Over 60 national, state, and local Republican leaders will serve as campaign co-chairs on Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne’s campaign for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. The diverse list includes endorsements from all over the state, ranging from party activists to elected officials who want to see Irvin’s leadership in Springfield.
Former US Congressman and 28 year military veteran John Shimkus noted Irvin’s military background and prior leadership success guiding the city of Aurora.
“Richard has dedicated his life to serving our country and our state,” Shimkus said. “In the Army he fought to protect our freedoms in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. As a prosecutor he brought criminals to justice. As mayor he improved the lives of Aurora families. Richard loves America and he loves Illinois. He knows our state is on the wrong track with high crime, out-of-control taxes and never ending corruption. I can’t think of anyone better to take our state back and get it on the right track than this veteran, prosecutor and mayor.”
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) proudly voiced support for Irvin, who has a clear record of reducing violent crime in the second largest city in the state, and for the Assistant Minority Leader of his caucus, Avery Bourne, who has a proven record of leadership in Springfield.
“As murders, carjackings and mayhem surged across Illinois, JB Pritzker’s answer was signing a bill that lets violent criminals walk the streets without consequence while crippling the ability of our police to do their jobs and keep our communities safe,” Durkin said. “Richard Irvin was a prosecutor who knows what it takes to make Illinois safe. As Mayor, Richard hired more cops and stood proudly with law enforcement when Illinois Democrats repeatedly turned their backs. That’s the kind of leadership we need today in Illinois.”
In light of the rapid rates of rising crime, law enforcement officials have voiced their approval for the needed change Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne would bring, including Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird.
“Crime is out-of-control throughout Illinois and JB Pritzker made it worse by signing a bill that lets criminals out of jail and doesn’t allow the police to do their jobs,” Baird said. “That’s wrong. As a prosecutor, Richard put gangbangers and thugs behind bars, and worked to make neighborhoods safer. As Mayor of Aurora, Richard hired more cops, defeated the Defund the Police movement and has helped reduce crime. Patterns of violent crime can’t continue to go unchecked–which is why we need a proven leader like Richard as our next Governor of Illinois.”
Leslie Munger, former Illinois Comptroller and fiscal conservative, proudly supports Irvin for the opportunity this election brings to turn around state finances.
“Our state is headed in the wrong direction,” Munger said. “High taxes and violent crime are out of control, and the corruption from Springfield never ends as JB Pritzker continues to prioritize the special interests and political insiders over Illinois families. Illinois is in desperate need of change. We need new leaders who will put the hardworking taxpayers of Illinois first, and that’s why I am proudly supporting Richard Irvin for Governor. As Mayor of Aurora, Richard has reduced crime, stood with law enforcement, brought economic growth to Aurora to reduce the local tax burden, balanced budgets, and has taken on corruption. I know he will do the same for Illinois.”
Terry Richmond, Montgomery County GOP Chairman, echoed the need for better budgeting in Illinois as state finances continue to crumble.
“Under JB Pritzker spending continues to surge and his only answer is to try and institute the largest tax hike in Illinois history on families, farmers and small business owners,” Richmond said. “As Mayor of Aurora, Richard has balanced budgets and returned money to taxpayers. As state representative, Avery has been a consistent conservative fighting back against the Pritzker-Madigan Machine. We need change in Illinois that doesn’t come at an expense to taxpayers, which is why Irvin and Bourne are undoubtedly the best team to lead the State of Illinois back to prosperity.”
With Illinois residents continuing to bear the brunt of the rising cost of living in the state, local leaders including Dan Cronin, Dupage County Chairman, have voiced support for new leadership that wouldn’t resort to ‘tax and spend’ habits.
“JB Pritzker already tried to pass the largest tax hike in Illinois history, and if re-elected he will try again,” said Cronin. “As people flee the state in droves, the last thing Illinois needs is higher taxes. As mayor, Richard balanced budgets and returned money to its citizens. I’ve known Richard for years - he’s a former prosecutor, veteran and true leader. With his common sense approach to government, he can take our state back and get it on the right track.”
