Illinois Review

Durbin still pushing out 2016 Russian election interference conspiracy

Illinois US Senator Dick Durbin is still seriously pushing this conspiracy theory Wednesday ... and he links to an NPR story entitled "Senate Report: Former Trump Aide Paul Manafort Shared Campaign Info With Russia."

The story doesn't mention the ties between the FBI and their FISA requests that failed to mention they were based on a false Russian-based affidavit paid for by the Clinton campaign. 

Can Republicans win back Illinois' 6th CD?

6th CDs late Cong. Henry Hyde w/ fr. Cong. Peter Roskam | Daily Herald photo

WHEATON - The late Henry Hyde's district slipped away from former Congressman Peter Roskam and is now in the oily hands of the U.S. Congress Democrat majority, represented by freshman Sean Casten. 

Casten's 5-point win over Roskam was a part of the Democrats' anti-Trump Blue Wave that hit in 2018, leaving the DuPage County-centered 6th CD up for grabs in 2020. 

Thorner: Swapping Electoral College for Popular Presidential Vote Gains Momentum

By Nancy Thorner - 

The push to eliminate the Electoral College for the popular vote is on the rise since Nancy Thorner wrote her initial article on the topic for Illinois Review on January 11, 2019, Foolish Illinois lawmakers Electoral College.

The National Popular Vote plan (NPV) guarantees election of the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  The plan is a state statute in the form of an interstate compact. It creates an agreement among states to award all of their electoral votes collectively to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote.

Passing NPV will guarantee election of the national popular vote winner once the compact has been joined by enough participating states together to hold a majority of electoral votes (270 of 538).  Until that point, a state’s current rules apply.

Republicans Kinzinger, Davis side with Dems against Trump on shutdown votes

WASHINGTON - Republican Congress members Adam Kinzinger and Rodney Davis voted with U.S. House Democrats this week and against President Trump's efforts to fund the southern border wall.

Nevins: The Illinois GOP Leadership’s Bridge to Nowhere

What the Chicago Tribune chooses to ignore, the Illinois Review chooses to feature. In our opinion, these ideas are worth contemplating: Jennifer Nevins' frank response to an op-ed advocating the struggling IL GOP stay on course. 

By Jennifer Nevins - 

Recently, in the wake of the blue tsunami that decimated whatever shreds of influence the state’s Republican Party thought it had, the Chicago Tribune featured a commentary by  Bruce Rauner campaign staffer Patrick Wohl titled, “Don’t Let Rauner Loss Spark a GOP Race to the Right.” Wohl’s essential message-- "Moderates, stay the course!" --undoubtedly  soothes many a mind in the Illinois Republican leadership. Of course, the person shelling out this advice helped usher an incumbent governor into a spectacular loss, but Wohl’s intended audience is likely blind to the irony. They have become so accustomed to their strategic failures that this familiar counsel makes good sense.

While Wohl’s message is reaffirming to Illinois’ political establishment, his message also reaffirms the IL GOP's largely conservative voting base’s view that its leadership will never take them seriously. The perennial tension between the state’s moderate and conservative flanks has now devolved into total breakdown. The author and likeminded operatives, however, dismiss the dysfunction while they smugly believe that, eventually, the conservative mutts will heel.

Will there be an Illinois GOP?

The Illinois Republican Party faces a dismal immediate future with no money, few volunteers and devastated morale.

As if the November 2018 loss of the governorship, all statewide offices, two key Congressional seats and a Democrat super majority in both Illinois legislative chambers weren't enough, the picture grows bleaker browsing further down the ballot. Once-Republican strongholds at the county board level were devastated in the Blue Tsunami. Democrats now either dominate or have gained substantial political power in the collar counties - even in longtime GOP safeplace DuPage County.

South suburban Bremen Township GOP held their annual Christmas Party Thursday night, and the mood was somber one month after the party's November disaster. The rank-and-file freely discussed their disgust with the party's leadership, the incumbent governor and the sad future of the state in which they've raised their children. Party member after member discussed exit plans from a state they had at one time intended to enjoy their golden years.

