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* He was facing yet another Republican primary race…
State Sen Sam McCann will not run for reelection. Just a few months ago, he was mulling a challenge to @GovRauner, even said he could beat him. McCann was facing his second Rauner-funded primary challenger in a row.
— Mark Maxwell (@WCIA3Mark) December 4, 2017
Here's @mccann_sam's full statement. pic.twitter.com/qPEFgbFntB
— Mark Maxwell (@WCIA3Mark) December 4, 2017
*** UPDATE 1 *** A commenter thinks this means that McCann may be setting up an independent bid for governor and adds…
Under the election code, if you file petitions for a partisan primary, or vote in an a primary, you legally cannot run as an independent.
Good point. Stay tuned.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Hmm…
Two sources speaking anonymously say Sam McCann DOES plan to challenge @GovRauner as an independent. Third party candidates can't circulate petitions until week after primary election is over in March 2018. McCann hasn't yet responded to request for comment. https://t.co/FUwcXXopti
— Mark Maxwell (@WCIA3Mark) December 4, 2017
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 11:52 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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This is how many Republicans feel but they are afraid of retribution. McCann has nothing to lose. He and David McSweeney are the only ones willing to stand up for conservative Republicans.
Comment by GFY Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:02 pm
Darn. Too bad. He has a lot of supporters in his district.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:03 pm
Sad, but he must have read the tea leaves. Now Rauner gets another minion. Fewer and fewer GOP folks to support. Vote accordingly.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:05 pm
so he feels so strongly about his opposition to Gov. Rauner that he’s running away from a fight. He won handlily last time, and there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t do so again.
No loss, he’s the lightest of lightweights. But I am surprised because he needs the money the position pays.
Comment by jim Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:05 pm
I guess that means my choice in 2018 will be either a Raunerite or a Democrat …
Comment by RNUG Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:05 pm
Meh.
“Why?”
I have a mixed bag of feelings for McCann.
It starts with his interworkings with Radogno and the Caucus, then there’s the voting his district and taking on Rauner.
In the end, McCann found no safe harbor and too many others harbored ill will towards him, even when he won, which was great in the battle with Rauner.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:06 pm
The reason he’s not filing is so he can run as an Independent for Governor.
Under the election code, if you file petitions for a partisan primary, or vote in an a primary, you legally cannot run as an independent.
Comment by Grand Avenue Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:06 pm
Can he run as Ives Lt.?
Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:07 pm
So what will happen to his brand new Ford SUV?!
Comment by Uhh Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:09 pm
He could be running for Senate as an Independent.
Comment by Stan Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:11 pm
Jim you are a nasty soul.
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:16 pm
===Can he run as Ives Lt.?===
She already has one, Rich Morthland.
Comment by People Over Parties Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:18 pm
That is a very interesting observation. What better way to ensure that Rauner loses the general than with McCann and Rauner splitting up the GOP vote. McCann must reaaaally hate Rauner if he’s willing to give up his seat to do this though.
Comment by The Muse Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:22 pm
Isn’t it a pathetic state of affairs, when droves of Republicans are retiring, refusing to run, or just giving up? Rauner has bought a party and like the venture capitalist he is, he has done nothing with the whole party. He has broken it up and sold it off. You are either a bought Raunerite, or if you hold to Republican values, you are condemned, vilified, and made to walk away. I have always been a Republican, but now I am an Independent. I just can’t tolerate the direction the party has chosen.
Comment by Retired Educator Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:24 pm
Why would McCann run with Ives? She’s Proft’s “candidate.”
Comment by politico Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:25 pm
Can I ask a question of the conservatives in the thread? Is allowing transgender people to change their birth certificates an issue that motivates you, as McCann implies here? If so, why?
I don’t mean to start a fight, I’m just curious about people’s stances. I disagree with McCann about all of the other points he mentions, but I understand why someone would hold the opposite view. I don’t have a good sense for the arguments against this one, though.
Comment by Actual Red Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:37 pm
==What better way to ensure that Rauner loses the general than with McCann and Rauner splitting up the GOP vote.==
This assumes that McCann would only draw Republican votes. This could easily work against the winner of the Dem Primary for Governor, who will undoubtedly be far to the left for the liking of many union rank and file.
Comment by phocion Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:42 pm
- Actual Red - Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:37 pm:
Can I ask a question of the conservatives in the thread? Is allowing transgender people to change their birth certificates an issue that motivates you, as McCann implies here? If so, why?
I don’t mean to start a fight, I’m just curious about people’s stances. I disagree with McCann about all of the other points he mentions, but I understand why someone would hold the opposite view. I don’t have a good sense for the arguments against this one, though.
Many of them don’t consider transgenderism to be a real thing. To them its either fraud, or a “violation of god’s will”. I don’t understand it, there’s clear medical evidence that this helps them and hurts no one. Plus, several candidates ran for D 211 school board against the transgender bathroom issue and they got crushed. Most people are either supportive or don’t care.
Comment by ste_with_a_v_en Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:50 pm
Interesting that he announced on the last day of filing. Did he have a successor lined up like Gutierrez did?
Comment by Nick Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:53 pm
Sam is running as an independent for Gov to siphon off votes from Rauner. He knows that he won’t win but is takin a chance to guarantee Rauner’s defeat and will then take an appointment from a Democrat governor after doing labor’s bidding.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:56 pm
State Senator Steve McClure, Jr. (R - Dad’s Basement) - that’s a scary thought. I hope Springfield and the surrounding counties have real pause as they a true Rauner puppet here.
Comment by CornfieldCowboy Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:58 pm
–under the election code, if you file petitions for a partisan primary, or vote in an a primary, you legally cannot run as an independent.–
On a side note, I think this law is bogus in that it does not let you vote, I completely understand that if you gun in a primary you should not be allowed to then run as an Independent, but simply voting is a primary should not prohibit someone from running as an Independent.
