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* This is not a bad piece from Politico about last week’s congressional redistricting vote. I say that tongue in cheek because subscribers will recognize that much (not all) of this is just unattributed rehash of what they’ve already been reading for the past several days…
As many as 10 representatives had opposed the third draft of the map, so the Democratic leaders hoped this map and soothing discussions would change their minds. It did.
Supporters of Rep. Sean Casten felt better that he got some breathing room. And state Rep. Kathleen Willis dropped her opposition to the map after Garcia assured he wasn’t orchestrating a primary challenge against her.
Garcia also made sure that the 22nd Legislative District was split between his newly drawn 4th District and Casten’s 6th. That didn’t sit well with Chicago Ald. Marty Quinn — known to some insiders as “the general” for carrying out orders of his friend and ally, former House Speaker Michael Madigan, the man synonymous with the state’s Irish political machine. Quinn didn’t want to see the district broken up.
Given the area has a high concentration of police officers and a reputation for getting out the vote, the left-leaning Garcia wanted to avoid a potential challenge in any upcoming election.
His team worked with Harmon’s team and mapmakers — some of whom are Madigan allies — to tweak boundaries before handing a new version to the Illinois House. Representatives then had two choices: vote for it and move on, or vote against it and see the process finished in January. (Smart move. Who wants Nancy Pelosi upset at your vote?)
Welch backed the new boundaries — another sign of his growing influence in the General Assembly. As one legislative observer put it, Welch took the view that “I don’t care what Marty Quinn thinks. I don’t care what Michael Madigan wants. I want this on the board.”
Most lawmakers fell in line. Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar, who succeeded Madigan in the 22nd Legislative District and has a ward office across the hall from Madigan and Quinn, was the only Democrat to vote against it. And Rep. Kelly Cassidy didn’t vote at all, a protest vote about not all women’s voices being heard.
Another Democratic lawmaker put it this way: “You think people will side with the old speaker over the new speaker? Madigan is gone and no one was going to take the chance to side with Quinn. The new speaker is the boss. He’s in charge.”
As subscribers knew days ago, Rep. Willis wanted to avoid a primary challenge and she was satisfied with the talks. But others are now saying that she may get one anyway. We’ll see. Also, Garcia wanted the first responders out of his new district, but I seriously doubt he has any real fears of being primaried from the right. I could go on, but whatever.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 9:19 am
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Shia couldn’t find the bathrooms in the Capitol if she tried.
Comment by new kid on the block Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 9:31 am
Notice that no where in this debate — no where at all — has anyone bothered to mention what is best for the voters. It’s all about protecting the power of chosen politicians. Further evidence that we all know to be true - nobody cares about the voters in Illinois. We just exist so we can “give” power to politicians and open our check books when required.
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 9:35 am
If people really think this is about Chuy being worried some mouth breather on the southwest side could take him out from the right, I have some Oceanside property in Bedford Park to show you.
This is an extension of the 100 years war between Chuy and the Gringos over who should represent the ever growing Latino population out there. This time, Chuy flexed and the leaders had his back. We’ll see what the fallout is.
Comment by Bears Sadness Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 9:39 am
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 9:35 am:
If you think cops in Garfield Ridge and Clearing would rather be represented by a liberal Latino than a White person (even a liberal one), then you’re helpless. This could be the most pro-voter move in the whole map.
Comment by Shield Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 9:57 am
I think that’s as close as Shia has ever gotten to actually getting the facts right on the behind-the-scenes intrigue. One quibble: making Marty Quinn the epicenter. The “general” takes his orders from the commander and chief. The former speaker inserted himself into a hugely important legislative undertaking and attempted to undermine his successor. That should have been the headline. It might have succeeded if the senate hadn’t gone first and left house members with no real options.
Comment by TNR Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 9:59 am
-If you think cops in Garfield Ridge and Clearing would rather be represented by a liberal Latino than a White person (even a liberal one), then you’re helpless.-
Sounds more like their problem than a positive.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 10:01 am
JM2, you’ve posted that exact same comment multiple times. It’s becoming spam. Try to come up with a new way to say it. Also, it’s hardly unique to Illinois.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 10:11 am
===If people really think this is about===
I think only two people think that - the person who wrote that story above and the person who fed it to the person who wrote that story above.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 10:12 am
A lot of moving parts presented re the alleged wranglings of this Final Map. Bottom line is that this map does not put Ald. Quinn’s residence in Chuy’s District, and preserves the best west end Ward Pcts in a District that Neuman will run in 2022 and lost last time to Lipinski. Not a coincidence. Mission accomplished.
Comment by The Swede Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 10:16 am
=== One quibble===
Another: Not taking into account that the Speaker was getting ready to pull the plug on the whole thing until January.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 10:23 am
“”I could go on, but whatever.”"
Comment by walker Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 10:38 am
I do have to wonder if Tabares was heavily involved in the decision of the 13th ward to get involved. She has potentially lost her spot on the State Central Committee since she’s now mapped into the heavily suburban 6th when compared to both the old and new 3rd. I could also see her having her eyes on the new 3rd in a future run for Congress (either when Chuy chooses to retire, or if the detente between Chuy and Madigan falls apart.)
Comment by Juice Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 10:46 am
Juice - Silvana lives in the new 6 and on the southwest side, she’s ain’t running in the new 3rd, which stretches across the north side of chicago.
Comment by Not for nothing Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 11:01 am
@TNR - the Senate going first was likely a feature, not a bug.
Comment by Eloy Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 11:03 am
=== I do have to wonder if Tabares was heavily involved in the decision of the 13th ward to get involved. ===
Highly doubtful.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 11:04 am
Hannibal Lecter is correct. While her career was created by the 13th Ward, she now has her own ward and her own remap turf fights.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 11:09 am
Apologies to Not for Nothing (and others), I meant the new 4th as opposed to the 3rd. Which does not have a sitting state central committeewoman, and I imagine she’d have an interest in staying on and avoiding a suburban based primary.
Comment by Juice Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 11:57 am
== @TNR - the Senate going first was likely a feature, not a bug. ==
Completely agree. That was my point. The senate boxed in any house member who might have been inclined to help Madigan. It was too late to change the map without blowing everything up til January. No one wanted to be blamed for that.
Comment by TNR Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 1:24 pm