Thorner: Does a toxic midterm election justify Republican concerns about 2020?

By Nancy Thorner - 

This quote attributed to Communist leader Joseph Stalin, "It’s not the people who vote that count, it’s the people who count the votes", reflects the sorry state of what our nation's elections, which does not bode well for the future of this nation.

It is a shock when anything is reported in “mainstream” sources that hurts those who weld the power. Time and again during the mid-terms elections the mainstream media insisted there was no corruption or fraud, but this all depends whether the news concerns Democrats or Republicans. 

This isn’t at all surprising considering how much the larger media landscape identifies with the Left. Conservatives have complained over decades about media bias, and they’ve largely been right. In 2016, the Center for Public Integrity looked at the political donations of 430 journalists and found that a majority of journalists donated to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Even financial sources are saturated with socialist/crony capitalist propaganda which masquerades as ”news”.

Thorner: Is the 2018 voter chaos a taste of what to expect in 2020?

By Nancy Thorner - 

Why doesn't Europe and Canada have our election farces?  They use paper ballots counted in precincts. Meanwhile, the Florida stealing is more exposed every day.  A Broward County deputy reported that a civil rights attorneys were handing out absentee ballots to inmates after the election, Broward County voting equipment was found stashed at an elementary school, and Democrat lawyers want a judge to change Florida law to hijack the election.  Even Jeb Bush conceded that the Democrats are cheaters when stating that the Broward election chief should be removed from office. 

It’s difficult to deny what has so openly taken place, such as when Broward County election officials blocked the view as ballots were bundled and bagged in the Davie Florida voting center.  Even so, Jeb Bush is not about to admit the main reason why the Democrats are close in Florida and overwhelming in California. The Geller Report says it is because of illegal alien voting.

There was, however, some good news as of Thursday, November 14, 2018, DeSantis has all but won the governor's race in Florida, given that after a machine count tally DeSantis was still 1.4 points ahead of Democrat Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum - enough, making a hand count unnecessary. 

Burr Ridge mayor resigns

BURR RIDGE - Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub's name became familiar to Illinois Review readers in 2012, when he took on the adventure of visiting all 50 state capitals and finding words referring to God and the Bible in each one.

Since that time, Straub sought and won the office of Burr Ridge, IL's mayor. 

With the help of Liberty Principles PAC, Straub tried to oust Republican House Leader Jim Durkin in the March 2018 primary. The battle was bloody - and Durkin fought back furiously. Durkin ultimately won re-election, only to lead an even smaller GOP House caucus than last session's. 

Straub didn't refer to what had to be an exhausting race in his resignation letter written this week. Instead he said he would be returning to building his company and working on writing a long-delayed book about his 2012 trip. The time spent for a $6000 per year stipend no longer made sense to Straub.

He wrote in his resignation letter how much he enjoyed being mayor of Burr Ridge, and explains: 

Thorner: Mid-term election turmoil ferments anger nationwide

Environmentalist Tom Steyer gave Dems $100M

By Nancy Thorner - 

As stated by filmmaker, Andrew Marcus, “What big tech has done to conservative and other undesirable publishers is nothing short of a digital Kristallnacht."  As such, Facebook delivered for Democrats in the midterms by erasing two billion GOP page views, thereby eliminating conservative content to suburban females.  While in 2016 suburban voters and women would check Facebook pages and get conservative news, it’s no longer true.  These same voters went Democrat in the midterms.  Here's more on the Silicon Valley totalitarians.

About the only good news is that Silicon Valley liberals like Tom Steyer have political tin ears.  Because Steyer gave the Democrats $100 million plus, he now demands they impeach Trump. 

Wirepoints' Mark Glennon on Tuesday's results: Illinois Adjusts Course Directly Into The Abyss

Wirepoints' Mark Glennon shares his views about Illinois' direction post-election ... and it's not a pleasant vision of the future.

How much closer to Detroit or Puerto Rico must Illinois go before it reforms?

