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* Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) got his clock cleaned in November, winning just 37 percent of the vote. He received the full “Because… Madigan!” treatment by the Republicans, despite being one of the more independent-minded House Democrats. There was also a big swing in his district away from the top of the ticket. President Obama won the district four years ago by 15 points. Donald Trump won it last November by 6 points.
Even so, Smiddy’s 26-point loss means he drastically underperformed the top of the ticket. Bruce Rauner won his district two years ago by 14 points and Smiddy still managed to hold on, winning by a point.
So, Madigan and Trump were factors, but the guy did himself no favors on the campaign trail. Still, he’s not wrong about this…
“The past two years have been a complete failure on the part of government in Illinois and I think the next two years are going to be a lot more of the same,” said outgoing Illinois Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) during an interview with News 8’s Jim Mertens.
But check this out…
“As long as you have the Speaker controlling what gets out of the rules (committee) for legislation, I don’t see [redistricting reform] coming anywhere close to hitting the floor.”
And as for term limits, forget about it.
“It’s not about getting rid of your local legislator,” Smiddy believes.
“It’s all geared toward getting rid of Madigan and in some respects I don’t think that’s a bad idea. I think he’s kinda outlived his usefulness in Springfield.”
* From the ILGOP…
“It’s encouraging to see Democrats finally standing up to Mike Madigan’s dirty political tactics. Rep. Smiddy is absolutely right – Madigan uses his control to block reforms, and because of that it’s time for him to go.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 9:30 am
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Awfully nice of the cowardly Smiddy to wait until he was on his way out to say that.
Comment by Opiate of the Masses Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 9:35 am
You can be “not wrong” and still be someone who underperformed and did him/herself no favors, even when targeted, even when being independent.
None of that is mutually exclusive.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 9:38 am
So, if Rep. Smiddy is “not wrong” and agrees with Gov. Rauner, why target him? You just got rid of an ally from the other party.
Seems like a weird thing to do.
Comment by Try-4-Truth Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 9:41 am
Smiddy was never a Madigan guy. He first ran as AFSCME’s candidate after MJM and Quinn passed the first round of unconstitutional pension “reform.” His legislative career started with he and Madigan on opposite sides. Hardly a surprise that it should end the same way.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 9:42 am
So, I’m guessing Smiddy won’t be moving on to a lobbying career.
Comment by Roman Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 9:43 am
===…why target him? You just got rid of an ally from the other party.===
Smiddy wasn’t a Raunerite.
That’s the whole ball game.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 9:44 am
Smiddy’s more than “not wrong.” He’s right.
He’s right that the House is controlled by one guy, and has been for years.
And he’s right Madigan has stayed on too long and accumulated too much power … to the detriment of Illinois.
Comment by Deft Wing Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 9:49 am
Mr. Willy,
Yes, you are right, but I’m trying to point out the silliness of the ILGOP’s response here. Rep. Smiddy agrees, they congratulate him on the way out of the door.
Seems….. disjointed.
Comment by Try-4-Truth Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 9:51 am
Sore loser.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 9:52 am
Smiddy was never popular when he was among the politically living, but you’d think now that he’s dead the comments of capfax would at least pat him on the back for expressing a sentiment shared here daily.
Comment by RICo Dem Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 10:08 am
It took Madigan 30 years to “outlive his usefulness”. It took Rauner less than 2.
Comment by Markus Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 10:08 am
Yaffe - Now if someone from the GOP would stand up to Rauner.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 10:11 am
Bad candidate =’s bad results..
Comment by Not Rich Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 10:24 am
“As long as you have the Speaker controlling what gets out of the rules (committee) for legislation, I don’t see [redistricting reform] coming anywhere close to hitting the floor.”
Umm…Mike, HJRCA 58 was actual honest to god redistricting reform. Passed the House with 105 votes. Including your own.
Comment by Juice Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 10:26 am
==It took Madigan 30 years to “outlive his usefulness”. It took Rauner less than 2.==
Even though we’re only 4 days into 2017, this is probably the front runner for comment of the year.
Comment by CrazyHorse Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 10:37 am
The Rauner team has gotten so good at controlling the message that the other party is now repeating it.
That is winning by any measure. Madigan or no Madigan - the Democrats must do something about the lack of a message. They are losing.
Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 10:46 am
Can’t wait to take seriously a guy who was more famous for playing a phone game than efficient legislating. Remember the arbitration bill? Worst performance by a floor leader ever.
Comment by Stark Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 10:53 am
Actually, I’d suggest that it was Raunner who has “kinda outlived his usefulness”; about one year ago.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 10:55 am
Didn’t he throw a county board race a few years ago with a huge campaign war chest (as far as Rock Island County Board races go, at least)?
I was shocked when he actually won something…
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 11:25 am
He’s a footnote in history now, but that being said:
A reporter asked him a question and he answered it. It’s the truth according to him. He ain’t alone.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 12:08 pm
**Umm…Mike, HJRCA 58 was actual honest to god redistricting reform. Passed the House with 105 votes. Including your own.**
LOL - and you think that MJM didn’t know it was dead in the Senate?
Comment by JoeMaddon Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 12:25 pm
JoeMaddon, and that’s Madigan’s fault?
Comment by Juice Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 12:31 pm
Taking cheap shots on his way out the door. Way to show some spine. Loser.
Comment by Signal and Noise Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 1:40 pm
=Taking cheap shots on his way out the door. Way to show some spine. Loser.=
Squirmy Smiddy.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 1:57 pm
I don’t understand how Smiddy can take so much money and political support from Illinois Speaker Mike Madigan and then when (Smiddy) loses, he throws Madgan under the bus. Smiddy was and always will be a spoiled rotten loser that doesn’t understand politics!
Comment by From his district... Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 2:58 pm
“”Smiddy was never a Madigan guy.”"
True, but doesn’t matter.
It’s never been about individual legislators, or what they do. ILGOP just listed the competitive districts in order, and attached any Dem Reps to Madigan.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:25 pm
the gamer guy? I’m surprised he’s got time to comment what with important actions like that taken during the work day.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:29 pm
From his district, you’re probably right about all of that; right up to spoiled rotten loser….
Whatever the Speaker has given him ever, didn’t matter this time around. The Speaker was an albatross around his neck this time.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 3:30 pm
One thing I know for sure that changed is the fact that the guy who ran the last two winning campaigns was no longer on the team. Ben Head (who is know Cong. Schakowsky’s Political Director) ran the two previous winning campaigns. Rumor has it he is one of the best organizers in the state. A friend who is an operative told me Jan won her race by her largest margin and he spent half the budget they normally did. Just a massive ground game he created in the 9th. Maybe he did the same there in the two winning races?
Comment by Jake Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 4:24 pm
@ Jake…nah, the locals all saw the games he was playing with a local school district in the interests of his teacher’s union president wife. he made two dumb moves that made the press and people were not about to forget. some long time dems refused to endorse him because of those antics. now he can go back to paying into AFSCME rather than collecting from them.
Comment by Opiate of the Masses Wednesday, Jan 4, 17 @ 8:15 pm