Aurora Alderwoman Patty Smith (8th Ward) has witnessed Richard Irvin’s success in bringing significant change at the local level–and endorsed the opportunity to do that on a larger scale throughout Illinois.
“I am endorsing Richard Irvin for Governor because he has a proven record of leadership in Aurora that he can bring to all of Illinois,” Smith said. “He fought Mike Madigan’s hand-picked candidate in the mayor’s race and won. He balanced our city’s budget and stood proudly with law enforcement to keep Aurora safe. We need Richard’s leadership in Springfield, to restore Illinois back to the great state it once was.”
Mike Bigger, Stark County Republican Chairman & Former Secretary of the Illinois Republican Party, highlighted Irvin’s pro-growth mindset, a stark contrast to the anti-business policies under the Pritzker Administration.
“Under JB Pritzker, businesses large and small are fleeing for lower taxed states because of his constant push for higher taxes,” said Bigger. “Where he’s failed, Richard has succeeded by working with businesses and creating a welcoming environment in Aurora that has seen an explosion in growth the last several years. It’s that track record of success in helping bring businesses and growth that we so desperately need in Springfield.”
The list of support for Irvin and Bourne includes the following leaders throughout Illinois:
• Nick Africano, Kankakee County Treasurer & Kankakee County GOP Chair (Kankakee County)
• Mark Aguilera, Former National Committeeman, Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Illinois (Cook County)
• Janice Anderson, Former DuPage County Board Member (DuPage County)
• Shweta Baid, Aurora Alderman (Ward 10) (DuPage County)
• Dwight Baird, Kendall County Sheriff (Kendall County)
• Sue Barfield, Former Chair of the Massac County GOP Women (Massac County)
• Dick Barr, Lake County Board Member & Lake Villa Township GOP Vice Chair (Lake County)
• Mark Batinick, Illinois State Representative (HD97) (Will County)
• Bob Berlin, DuPage County State’s Attorney (DuPage County)
• Mike Bigger, Stark County Republican Chairman, Former Secretary of the Illinois Republican Party
• Adam Brown, Former Illinois State Representative (HD102) (Macon County)
• Tim Butler, Illinois State Representative (HD87) (Sangamon County)
• Eugene Carpino, Former Executive Director of the Illinois House Republican Organization (DuPage County)
• Sandi Cianci, Kankakee County Circuit Clerk (Kankakee County)
• Dan Cronin, DuPage County Board Chairman (DuPage County)
• Tom Cronin, River Forest Township GOP Chair (Cook County)
• Tom Cross, Former House Republican Leader (Will County)
• Judy Diekelman, Illinois Republican Party Treasurer & State Central Committee (CD2) (Cook County)
• Jim Durkin, Illinois State Representative (HD82) and House Republican Leader (Cook County)
• Marianne Eterno, National Chairwoman of the Private Enterprise Advisory Council of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) (Cook County)
• Larry Falbe, Lake County Republican Federation President (Lake County)
• Ron Gidwitz (Honorary), Trump Co-Chair & Former U.S. Ambassador
• Andy Goleman, Sangamon County Auditor (Sangamon County)
• Scott Gryder, Kendall County Board Chairman (Kendall County)
• Patty Gustin, Naperville City Councilmember (DuPage County)
• Tom Haine, Madison County State’s Attorney (Madison County)
• Aren Hansen, Grundy County GOP Chairman & Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee (CD16) (Grundy County)
• Kathy Hilton, Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee - Deputy (CD1) and New Lenox Township Trustee (Will County)
• Nathan Hoffman, Former Vice Chairman of the Illinois College Republican Federation and Chairman of University of Illinois-Springfield College Republicans (Sangamon County)
• Nimish Jani, Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee (CD8) (Cook County)
• Diante Johnson, Black Conservative Foundation President & Former Blacks for Trump Advisor (Vermilion County)
• Brian Kasal, 43rd Ward Republican Committeeman, Northside Chicago GOP Organization President & Illinois Republican Party Finance Committee Member (Cook County)