That’s now the central question, and tonight we’ve learned we have much further to go. The primary culprits in Illinois’s collapse ran the field — Chicago machine Democrats retained firm control of both houses of the General Assembly and won every statewide office.  Congressional election results were just as dismal.

Plenty of Republicans share blame. Bruce Rauner was a failure, deeply alienating even his base. The number of genuine Republican reformers who understand Illinois’ problems who are candid enough to speak about them remain few.

None of that came as a surprise, except the race for Attorney General, and that result is terrifying. Erika Harold was a solid candidate but was trounced by Kwame Raoul. Raoul will present a special obstacle to reform and Illinois’ economy, politicizing law enforcement on behalf of his sponsor, House Speaker Michael Madigan, just like his predecessor. Raul’s race was a straight up test of Illinois’ sanity, and it failed.

In almost all other races, Illinois voters effectively chose to believe they can “vote themselves money,” as Benjamin Franklin put it, which, he said will “herald the end of the Republic.” Their lesson will come, though when remains unclear.

Read the rest on Wirepoints 

Leahy: Illinois Democrats excited about hiking taxes in wake of anticipated Blue Wave

Jake Leahy

By Jake Leahy - 

Will there be a Blue Wave? A Red Wave? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure, Speaker Mike Madigan is putting on the full court press to take back a supermajority of the Illinois House.

Under the Quinn Administration, a “temporary” income tax hike was passed with Democrat supermajorities in the General Assembly. Under Governor Rauner, some Republicans joined forces with the Democrats to form a supermajority to pass yet another income income tax hike, while overriding the Governor’s veto. J.B. Pritzker has made clear his agenda if elected, to get a new so called “Progressive” income tax passed.

Thorner: Pre-election events point to possible Red Wave on Horizon

By Nancy Thorner - 

Despite the heinous shooting at the synagogue in Pittsburgh, none of the Democrats are demanding more gun control, at least those seeking election or their mentors, as there would be no better way to sink their already shrinking margins. Democrats finally seem to recognize Bill Clinton’s warnings, learned when he lost Congress in his own mid-term, following the “Assault Weapon Ban” of 1994. 

The Assault Weapons Ban failed because deranged people find ways to murder others with whatever weapons they can find and are particularly ingenious in that respect. The only people affected are those whom habitually obey laws, at the expense of their means for self-defense. In Great Britain, the homicide rate is greater than in Utah, where carrying firearms is almost universal, only with knives, fists and feet.  For the first time in modern London has overtaken New York for murders for the first time in modern history after a surge in knife crime across the capital. 

The worst mass shooting in US history, aside from 200 or so striking miners in the late 19th century, occurred at Virginia Techwhere the gunman killed 31 students and faculty with a single handgun. While students huddled in classrooms, the campus police huddled outside for 20 minutes, because the doors were chained and they didn’t want to damage school property. Time after time ordinary citizens are expendable as long as politicians are safe. But this respite won't last long if Democrats take Congress.

New ad shows Casten embraces, defends anti-Christian personality Dan Savage

WHEATON - Democrat Sean Casten has said some outrageous things during his campaign to oust incumbent Republican Congressman Peter Roskam, but embracing and defending Dan Savage ranks as one of the most outrageous.

Savage's anti-Christian, anti-Bible mockeries of normal, principled citizens is shocking - and having a Congressman that defends Savage would be completely contradictory to Illinois' 6th CD constituency, Family Research Council Action's ad makes very clear. Released FIRST to Illinois Review:

Pierce: Every Election Season We are Reminded that God Gave Us Two Hands

By Sam Pierce - 

Is Illinois special or do most states frequently suffer being presented a choice between two liberals seemingly every election cycle? I am assuming that we in Illinois are special indeed. It seems election time in Illinois is a time that tries men's souls, but also played on a loop every few years. In addition to having our souls tried, the loop plays a familiar reminder that God gave us two hands, perhaps with Illinois elections in mind.

Faithful Illinois Republicans, many of whom are part time conservatives, part time values voters, dutifully press play and urge full time conservatives and values voters to use their two hands in the manner intended.

