Capital Facts

Gov. Pritzker being attacked for SAFE-T Act

Published by admin on Sat, 09/17/2022 - 12:54pm

Four distinct attacks have been launched against Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic legislators in the past couple of weeks.
1)        “The Scream”: If you watch Chicago TV, you likely saw a striking TV ad called “The Scream.” The ad featured surveillance camera video of a white woman being mugged in broad daylight by three men in hoodies while she screams. It’s a jarring spot, to say the least. The ad was paid for by Dan Proft’s People Who Play by the Rules PAC, which is backing Darren Bailey for governor.

Bailey needs the suburbs if he wants to win

Published by admin on Sun, 09/11/2022 - 12:21pm

I was looking for something else recently on Scott Kennedy’s Illinois Election Data website and noticed he had voter turnout numbers from statewide races since 1990.
We all know that Downstate has lost a significant amount of its political importance, but the numbers really help illustrate this decline.
In 1990, 42 percent of the total vote for governor came from Downstate counties, while a mere 17 percent came from the suburban collar counties outside Cook.

We may never see another politician like Jesse White

Published by admin on Sun, 09/04/2022 - 9:11am

Way back in 1996, I spent a few minutes walking around the Chicago-based Democratic National Convention with then-House Minority Leader Michael Madigan.
Madigan at the time was working to regain his chamber’s majority after the 1994 national Republican wave combined with the Republican-drawn legislative district maps to knock the Speaker’s gavel out of his hand. But even with his lessened official status, Madigan was still hugely powerful within his party and he was clever enough that many figured he’d somehow find a way back.

Illinois special session on abortion rights unlikely

Published by admin on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 9:17am

Back in early July, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Gov. JB Pritzker and the two Democratic legislative leaders, House Speaker Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon, issued a joint statement, which in part said: “We plan to work closely together for the remainder of the summer to assess every possibility of what we can do and convene a special session in the coming months.”

Darren Bailey needs money for good zingers

Published by admin on Sat, 08/20/2022 - 1:18pm

The two days of partisan political events during the Illinois State Fair are like miniature, stripped-down, informal versions of national political conventions. They serve as a sort of kickoff to our fall campaign season, so they are usually closely watched by reporters who cover campaigns and by insiders.

Political beat-down just beginning in governor’s race

Published by admin on Sun, 08/14/2022 - 11:04am

The ongoing uproar over Darren Bailey's 2017 claim that the Holocaust "doesn't even compare on a shadow" to the lives lost to abortion reminded me of a scene in an old movie called "A Bronx Tale."

Fight for control of Illinois Democrats favors Pritzker

Published by admin on Sat, 08/06/2022 - 10:30am

One of the biggest unsung winners in the fight for control of the Democratic Party of Illinois is House Speaker Chris Welch.
The new state party chair is Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, a member of Welch’s leadership team. Hernandez handled the delicate task of overseeing the redistricting effort in her chamber last year. She is quite popular in her caucus, including among Latino progressives, who note that Hernandez has been with them on very important votes despite her background as a “regular” Cicero Democrat.

Illinois House leaders make jabs personal

Published by admin on Sat, 07/16/2022 - 10:49am

During a sometimes-fiery interview last week, House Speaker Chris Welch pledged to tie House Republican candidates to the far-right top of their ticket and called House Republican Leader Jim Durkin a “failed leader.” A Durkin spokesperson, in turn, called Welch “unhinged.”
It started when I asked Welch if he thought gun law reform would play a major role in the fall campaign, which is basically just around the corner.

Since winning nomination, Bailey bungles

Published by admin on Sat, 07/09/2022 - 11:25am

Ogden and Fry conducted a poll in the days leading up to former President Donald Trump’s visit to the Quincy area for a U.S. Rep. Mary Miller endorsement in late June.
The poll of Republicans in the Downstate 15th Congressional District taken June 22-24 (Trump’s visit was the 25th) found Miller leading fellow U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis by 8 points, 46-38. When undecideds were pushed to decide, Miller’s lead jumped to 10 points, 55-45. She won by 15 points, 57.6-42.4.

Rep. David Welter loses with a target on his back

Published by admin on Sun, 07/03/2022 - 1:22pm

The four Illinois legislative leaders did not have a spectacular primary day last week. House Speaker Chris Welch lost three incumbents to primary challengers. Senate President Don Harmon lost an appointed incumbent and an open seat race. And House Republican Leader Jim Durkin lost two incumbents and came up short in some other races. Senate GOP Leader Dan McConchie came away with one ding.