CHICAGO – The nation was swept with a tidal wave of red votes Tuesday night, as was the vast majority of Illinois' 102 counties (see map above.)
However, the minority of counties that held blue in Illinois happen to be the most populated – including Cook, the City of Chicago's collar counties, Peoria, Quad Cities, Champaign and Metro East area. In a state of 13 million residents, 2,975,634 voted for Hillary Clinton (55%) and 2,115,017 voted for Donald Trump, who swept the nation by winning the needed 270 electoral college votes.
Illinois' congressional delegation lost two key Republicans – U.S. Senator Mark Kirk and 10th CD Congressman Bob Dold.
At the statewide level, GOP State Comptroller Leslie Munger lost to Chicago Clerk Susana Mendoza – each of them backed heavily by their party's leadership. Munger, who was appointed to office after the sudden death of Judy Baar Topinka shortly before Governor Rauner's 2014 inauguration, lost 49 to 44. Mendoza will add to the list of Democrats filling every statewide office but the governorship.
In the Illinois Senate, Republicans picked up two seats: Jil Tracy will fill retiring Democrat Senator John Sullivan (Quincy) and Downstate Republican Dale Fowler ousted Democrat Senator Gary Forby (Benton). Challenger GOP Seth Lewis narrowly lost to Democrat Tom Cullerton by 388 votes (at last count).
In the Illinois House, Republicans picked up four seats – Steve Reick in Woodstock, Tony McCombie in Savannah, Lindsay Parkhurst in Kankakee and Jerry Long in LaSalle, Illinois. Incumbent State Rep. Dwight Kay lost to Democrat Katie Stuart in the Metro East area. The net gain of three seats broke House Speaker Mike Madigan's 1-seat super majority and could soften budget negotiations when lawmakers return to the Capirol.
All in all, Republicans walked away with a mixed bag of wins and losses in Illinois while the majority of the nation's political scene is a bit rosier.
Sadly, both Leslie Munger and Mark Kirk received less than 20% of the vote in Chicago and lost statewide. The adage about the Chicago vote holds true. Until the ILGOP and its donors stop writing off 21% of the Illinois population and invest in building a stronger ongoing organization and base vote in Chicago over time, we can expect more of the same in the years to come.
Think Theo Epstein: there will be no immediate miracles but in time the results will be seen. It also would not be that expensive in the off season: hardly more than pizza money at regular meetings held in the Wards, especially if several wards meet together.
After many years participating in GOP efforts in Chicago, I can say first hand that the leaders and volunteers are there to make a difference, and the Chicago GOP is heading to a better place, particularly under the new rule that acts to block Democratic plants from becoming Ward Committeemen. It just needs a little help.
The effort in Chicago for November 2018 should start now, even at a slow build rate, not in October 2018.
I am disappointed with the outcome for Ms. Munger. Kirk is a RINO. I didn’t vote for him or the Duck.
The GOP needs solid conservatives.
Trump should sit down with Congressional GOP leaders and explain to them very clearly, very calmly, that unless the immigration system in this country is changed and until illegal immigration is stopped, that the country will continue to become like Illinois which is an utter and complete failure. How much harder is this for them to see? Nevada is now not winnable, Colorado, Virginia, and Florida is barely winnable even in a national wave. It’s so obvious. Destroy the autopsy of the autopsy and reduce immigration levels, introduce restrictions, permanently barrier the border, and begin deportations. Will everyone be deported? No. Will most be deported? Probably not, but they’ve got to start someplace and they’re bound to deport all of the criminals, wannabe criminals, and welfare depende
Many people did not vote for Kirk because he is a RINO. That is unfortunate because those people could not look at the bigger picture which is Kirk’s health. Had he another stroke, he would have been replaced by another perhaps better republican. Now that chance is evaporated. it is also unfortunate that the cook county republicans did not emphasize this point to likely voters.
Kirk lost because of his Senate voting record and his re-election ads, touting him as “non-partisan” at a time when most Republicans want PARTISAN Republicans who will stand up to the Democrats.
When Kirk speaks, Durbin’s voice comes out of his mouth.
Maybe his pal Pat Brady can find him a job.
Look on the bright side:
“We won’t have Mark Kirk to kick around any more.”
Vote for a Rino and then pray for him to have a stroke?
That’s so twisted that not even I can agree with it!
Brady will find him a job alright, tidying up around their gay abode, right after Markie Kirkie and Patsy Brady get gay-married.
And bff Lindsey Graham can stand up at the gay wedding as Best Tranny.