Di Leo: Of Drugs and Thugs and Pipe-Bomb Scares, Of Caravans and Kings

By John F. Di Leo - 

In the news this week – just two weeks out from a critically important midterm election – the news is full of stories about pipe bombs being mailed to prominent left-wingers.

It’s a fascinating story on several fronts.  The targets included an ex-president and an ex-secretary of state, an aging actor, the office of a liberal media outlet, and an activist financier so ancient that most people thought he must be dead already.  At this writing, none of these bombs went off, and most didn’t even reach their destinations because they were sent to people well known to be heavily guarded.

While it is too early – at this writing – to speculate, it certainly sounds possible, between the choices of targets and the utterly improbable type of pipe bomb, that these were never really intended to go off.  Which makes one wonder: what was really the purpose of such a project, two weeks before an election?

Letter to Editor: Holding my nose, I'm voting for Rauner

TO THE EDITOR:

In the Illinois governor's race, pro-lifers know that Governor Rauner has betrayed his promise to stay out of the “moral issues,” having signed into law House Bill 40. The bill provides funding for Medicaid and state employee abortions, and restricts the free speech of pregnancy care centers.

So, is State Senator Sam McCann, the Conservative Party candidate, a good alternative for pro-lifers?Not so fast, pro-life voter!!  McCann isn't proclaiming the positives of the Constitution.  Oddly enough, McCann is attacking PRO-LIFE and conservative Republicans that are in races with Democrats. Former Gube candidate Jeanne Ives is outraged at McCann. McCann attacked several conservative lawmakers - including State Rep. Tom Morrison (Palatine) and State Rep. John Cabello (Rockford). 

Democrats bombarding Morrison district with phony photos and malicious mailers

PALATINE - If it weren't enough that gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann filled State Rep. Tom Morrison's district mailboxes full of deceptive mailers calling Morrison - who is a staunch conservative - a "Rauner RINO," Mike Madigan's Democrats are showing where they are focused - and Morrison is in Madigan's sites.

Morrison says the Democrats have sent a couple dozen mailers to his Palatine-based district's voters over the past few weeks. One after another, the mailers either stretch the truth or leave out important details in order to give the impression Morrison is against reasonable, rational policies. It's a tactic Mike Madigan's people use often. 

Here's what happened in a mailing on Tuesday in Morrison's district, according to Rep. Morrison: 

DECEPTIVE MAILER ALERT #25: They can't even use actual pictures! Today's mailer utilizes a doctored photo from Streetfest when I wore the Tax Fighter sash that had been given to me as a gift. Besides the photo, the mailer claims I voted No on "equal pay for equal work, denying women wages". The Illinois Equal Pay Act was signed into law in 2003 and became effective on January 1, 2004. My opponent refuses to run an honest campaign on the facts and the Tribune rightfully called her out on it. How can you trust someone to represent you when they deceive you so willfully during their campaign?

Below, see this particular mocked up mailer photo with a photo taken the same day. In the Democrat mailer photo, the words "Tax Fighter" are blocked from the sash Morrison was given and wore: 

Letter to Editor: Why I support Ken Idstein in House District 62

Letter to Editor:

Here we are again, getting ready to go to the polls on November 6^th.  Big decisions to be made and I fear they are made on hearsay and sham information.

I support Ken Idstein for State Representative for District 62 because I have known him since the 1980’s. I have worked in real estate and he was and still is in the mortgage loan business. 

McCann campaign scoops up millions from union PACs and Super PACs

PLAINVIEW - For a state senator that chose to run an independent bid for governor that polls show as still in single digits, Sam McCann is grabbing lots of attention among Illinois conservatives - and not for a good reason. 

McCann was making headway among social conservatives with ads running on Fox News cable channels and appearances on radio and tv. He had endorsements from conservative groups such as Illinois Family Action, Lake County Right to Life PAC and Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC. 

That was until this week, when mailers from McCann's campaign attacking Republican conservative candidates for not condemning Governor Rauner began hitting districts where those conservatives are already in very tight races. 