• Ammie Kessem, 41st Ward Republican Committeeperson (Cook County)
• Jake Lee, Kankakee County Auditor (Kankakee County)
• Gus Leventis, Addison Township Trustee & Addison Township GOP Member (DuPage County)
• Alejandro “Alex” Lopez, Elgin Township Trustee, Elgin Township GOP Member & Invest Aurora Board Member (Kane County)
• Joan McCarthy LaSonde, Executive Director of the North Cook Republican Organization (Cook County)
• Joe McMahon, Former Kane County State’s Attorney (Kane County)
• Raquel Mitchell, Will County Board Member & Wheatland Township GOP Chair (Will County)
• Sean Morrison (Honorary), Cook County Commissioner, Cook County GOP Chairman & Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee (CD3) (Cook County)
• John Munger, Vernon Township GOP Chairman (Lake County)
• Leslie Munger, Former Illinois Comptroller (Lake County)
• Gray Noll, Morgan County State’s Attorney (Morgan County)
• Lynn O’Brien, Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee - Deputy (CD6) & Illinois Republican Party Finance Committee Member (Lake County)
• Jim Oberweis, Former Illinois State Senator (SD25) & Former Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee (CD14) (Kane County)
• Steve Orlando, Former Chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Illinois (Will County)
• Tim Ozinga, Illinois State Representative (HD37) (Will County)
• Rocky Pintozzi, Past Chairman of the Aurora Convention & Visitors Bureau (DuPage County)
• Matt Podgorski, Northwest Side GOP Club Chairman (Cook County)
• Randy Pollard, Former President of the Illinois County Chairmen’s Association & Former Chairman of the Fayette County GOP (Fayette County)
• Richard Porter (Honorary), Republican National Committeeman (Cook County)
• Matt Prochaska, Kendall County Circuit Clerk & Young Republicans Statewide Executive Board (Kendall County)
• Dennis Reboletti, Former Illinois State Representative & Addison Township Supervisor (DuPage County)
• Jay Reyes, Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee (CD4) (Cook County)
• Terry Richmond, Montgomery County GOP Chair (Montgomery County)
• Bob Schillerstrom, Former DuPage County Board Chairman (DuPage County)
• Tim Schneider, Former Illinois Republican Party Chairman (Cook County)
• Mike Shackel, Lemont Township Supervisor & Lemont Township GOP Chair (Cook County)
• John Shimkus (Honorary), Former U.S. Congressman (Madison County)
• Patrick Simon, Calhoun County GOP Chairman (Calhoun County)
• Grace Simpson, Mercer County State’s Attorney (Mercer County)
• Patty Smith, Aurora Alderman (Ward 
(DuPage County)
• Dan Ugaste, Illinois State Representative (HD65) (Kane County)
• Richard Veenstra, Mayor of Addison (DuPage County)
• Grant Wehrli, Former State Representative & Naperville City Council Member (DuPage County)
• Neil Williamson, Former Sangamon County Sheriff (Sangamon County)
• Ron Woerman, Aurora Alderman (At-Large) (Kane County)
• Jim Zay, DuPage County GOP Chairman & DuPage County Board Member (DuPage County)
This solidifies the Republican bonafides, if one goes after Irvin it’s going to be going after the whole premise of “what is a Republican”, and that is not going to help any, including Bailey as he courts the conspiracy theorists and insurrectionists
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:08 am
Bailey might want to consider how he wants to help bring services to his district under a continued JB or Irvin administration because unless Lake, DuPage and Will county GOP members just want to hand JB another four years, Bailey is probably looking at “splaining to his base how the Springfield swamp did him in.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:11 am
Well now the big question is whether Trump endorses Bailey.
Comment by Chicagonk Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:13 am
=Leslie Munger, former Illinois Comptroller and fiscal conservative,=
Munger, who allowed a massive backlog of bills to grow and grow and accumulate massive interest, thinks she is a fiscal conservative.
Bless her heart.
