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* NYT…
Representative Cheri Bustos of Illinois, the leader of the House Democrats’s campaign arm, told colleagues on Monday that she would not seek another term as chairwoman after she led her party to unexpected losses last week and only narrowly won her own re-election race.
In a letter to colleagues, Ms. Bustos conceded she had “hoped for better results” and was “gutted at the losses we sustained” even as she noted that she had delivered on “job No. 1,” maintaining the majority.
Ms. Bustos will remain in her position in the coming weeks, as Democrats continue to battle for a dozen or so seats where vote-counting continues. But she said she would not seek any other leadership post days after Democrats from the party’s moderate and progressive wings traded blame over the losses on a caucus conference call.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 3:37 pm
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I still don’t understand why Bustos was selected in the first place… she was out of her depth from the get go. Replacing Wasserman with Bustos was not an upgrade.
Comment by MakePoliticsCoolAgain Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 3:40 pm
==I still don’t understand why==
Bustos was supposed to be the key to winning/picking off more moderate suburban seats for Dems in reddish and purple areas. The vocal leftward tilt of the national party made that an almost impossible task for her. She barely survived her own race.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 3:51 pm
I’ve heard through this site and others more in the game than I am that she’s supposed to be the heiress apparent for Durbin’s Senate seat. I don’t see how that would be after this, but maybe I’m reading this wrong (or heard incorrectly).
Comment by Anon for Now Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 3:55 pm
Expected and necessary.
That said, who the h-e-double hockey sticks takes on this position next?
From the left or center wing of the party, either way, needs to be a Rahm Emanuel style character.
Comment by Left Leaner Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 3:57 pm
“It’s ok. Step down. We’ll take it from here.”
- Congressional Democrats, maybe.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:00 pm
If she was to be the successor to Sen. Durbin, then you don’t take jobs like these, for reasons that are currently obvious.
Comment by Say What? Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:01 pm
Very curious what her district looks like in the remap.
I wonder if they will give Rockford to a suburban district and then make an I-74 district from the Quad Cities to Champaign-Urbana that absorbs Galesburg, Peoria and parts of Bloomington-Normal along the way. Not sure how the population works on that though.
I guess a lot depends on how many districts IL loses after the census.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:08 pm
==I wonder if they will give Rockford to a suburban district ==
If so, most likely to the 14th regardless of whether or not Oberweis holds on or Underwood comes back.
==I wonder if they will give Rockford to a suburban district and then make an I-74 district from the Quad Cities to Champaign-Urbana that absorbs Galesburg, Peoria and parts of Bloomington-Normal along the way. ==
If that happens, I would not be surprised if David Gill (if he’s in your “new 17th”) decides to launch a primary run or a 3rd-party candidacy. Maybe another Stefanie Smith run too?
Comment by Chatham Resident Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:12 pm
==she had delivered on “job No. 1,” maintaining the majority==
The principal mission of DCCC is to “support Democratic House candidates every step of the way to fortify and expand our new Democratic Majority”
“fortify and expand”
It’[s the one and only mission listed on their website.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:14 pm
===From the left or center wing of the party, either way, needs to be a Rahm Emanuel style character.===
I don’t think it is possible to say “no” to this idea with the strength that it merits.
Comment by Graduated College Student Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:14 pm
Nearly everyone in the Dems establishment overestimated the odds of GOP voters abandoning Trump.
Comment by walker Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:18 pm
Wow, a leader taking responsibility when things go wrong, and stepping down.
Not exactly an IL thing to do. Maybe it’s those darn Good Gov Iowan ideas drifting across the river….
Comment by Fav Human Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:19 pm
If the election had gone as expected, Bustos would be a hero. Elections gave consequences.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:21 pm
Suburban swing areas are very different from rural. I voted to save her here but she doesn’t really get what is changing.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:22 pm
Matt Nagy please note.
Comment by We'll See Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:24 pm
Bustos needed to step down based on performance but this also may be a scalp offering by Pelosi to the Squad after Bustos made many left-wing Dems upset by the DCCC’s retribution against campaign workers/vendors that had provided support to progressive primary challemgers.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:29 pm
== The vocal leftward tilt of the national party made that an almost impossible task for her.==
It’s going to be very difficult for Dems to improve on their performances if they believe fairy tales like this.