Illinois Right to Life Action: What McCann claims about Tom Morrison is "bold-face lie"

CHICAGO - Illinois Right to Life Action (IRLA) responded on Thursday to news of Senator Sam McCann, gubernatorial candidate in the Illinois General Election, attacking pro-life State Representative Tom Morrison in a mail piece to his district. The piece depicts Rep. Morrison as a “Rauner RINO” and advises constituents not to vote for Morrison.

“What Sam McCann claims is a bold-face lie,” said Mary Kate Knorr, spokesperson for Illinois Right to Life Action. “This is an unfounded attack on one of our best pro-life legislators. Rep. Morrison has repeatedly fought Governor Rauner’s deceitful actions. It is inconceivable why the senator would attack him so offhandedly, and it is clearly a political tactic in pursuit of his gubernatorial race.”

Downstate GOP Congress incumbent reels in one union endorsement after another

ALTON - One downstate Republican incumbent in a tight race to be re-elected is going against his party's typical right-to-work flow by reaching out to public and private sector union members for their support - and he's reeling them in one by one. 

Over the past few weeks, second term Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12) has been sending out press release after press release with these headlines: 

• "Carpenters' Union Endorses Mike Bost"
• "Firefighters Union Endorses Bost for Re-Election"
• "Transportation Trade Union Endorses Bost" 
• "Infrastructure Union Endorses Bost"
• "United Mine Workers of America to Endorse Bost" 
• "Coal Minters Union Endorses Bost"
• "Federal Correctional Workers Endorse Bost"
• and "Illinois Education Association Endorses Bost" 

Ives' statement on McCann's mailer against Tom Morrison

Earlier today, Conservative Party candidate Sam McCann began losing support from conservative groups that had previously endorsed him. While State Rep. Jeanne Ives did not endorse McCann, she did speak out and encourage endorsers to withdraw support from McCann after a mailer calling State Rep. Tom Morrison a "Rino" hit 55th District Hard R mailboxes. (see mailers here)

Statement from former GOP gubernatorial candidate State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton): 

Is Sam McCann just looking for his taxpayer-funded job in the Pritzker Administration?

We don’t know, but it may explain why he sent out attack mailers on a common sense conservative like Tom Morrison.

Decision 2018: Summary of last debate between Rauner and Pritzker

QUINCY - WGEM TV, Quincy's NBC affiliate, hosted the only downstate debate between Governor Bruce Rauner and his Democrat challenger J.B. Pritzker Thursday night in Quincy, Illinois. It is their last scheduled public debate. 

Opening statements from both candidates pointed to their overall goals if they were to be elected governor. Latest polls showed Pritzker 20 points ahead of Rauner, serving his first term as governor.

Democrats giddy over tightening races in IL 06, 12, 13, and 14 CDs

WHEATON - If Nancy Pelosi has any chance of returning to be Speaker of the US House - demanding Democrats win the majority again - there are four districts in Illinois that pollsters are closely watching: IL 06, IL 12, IL 13 and IL 14.

If Democrats win in all four of these, there will be only three Republicans left in the IL Congressional Caucus: John Shimkus in CD 15, Adam Kinzinger in CD 16 and Darin LaHood in CD 18. 

Democrats are exuberant, thinking the Kavanaugh confirmation has sufficiently energized their radical Left base to win back four Illinois seats - bringing them closer to the 22 seats they need for Pelosi to become Speaker again.

Illinois: New paradise for abortion industry "because there's no shame ... "

Carafem ads at Washington DC Metro stations 

CHICAGO - For decades, Illinois' longtime Democrat-controlled legislature has maintained and nurtured a legal environment welcoming to the abortion industry. In light of the Kavanaugh confirmation to the US Supreme Court this week, abortion providers are seeking locations where their businesses can thrive. 

Illinois and its legislature's favor bestowed on the abortion industry is making the state the place to set up shop or expand the clinics already there - an abortion industry paradise. 