And she thinks the state is in worse shape. LOL
The Griffin Team
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:14 am
Looks like the establishment candidate has arrived.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:15 am
Give Me A Break - People like Bailey would rather have a liberal Democrat in office they can hate and rally against (and raise money off) than a moderate Republican they are constantly expected to compromise with.
Comment by Just Me 2 Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:16 am
There’s a lot of “formers” on that list.
Also- my count is 8 current county chairmen.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:21 am
Who knew I could be impressed by seeing Jim Oberweis’s name? Durkin, Shimkus and Cronin also great “gets”
Comment by Raising Kane Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:21 am
Best endorsements money can buy.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:23 am
Candidate Irvin has the potential to bring about a seismic shift in Illinois Politics - He is a genuine change agent that can pull diverse voters over to the GOP side - plus he has a huge electability appeal to the average GOP voter. His platform of Crime, Corruption, and taxes will resonate.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:23 am
“Terry Richmond, Montgomery County GOP Chairman, echoed the need for better budgeting in Illinois as state finances continue to crumble.”
Recent Facts & Figures Don’t Indicate ” crumble”
Comment by Red Ketcher Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:24 am
SGOP noticeably absent.
Comment by Emmerder Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:30 am
Proudly accepting someone from “Blacks for Trump.” Yikes.
https://theintercept.com/2020/10/19/blacks-for-trump-maurice-symonette-cult/
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:30 am
Dick Barr, the out-going GOP Lake County Board member who was brought to tears just being in the presence of the Proud Boys, endorsed Bailey months ago. It’s like a list of people we shouldn’t trust, ever.
Comment by Springfieldish Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:31 am
This will be an interesting barometer of what the Republican Party is going to look like in a post-Trump world. Will the party leadership be able to convince the base to go along with establishment-backed candidate who appears to be hand chosen by the ‘elites’, or will the most extreme reactionaries draw the attention of the base? And what happens if/when Trump weighs in himself?
Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:33 am
“better budgeting in Illinois as state finances continue to crumble.”
What balance sheet are they looking at?
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:33 am
lots of ‘former’ in that list.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:40 am
Kessem and Podgorski. Gross.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:41 am
= It’s like a list of people we shouldn’t trust, ever. =
You’ve put it into words perfectly.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:42 am
- Donnie Elgin -
Sounding more and more like a flack, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:43 am
===seismic shift in Illinois Politics===
Really?
The resources that Irvin will have to stave off purity, the Crew prepared to package Irvin, and the field Irvin will be competing against is going to make it very unique, but “seismic shift in Illinois Politics” would be refusing to use the buzzwords used and renouncing Trump.
That would be a seismic shift in Illinois Politics for the GOP
It’s a very impressive video, rollout, it’s like the pros are playing the amateurs in the primary.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:47 am
=He is a genuine change agent=
Genuine? Try pre-packaged, paid for by a billionaires money. =
=His platform of Crime, Corruption, and taxes will resonate.=
Crime and local taxes are up in Aurora.
Anything else?
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:47 am
I guess Illinois Democrats will have to go back to the drawing board and mothball all those ads about racist and misogynist Republicans
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:48 am
- consider how he wants to help bring services to his district -
Has Bailey done anything that suggests he has any interest in this?
Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 9:48 am
Leslie Munger saying the State is headed in the wrong direction doesn’t move the dial for me. I saw her first act and it wasn’t good. But sure, stick with that and see how it goes. I think the current administration could defend those kinds of attacks.
Comment by One Trick Pony Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:00 am
===racist===
All Lives Matter is the racial retort to Black Lives Matter, that up to this announcement video Irvin supported.
Announcing on MLK Day was an interesting choice for any African American candidate, no matter party.
The GOP is still passively courting racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists, and insurrectionists. How that will play with Irvin will be interesting for me as “All Lives Matter” is now an Irvin thing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:00 am
= think it may surprise some of the previous commenters =
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. What the GOP once was, and what the GOP has turned into is a much more significant point to voters than any of the talking points the politicians are putting out.
