
Likely will be a total sweep and with popular vote icing. Even the presidential vote totals in Illinois are shaping up to be the closest they’ve been in almost a half century. This means there is an incredible amount of frustration. If you can find the super-cut video where someone used AI to replace the word “democracy” with “bureaucracy” in the favored political soundbite “threat to democracy,” it is a good explainer of the root of the frustration in my opinion.

Comment by Reynaldo Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 4:22 pm
The results are not fully in, but it looks like the biggest result is that one candidate got about the same amount of votes as he did in 2020, while his opponent received millions less than her boss did in 2020. In other words, his support didn’t increase; her support was simply nowhere near as great as her boss’s was.

Inflation was probably the biggest issue dragging down Dems, and it would be hard to overcome regardless of the candidate.

But the other thing is that Harris clearly failed to turn out the Democratic vote. Once again, being against Trump wasn’t enough. She had some reasonable policies, but they were incrementalist. However ridiculous his policy proposals are, Trump made sweeping, radical proposals that are anything but incrementalist (slashing taxes and ramping up tariffs).

Had Harris centered her campaign on Robin Hood economics and positioned herself as anti-elitist and anti-super rich while favoring higher wages and benefits for the working class, perhaps the outcome would have been different. Instead she chose to campaign with Republican warhawks.

Comment by Techie Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 4:44 pm
===–Nonsense. Harris was the center – ===

===If you didn’t see Harris as the center, you just weren’t paying attention.===

There was an authenticity problem there to a lot of centrist/independent voters, considering her prior background and what she stood for in 2020, and her performance as veep for better or worse.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Nov 6, 24 @ 6:01 pm