Di Leo: Taylor Swift and the Politics of Groupthink

By John F. Di Leo -

Last weekend, pop (formerly country) superstar Taylor Swift – after years of carefully avoiding politics – took to Instagram to issue a polemic against Congressman Marsha Blackburn, candidate for U.S. Senate in her home state of Tennessee.

Swift, who has long had a broad following across the ideological spectrum, penned a social media screed that tarred Rep. Blackburn with the usual accusations that modern Democrats regularly level against Republicans: accusing her of supporting a patriarchy by taking positions that oppose women, LGBTQs, and other minorities.

Now, we have no way of knowing for sure whether T-Swift came to this feeling entirely on her own, or if the talented singer-songwriter was led in this direction by handlers upset at her general silence on politics in the past. Today’s entertainment industry, despite being shaken by the #metoo movement, remains rooted in groupthink where politics are concerned.

Rauner: "I will never let Illinois be a sanctuary state. Period."

Chicago Tribune photo

PALOS PARK - "The bill I signed did not make Illinois a sanctuary ... period, end of story," Governor Bruce Rauner told a group of Republicans gathered in Palos Park Saturday.

Whether the Trust Act made Illinois a sanctuary state is a topic that the governor has been facing since he signed it into law last year. His frustration with what he considers confusion over the issue was evident in his reply. 

"Then why are they saying that?" one of the members of the United Southland Republican Women asked.

"Because they are political attacks to undermine me," Rauner replied. "Fake news. Listen guys, this is really important, it's really important. I have fought sanctuary every year, I have vetoed bills and stopped it. That bill I did sign - that was a 40 page bill when it started. It ... made us a sanctuary.

"I said no, and we shrunk it down to a 2-page bill and all it does is do what judges said we need to do when we're interacting with illegal immigrants. It still says we should coordinate with ICE agents. In no way does it make us a sanctuary."

(Recording of Rauner's comments below)

Durbin: "Think about what a Democratic Senate majority would mean"

DC - US Senator Dick Durbin was elected first elected by the people of Illinois in 1996 to represent them to the US Senate. He was re-elected in 2002, 2008 and 2014.  He won't be on the ballot again until 2020.

Senator Durbin's now in the US Senate Democrat leadership as the Minority Whip. He was a major spokesperson in the Resistance's all-out attack during Justice Kavanaugh's confirmation process. Both he and Illinois Democrat Tammy Duckworth voted No Saturday. 

Does Senator Durbin represent you with this Tweet? What's your response? 

State Rep. David McSweeney (R-South Barrington) didn't hesitate to respond to comments Senator Duckworth made against the Kavanaugh confirmation Saturday.

UPDATE x3: Kavanaugh Confirmed by U.S. Senate, pulling Court to the Right

DC - The US Senate voted today to confirm what many consider to be pro-life Judge Brett Kavanaugh - filling the vacancy left by pro-abortion Justice Anthony Kennedy following his retirement.

Notable Republican responses followed President Trump, who tweeted: 

UPDATE: Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Travis Sterling said, "We applaud the U.S. Senate for confirming Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. He is a highly-qualified jurist with extensive experience in faithfully interpreting and defending the Constitution of the United States."

Congressman Darin LaHood, a Republican representing IL's 18th CD, said in a statement: “The U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court today is historic. His judicial temperament and measured approach will ensure that our Constitution is interpreted properly, as intended by our founding fathers. 

One year ago today: Rauner delights the Illinois ACLU with taxpayer-funded abortions

SPRINGFIELD - One of many Leftist groups that have consistently tweeted and posted complaints about Governor Bruce Rauner over the past three years is the ACLU. 

However, on September 28, 2017, they were delighted when Governor Rauner made Illinois one of the few states in America that force taxpayers to pay for abortions. 

Cook County - Political Ground Zero

Politicians and celebrities learn the Chicago Way and they take what they learn to DC and Hollywood. In order to save America we have to stop their liberal indoctrination here.

Republican House challenger's signs vandalized in contentious Grayslake race

GRAYSLAKE -- Every election season there's incidents of campaign sign vandalism - especially if a race is contentious. Apparently, the Republican House challenger Ken Idstein is annoying Democrat State Rep. Sam Yingling in the north suburban 62nd District. Vandals spray painted vulgar terms on Idstein's signs.