A lot of the ‘formers’ are exactly that. What the GOP once was, sprinkled in with a few of the least competent members of what the GOP now is(oberweis, blacks for trump, etc).
The GOP party stalwarts might like to see a return to what once was, but the voters they have pushed over the cliffs of insanity the past few years aren’t going to defy gravity and rise back up. They are gone forever from that old GOP.
Attaching yourself to the old GOP out of a sense of nostalgia, is only going to drive those former GOP voters away. They voted for trump *because* they didn’t like what the old GOP was. There is no coming home for many of them this time around, but it seems like the GOP still thinks that is possible.
The only certainty is that this primary is going to have an interesting dynamic.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:02 am
==There’s a lot of “formers” on that list.==
Such is the lot of ILGOP- they don’t have very many “current” office holders to choose from.
No one on this list really gets your heart racing, but then, no one *in ILGOP as a whole* really gets your heart racing, either.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:04 am
- Lucky Pierre -
I’d also worry about abortion and Bourne and how they will want to approach that. You’re focus seems to the worry about how you view “checking a box to racism, mysogyny, and not the folks that may or may not vote that way.
We will see.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:05 am
How about the “implicit” endorsement by the Chicago Tribune? Specifically, Irvin’s announcement on Page 2, but Page 1, above the fold, story with headline “Bailey facing loan scrutiny” with text implying the second PPP load enabled a personal loan to his Campaign.
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:08 am
==Announcing on MLK Day was an interesting choice for any African American candidate, no matter party.==
And I would argue a *bad* choice- even if you don’t manage to flip flop on a racial issue in your announcement, announcing on a holiday just practically guarantees muted attention, especially when you refuse to do any live events/interviews.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:09 am
==How about the “implicit” endorsement by the Chicago Tribune?==
I dunno, man, this probably is legitimately front page news, or at least close enough.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:16 am
Wherli backing sez a lot.
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:16 am
===Wherli backing sez a lot.===
What else does he have to do… he’s out, Mautino is *still* in, I look at it as comic relief. We all can use that.
===mediocre mayor of Aurora.===
You haven’t been to Aurora since Irvin became mayor and what he’s done *as* mayor…
In many ways, (diversity in food, entertainment {Paramount Theatre as merely one example}, business redevelopment and facade improvements) I prefer Aurora more than Naperville for a full day and evening.
Go sometime.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:21 am
Strap in I shall. I do wonder about the line he’s the only one to fight the machine and win. As it turns out the “machine” is backing him.
Comment by Levois J Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:26 am
“No one on this list really gets your heart racing, but then, no one *in ILGOP as a whole* really gets your heart racing, either.”
It really says a lot that someone would want to sell out for this. JB has been great for Aurora, with all the federal and state money coming in. None of that money would have come in with Republicans.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:28 am
The number fundraisers at Northshore country clubs with 15 people in attendance this list can produce is a sight to behold. Names are nice, but knocking on doors and making phone calls is better. $100 million will only buy so much.
Comment by Red Ranger Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:30 am
=I guess Illinois Democrats will have to go back to the drawing board and mothball all those ads about racist and misogynist Republicans=
Right, because nominating their one Black friend for governor erases 50+ years of calculated racism and racial division, going back to the Southern Strategy.
Comment by LakeCo Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:31 am
Red Ranger -
$100 million’s gonna buy Alexi the SoS nomination, so at least the ILGOP will have one state-wide office in their grubby, seditious hands.
Comment by Springfieldish Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:35 am
==$100 million will only buy so much. ===
Well, it’ll buy *a lot*, tho.
The point of these names is for Irvin, if he ever actually talks about his campaign, to say, “How can you call me a RINO? 80 Republicans have endorsed me!” The actual names don’t matter.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:37 am
Something tells me this will be one of the examples where money will not mean they will actually win. I still see Bailey winning the primary. Wouldn’t be hard, all you gotta do is raise the question to the Republican primary voter if Irvin actually voted for Trump in 2020. They can easily say he is a Democrat based off his voting record and that will mean a lot to the voters.
