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No mystery here

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Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is backing Ald. Howard Brookins against veteran U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush in the March 15 Democratic primary.

The powerful speaker — who also is chairman of the state Democratic Party — customarily supports the party’s incumbents. But Brookins is listed as the preferred candidate of Madigan’s 13th Ward Democratic Organization on the newly printed “sample ballots” sent to voters in the speaker’s Southwest Side power base. […]

Rush said he did not know why Madigan would support a challenger against him.

“In 23 years, we haven’t had any reason to have any major differences,” Rush said.

As explained in the story, Brookins asked Madigan for help with his petitions and Madigan complied. Madigan’s 13th Ward has just two precincts worth about a hundred votes two years ago in that district, so it won’t mean much, anyway.

* But, c’mon. There’s no big mystery here. At the same time Brookins made his pitch to Madigan, Congressman Rush’s son Flynn was running against Madigan’s House Majority Leader. He ended up dropping out, likely because of serious defects in his petitions.

* And speaking of the Speaker’s 13th Ward, this is from the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners…

Dear Assignment Editors & Political Writers,

Preliminary/unofficial numbers suggest the best Early Voting start yet for a Presidential Primary with more than 11,000 ballots cast in Chicago. That’s a number more in line with a first day before a November Election.

Unofficial ward-by-ward data are below.

Regards,
Jim

On the first day of early voting, 1,003 people voted in the 13th Ward, by far the most of any ward and almost ten percent of the citywide total. Second place went to the 19th Ward, with 419.

That Madigan primary race is fascinating.

* Related…

* Madigan challenger Gonzales faces uphill climb to unseat speaker

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 9:41 am

Comments

Either the 13th Ward Crew is going to run up the score super high or the “Rauner Plus List” and working smarter and strategic is workin’ like gangbusters and we’ll know that on March 15th.

Fascinating only covers half of it…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 9:50 am
My money is on the 13th Ward Crew running up the score.

Not many Raunerites in that neck of the woods.

Comment by chi Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 10:02 am
=== On the first day of early voting, 1,003 people voted in the 13th Ward, by far the most of any ward and almost ten percent of the citywide total. Second place went to the 19th Ward, with 419. ===

That’s incredible. And no, that can’t be good news for Jason Gonzales. I wonder what the absentee ballot totals look like for the 13th Ward.

Comment by Anonymouth Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 10:04 am
“I wonder what the absentee ballot totals look like for the 13th Ward.”

It’s always best to not talk about absentee ballot totals until after the polls close and you find out how many more votes you’re gonna need.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 10:10 am
Mr.JM - Thank you, I need a good laugh today.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 10:17 am
Sun-Times says that none of the state’s attorney candidates are on Madigan’s palm cards but still, you’d have to think that this big number in a predominantly hispanic ward helps Alvarez, right?

Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 10:18 am
It’s all about power. Power to get more power.

Comment by Not it Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 11:02 am
Gonzo should be taking notes on how an organization gets out the vote (GOTV). Consider day 1 of early voting a template of how to win an election.

Comment by 6500Pulaski Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 11:37 am
Wow, it’s only March 1st and Gonzales is already down by 1000 votes.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 12:07 pm
Because it is a free country, one may say pretty much whatever one wants about the Speaker.

One does have to marvel at his political operation though. They leave nothing to luck or chance, they are remarkably detail oriented, and they work really hard. It is the model of a political operation that others can only wish they had.

Comment by titan Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 12:14 pm
47th Ward - for the win!

Comment by paddyrollingstone Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 12:21 pm
I’m guessing that the 1000 were 13th Ward workers who will be busy until the polls close on election day. No need for them to waste any time voting.

Comment by Anon III Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 12:45 pm
===I’m guessing that the 1000 were 13th Ward workers===

First shift only. Second shift early votes today.

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 12:47 pm
I’m guessing most were done @ 69 west, convenient for city/county workers

Comment by Rocco Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 1:53 pm