Idstein responded by condemning the illegal destruction of property committed against a senior citizen in Grayslake and called on his opponent to join him in putting an end to this behavior. Despite Yingling being the fourth openly gay legislator elected to the Illinois General Assembly, he did not respond to Idstein's call.

Di Leo: Lessons to learn from campaign yard signs

By John F. Di Leo - 

Driving through Wisconsin this weekend, I saw yard signs.  Lots and lots of yard signs.

Wisconsin Republicans are energized.  With eight years of incredibly successful Republican leadership to boast about, activists are happy to be campaigning for a third term for Governor Scott Walker, and they are equally happy that one of his key allies in the state legislature, Leah Vukmir, is the Wisconsin GOP’s nominee for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Tammy Baldwin.

The Democrats are energized too, of course.  It’s a midterm, and the party that doesn’t hold the White House is always energized in a midterm.  The important point here is that Wisconsin Republicans are able to be equally energized, because of the people at the top of their ticket in November. 

Taylorville GOP candidate challenges incumbent Andy Manar to debate series

From Seth McMillan's campaign -

TAYLORVILLE— Outsider candidate for the 48^th Senate District, Seth McMillan, challenged Senator Andy Manar to a series of five debates Thursday, offering voters a clear, unfiltered opportunity to hear directly from the candidates hoping to represent them in the Illinois State Senate.

In a letter from McMillan’s campaign to Manar’s campaign manager, Paul Peters, the McMillan campaign extended an offer to debate in each of the five counties in the 48th District that could accommodate a debate (Christian, Macon, Macoupin, Montgomery, Sangamon).

Illinois prolifers "rebuke" once-dependable conservative DuPage County Senator Mike Connelly

CHICAGO - When a mail piece hit mailboxes with GOP State Senator Michael Connelly boasting about his support last session to pass the Equal Right Amendment, Illinois Right to Life Action responded with a strong "rebuke." 

Senator Connelly can no longer count on district pro-lifers to send him back to Springfield, the group said. The first-term senator chose not to respond to the criticism when Illinois Review requested reaction.

“Pro-lifers cannot count on legislators who tout they’re pro-life but surrender to the pro-abortion regime in our state. This will not be tolerated any longer,” said Executive Director of Illinois Right to Life Mary Kate Knorr. “For years, Senator Connelly has relied on pro-life voters to keep his seat. However, he has made it very clear by voting for the ERA and bragging about it in this mail piece that pro-life issues are not a priority for him.”

Harold campaign releases new ad attacking Democrat opponent

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois voters will be picking a new attorney general in November, and 20 percent of the electorate has yet to decide who will get their votes  - Democrat Senator Kwame Raoul or Republican attorney Erika Harold. Among those that have decided, Raoul is outpacing Harold by 12 points, a recent survey by the Illinois Broadcasters Association says. 

Harold, who has received substantial financial support from GOP Governor Bruce Rauner, has been the focus of her opponent's recent attack ads. In one ad, Harold is quoted during her college years saying she'd rather send children to be adopted by an abusive heterosexual couple than to a same sex couple. The ads have been effective in turning up the dial on Harold's unfavorables.

Di Leo: Beware of ignoring "safe" districts in a crazy election cycle

By John Di Leo - 

Reflections on the fall campaign, for fellow conservatives… others may find this inside baseball boring, and are welcome to disregard…

In 1994, Congressman Dan Rostenkowski had been in Congress for 36 years.  First elected to his solidly Democrat Chicago district in 1958, he could not possibly lose, and rose to great power in the House of Representatives.  By 1994, he had been chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee for over a dozen years.

His power was unparalleled; his seat secure… until the House Post Office Scandal erupted, and he became the very poster child of America’s fury at the haughty, entitled Democrat regime that had ruled the House for 40 years without a break.  When November, 1994 finally arrived, even this un-defeatable lion of Congress went down in flames.