Comment by Bubble Popper Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:29 pm
- MakePoliticsCoolAgain - Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 3:40 pm:
Bustos replaced Ben Ray Lujan, who ran D Trip in 2016 and 2018. Wasserman Schultz ran the Democratic National Committee. BRL ran for the U.S. Senate.
And Bustos ran for DCCC chair because BRL was running for Clyburn’s former “Assistant Leader” position (which Dems created to keep top leadership intact after losing the House in 2010).
https://www.rollcall.com/2018/11/09/cheri-bustos-drops-out-of-assistant-leader-race-to-run-for-dccc-chair/
In U.S. House Dem Caucus:
Speaker
Majority Leader
Majority Whip
Assistant Speaker/Leader
Caucus Chair
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:33 pm
Good riddance. How does the person tasked with protecting/expanding the majority almost lose her seat as well? How did the Dems lose in FL while Floridians voted to increase the minimum wage by 20 points? If the Dems are serious about fighting for the communities that actually put them in power, they’d take a good look in the mirror like the GOP did in 2012 - Dems have yet to do one since 2016. I think this election made very clear that demographic trends alone, are not going to save you. You gotta make sure people know what you stand for and earn every vote.
Comment by Failing New York Times Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:36 pm
…and that’s not to say the GOP acted on anything from the autopsy lol. But at least they tried to understand their shortcomings. Time and time again, Dems at the federal just stick their heads in the sand and continue doing the same thing. Hire the same loser consultants. Continue relying on TV and mail as the primary source of outreach in the year 2020. Yet they wonder how they lost 1,000 seats during the Obama era. Just some thoughts as we look to 2022.
Comment by Failing New York Times Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:45 pm
See Debbie Halverson. Minus Cook county numbers this state is not solid blue. Being on the Pelosi team is not the way to in illinois outside of Cook.
Comment by Eire17 Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:48 pm
Waiting for who was supposed to bring the Fair Tax Flop home to fall on the sword….
Comment by Current Lurker Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:49 pm
Bustos made many left-wing Dems upset by the DCCC’s retribution against campaign workers/vendors that had provided support to progressive primary challemgers.
Wasn’t that Pelosi’s policy? Kind of rough to beat her up for doing the Speaker’s bidding when you are in leadership….
Comment by Fav Human Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:53 pm
It’s always comical…
You have those who complain Illinois is a “blue” state, when faced with no statewide offices, no senate seats, super minorities in both statehouse chambers, losing 4 congressional seats in 12 years…
… then say “no blue waves” and ignore the current status that holding serve is “wins”
Illinois has always been driven my conservative/moderate Dems, and moderate/liberal Republicans swapping seats when the other decided to go too far from its sweet spot.
The Raunerites and 51st state folks have taken Cook and the Collars away from fertile voters looking for a two party state.
Bustos’ framing of a liberal/moderate and not a conservative/moderate almost cost while napping.
Illinois can be far more balanced if Republicans finally decide to be competitive everywhere.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 4:55 pm
Does this increase or decrease her chances of Senate appointment should Durbin decide to retire before ‘26?
Comment by begs the question Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 5:03 pm
Born in chgo andcraised in Villa Park I have lived my life watching the dirty politics in Il. My father moved from IL and ended up voting gop.
Comment by Catherine davis Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 5:52 pm
How much money did she raise? How much actual district work did her operations focus on?
Rahm found candidates who fit their district. Didn’t matter how left, center or even right they were. Need one vote that’s it. One vote at beginning of session and we’ll help you with everything else.
Talk however you want about all of us in your caucus but we just need the first vote. Having a large majority is better than purity. Can’t pass something without the votes but certainly can’t block anything if you’re in the minority.
Comment by Frank talks Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 6:33 pm
When the Dem’s jumped on ‘defund the police’ you lost lots of blue-collar folks. Anybody not a dreamy eyed liberal saw this.
Comment by Annoyed Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 7:53 pm
- Annoyed - Monday, Nov 9, 20 @ 7:53 pm:
Please list all Democratic congressional nominees in contested general elections who supported “defund the police.”
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:14 am