WHEATON – Thursday, former state representative and gubernatorial challenger Jeanne Ives filed with the Federal Election Commission her intentions to be the IL GOP's 6th CD nominee in the March 2020 primary.
As news of her filing leaked to the media before she had a chance to make a formal announcement, Sean Casten – the Democrat that "Blue-waved" Republican Peter Roskam in the November 2018 general – hit his supporters up for donations.
The Casten camp's first words about Ives reflected just how down and dirty an Ives vs Casten race will be.
"Breaking News: Republican Jeanne Ives, a 'Conservative Crusader,' just announced her candidacy to unseat Sean Casten," the email said. It went on:
Jeanne Ives is officially running against Sean. Ives made headlines last year for launching a disgusting attack ad that slandered women who believe in reproductive health services, denigrated our immigrant brothers and sisters, and mocked members of the LGBTQ community.
But here’s why we need your help: Last year Ives accepted $2.5 MILLION to support her far-right candidacy from GOP mega donor Richard Uihlein. Chances are, Uihlein will spend millions to prop up her candidacy and fund extremist attack ads against Sean.
Then came the plea for donations to Casten, who has issue positions similar to the House Democrat Freshmen "Squad."
But not just Casten hit the funding circuit, so did the Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) on his behalf:
The GOP’s chances in Illinois 6th Congressional District went from bad to worse this week with Jeanne Ives’ decision to run. Evelyn Sanguinetti, who had already raised concerns after her “paltry” fundraising haul – getting outpaced 7-to-1 by Rep. Casten in her first quarter as a candidate – now has to cope with a divisive and nasty primary centered around who can embrace President Trump the hardest in a well-educated suburban district that he lost by seven points in 2016, and that continues to trend away from Republicans.
The DCCC was breathless about the development.
The 6th CD – traditionally Republican for decades – fell into Democrat hands last fall when suburban women were swept up by a Blue Wave that started at the top of the General Election ticket. JB Pritzker energized the radical Left, social progressives and union members against an incumbent Republican Governor that ignored his state party's platform and embraced Leftist positions on issues such as abortion and immigration sanctuary policies. The Republican Party was demoralized, de-energized and stayed home. That devastated Republican incumbents up and down the ticket.
Casten's campaign is excited about the Ives candidacy – hoping her entry will energize his base, as if their anti-Trump sentiment could be anymore energized.
A second email came out from Casten's camp later Friday. It tore into Ives again:
Ives proudly embraces the label of “conservative crusader.” In her last race, she defended her attack ads which were panned by Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike for being incendiary and offensive.
Her campaign ads have made a mockery of women who identify as pro-choice, immigrants who call Illinois home, and members of our LGBTQ family. And her policies are just as extreme: If elected, she’ll work to repeal the Affordable Care Act, restrict access to Medicaid, overturn Roe v. Wade, oppose equal pay for equal work, and will be a stalwart ally of those who wish to weaken protections for LGBTQ Americans.
I have no doubt she’ll try to become Trump’s biggest ally in Congress if given the chance.
Ives is too extreme for Illinois — But that’s why some of the GOP’s biggest donors have funneled millions to her campaign in the past. Last year, her campaign cashed in $2,500,000.00 from Richard Uihlein alone.
Ives says she'll be hosting a formal announcement this weekend.