GOP Congressman Davis boasts four more union endorsements

Republican Congressman Rodney Davis (IL-13) sent out a press release Friday, boasting of now 10 unions that are backing his re-election in November.

Taylorville, IL - Ahead of Labor Day, four more unions have announced their support for Rodney Davis. The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), and the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI) have all decided that they will back Davis for re-election. In June, six unions endorsed Davis. 

While Davis did not provide a direct quote in the press release, his spokesman Ashley Phelps pointed to Davis' support of unions and union-favored issues like Project Labor Agreements - issues Republicans have typically opposed over the years.

“Rodney’s support from unions continues to grow because the hardworking men and women in this district know he has their back. He has continuously supported them on pro-labor issues, like Davis-Bacon and Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) and fought back against anti-union attacks from some in his own party. He has a proven record of standing with the workers of this district,” said Davis Spokesman Ashley Phelps. 

National legal immigration group: With Republicans like Rauner, who needs Democrats?

SPRINGFIELD - Friday, a national immigration group defied Governor Rauner's claim earlier this week that Illinois is not a sanctuary state. 

"ALIPAC finds Governor Bruce Rauner's comments ... to be false, disingenuous and dangerous ..." William Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC told Illinois Review.

In an effort to unite his Republican base, Rauner said Wednesday, "...We can have issues where we can disagree, and by the way, I'm adamantly against illegal immigration and we are not a sanctuary state, and we'll never be one. I oppose that. But, you know what? We gotta unite."

Governor Rauner and his advocates have insisted for a year that Illinois is NOT a sanctuary state - despite the bill he signed last year forbids local law enforcement from being in direct contact with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency about persons that are in the country illegally that law enforcement is releasing from local imprisonment. 

Di Leo: Another Election Year, Another Array of Election Abuses

Chicago Crusader photo

By John F. Di Leo - 

It is an election year, so the news concerns elections.

But not just the candidates, the campaigns, and the issues… if you look closely, you’ll also find news about the election process itself, how it is changing, and how it is being corrupted… sometimes in secret, sometimes as blatantly as can be imagined.

This week, for example, we learned of Willie Wilson, a Chicago millionaire running for mayor. He’s a generous man; he writes checks and throws around hundred-dollar bills at Chicago speaking events like Shriners throw candy at parades. He says he views it as charity; nobody has a right to tell him what to do with his money.  But is it cynical to say that, as a mayoral candidate handing cash to prospective constituents, it looks like he’s buying votes? There are ethics rules for a reason, after all.

Lake Bluff Republican steps up to fill void in 58th House race

LAKE BLUFF - Incumbent State Rep. Scott Drury tried to run for attorney general rather than re-election in the 58th House District, but he was tossed off the Democrat ballot before the spring primary. Independent and feisty Drury, who has been a thorn in House Speaker Mike Madigan's side for the last few years, won't be on the General Election ballot in November. 

It appeared Democrat newbie Bob Morgan was going to get a free ride to the Illinois House when Republican Cindy Masover dropped out in mid-July, but a week later a Lake Bluff estate attorney stepped up and will be challenging Morgan in the General - a chance for the Republicans to pick up a seat in Chicago's northern suburbs. 

Rick Lesser, a successful small business owner and one of the leading estate planning attorneys in Illinois, announced his candidacy Monday for Illinois State Representative in the 58th District - with the blessing of Lake County Republicans.

Raoul blasts anonymously-reported anti-gay comments made by Rauner-backed candidate 18 years ago

SPRINGFIELD - Democrat candidate for attorney general Kwame Raoul released Monday a digital attack ad on his Rauner-backed opponent Erika Harold citing anonymous source reports of an interview during the 2000 Miss Illinois pageant Harold eventually won.

The anonymous sources say "the room stopped" when Harold supposedly said if given the choice to send a foster child to either a gay couple and an abusive heterosexual couple, she'd pick the abusive couple. Harold says she doesn't remember saying it, but admits that her view on the issue has "evolved." She now "strongly supports" same sex couples adopting and foster parenting children.