Comment by Ahoy! Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 12:59 pm
To the update:
Remember you can say almost anything during a campaign as political speech. That could get interesting since Sam can be fairly candid and had no problem.going off script in response to questions.
The big question is funding. Yes, he has as fairly solid base in his district but he’s going to need a lot more than that to run s credible state-wide campaign.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:00 pm
==This assumes that McCann would only draw Republican votes. This could easily work against the winner of the Dem Primary for Governor, who will undoubtedly be far to the left for the liking of many union rank and file.==
phocion, your assertion assumes that these union rank and file you refer to normally vote dem. If Pritzker/Kennedy/Biss are too far left for these “union rank and file” you speak of, most likely Quinn was too and they voted for Rauner in 2014. In your scenario, independent McCann pulls way more votes from Rauner.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:03 pm
Interesting (not really) that no one is saying: “we’ll miss you Sam”.
Comment by A guy Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:09 pm
What a sanctimonious, self-preserving statement by Senator Sam.
He must be convinced that he either has something waiting in the wings after his term ends or, if he does run as an Indy for governor, that Papa J.B. will take care of him.
He needs the money. His wife was sued for credit card non-payments and delinquency this past summer. Normally that would not be a red flag but that is after the 3 suits Sam himself had in 2016 alone.
Comment by Curl of the Burl Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:23 pm
The other difference that people need to realize about 2016 vs. 2018 is that Leader Brady would have gone after Sam whereas Leader Radogno sat on her hands and let him attack her at every turn.
Comment by Curl of the Burl Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:24 pm
= Interesting (not really) that no one is saying: “we’ll miss you Sam”. =
Can’t miss someone is they’re planning to run for Governor.
Comment by politico Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:32 pm
McCann’s words were interesting. Good for him to lay it out there.
Hopefully McClure is smart enough to not get close to the branded Rauner, Worst Repub Gov in USA.
On the transgender birth certificates, besides the decent arguments that its fraudulent and against God’s will, I personally think it’s a common sense violation of Natural Law.
The law should have had the birth certificates describe the genetic code.
That’s it, just an objective value. The subject of sex shouldn’t be subjective value.
From what I read, it’s the absence of the Y chromosome that “determines” sex, not anything else.
That is rational. This other nonsense isn’t.
Comment by cdog Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:39 pm
expanding…
the absence, or presence, of the Y chromosome
Comment by cdog Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:41 pm
==The big question is funding.==
Indeed, and my first thought was that he wouldn’t have any.
But then I remembered that if the Democrats nominate Pritzker, there’s a whole lot of union money that doesn’t need to be funneled to the Democratic nominee.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:46 pm
==On the transgender birth certificates, besides the decent arguments that its fraudulent and against God’s will, I personally think it’s a common sense violation of Natural Law.==
Here’s my question, though: does this actually move your vote? Like, if a Democrat comes out agreeing with you, are you going to vote for him?
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:47 pm
It’s actually a recent law, passed in the wake of Scott Lee Cohen running for Governor - which is ironic because when Rich looked at the numbers, it turned out that had Scott Lee Cohen not run, Bill Brady would have won (he got votes from anti-Quinn Democrats who didn’t want to vote for someone as conservative as Brady).
Comment by Grand Avenue Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 1:56 pm
–On the transgender birth certificates, besides the decent arguments that its fraudulent and against God’s will, I personally think it’s a common sense violation of Natural Law.–
Wow, you threw the whole spaghetti bowl at the wall there. Did anything stick?
I don’t know how you’re being defrauded, or claim to represent God’s will, but could you explain the “violation” of Natural Law? What inherent rights are being violated?
Also, Natural Law is an ancient concept while the XY wasn’t discovered until 1905.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 2:03 pm
Glad the Dems had someone ready to take on ANY Republican #massivefail
Comment by I am woman... Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 2:24 pm
It’s actually a recent law, passed in the wake of Scott Lee Cohen running for Governor
I thought Scott Lee Cohen was able to run for gov because he won the primary.. If he had lost he would not have been able to run?
Comment by ughhh Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 2:33 pm
To update 2 … Sounds like I need to stick up on popcorn
Comment by RNUG Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 2:34 pm
Scott Lee Cohen won the Dem primary for LG, dropped out when the “stuff” hit the fan, then ran as an independent for Governor.
Comment by Grand Avenue Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 2:48 pm
Sounds like me may run for his Senate seat as an independent, since he says the Republican party is unrecognizable to him.
Comment by Johnny Justice Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 3:59 pm
cdog –
Thanks, that’s interesting. I definitely disagree with you, but at least I have a sense of where you are coming from. Would you say this is an important issue for you?
Like does having documents reflect gender expression as opposed to biological sex strike you as a significant danger to the state, or as nonsensical but relatively insignificant?
Comment by Actual Red Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:00 pm
Keep in mind there are a large number of Republicans living in that Senate District that never liked McCann and PREFERS a “Raunerite”.
Comment by FormerDownstateHack Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 4:05 pm
Maybe he wants to see how many votes Ives gets before deciding whether to run as an independent for Gov or his Senate seat. He would get most of the Ives supporters as an I for Gov
Comment by Shadrach Bond Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 7:22 pm
I like what McCann is saying and respect his battle against Rauner, but I’m hoping he does not get on the ballot next fall. The last thing Illinois needs is to split the anti-Rauner vote. That guy has got to go.
Comment by DuPage Dave Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 7:34 pm
I’m a Democrat that prefers Rauner. The state has been destroyed by decades of the incestuous public employee and elected pol relationship oof both parties
Comment by Ron Monday, Dec 4, 17 @ 10:29 pm