Comment by QCMan Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:48 am
“I guess Illinois Democrats will have to go back to the drawing board and mothball all those ads about racist and misogynist Republicans”
Because that was the basis of Pritzker’s last campaign?
Looks like somebody’s projecting again.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:51 am
===I dunno, man, this probably is legitimately front page news, or at least close enough.===
Can’t both be on the front page?
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:53 am
If we learned anything in 2016, it’s that establishment Republicans’ endorsements are just the thing to carry a GOP primary candidate to victory, rite?
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:54 am
“RINO”
That is pre-pandemic talk
Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 10:55 am
===“what is a Republican”===
The endorsements mostly hail from a specific part of the state. I would not be surprised if Southern and Central Illinois Republicans broke from the attitudes and views of their mostly collar county brethren. The real challenge here is that with this many candidates there are quite a few ways to split the vote and everyone running to the extreme right may be able to be beat by someone at least pretending to have a more moderate approach.
Richard Irvin’s campaign isn’t selling ideas or policy to the people of Illinois, it’s selling rhetoric. None of his opponents are selling ideas or policies in their campaigns either, they’re just selling rhetoric. It will basically come down to what rhetoric is more effective and whether or not people actually care about a history of supporting Democratic candidates.
Representative Avery Bourne at least has the raw political acumen to side with the same political forces that made her an elected official in the first place. Win or lose, she’s demonstrating her reliability to the billionaires that seek to purchase and control the GOP when it suits them and how it suits them.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:00 am
==If we learned anything in 2016, it’s that establishment Republicans’ endorsements are just the thing to carry a GOP primary candidate to victory, rite?==
Hmm. I think I would argue something quite a bit more nuanced about the 2016 Republican Primary. The establishment clearly didn’t like Trump, but they also failed to ever coalesce behind a single non-Trump candidate, and indeed some of them went out of their way to torpedo those candidates (example: they all- justifiably- hated Ted Cruz, too). So the establishment never really weighed in the way it needs to to work it’s will.
Now, the IL Republican establishment is similarly fractured and far, far weaker, so maybe it won’t work it’s will, either. But I think it’s different.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:02 am
This is an interesting situation since a candidate backed by Griffin’s money should scare off other candidates. But Bailey’s grip on the Trumpist vote means he won’t drop out even though he will have a fraction of Irvin’s funding.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:03 am
“I’d also worry about abortion and Bourne and how they will want to approach that”
Only matters if the Supreme Court rules before the primary. If after probably won’t matter as Irvin/Bourne won’t need to go hard right.
Comment by WP Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:03 am
This looks a lot like the group that ran around after Bruce won the primary in 14 and tried to convince voters that his Dem leanings wouldn’t be an issue once in office. So they tricked the conservatives via HB40.
Then they told all the union folks- he likes labor he won’t go after all the unions just wants to figure out pensions. Supreme Court Janus ruling
Fool me once…..
I know there is a desire to get back to the days of GOP having leadership roles but until the ruling class of the GOP actually starts to bring up ideas that work it’s just screaming get off my lawn.
Comment by Frank talks Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:03 am
Ozinga is on the Irvin train, eh? Well, he’s a concrete guy and Gary is asphalt guy. That’s it, must be.
Comment by Proud Sucker Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:05 am
Their one black friend? Tell us more about how the Democrats have helped their African American constituents in cities across America lives improve in cities all across America
A year from now there could be 2 African American Republican US Senators and only one Democrat.
Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, Tim Scott, Clarence Thomas have all made significant contributions to America
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:08 am
=and mothball all those ads about racist and misogynist Republicans=
Why? Did something happen with voter suppression recently?
Because now some republicans can say they have a black friend?
The Miller’s don’t like hitler anymore?
Bailey wants to keep Chicago in Illinois?
The ILGOP has developed a social welfare proposal that helps the poor and minorities as opposed to wealthy farmers and corporations?
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:11 am
===but they also failed to ever coalesce behind a single non-Trump candidate===
The idea that we could lose our democracy over the egos of a handful of male Senators that repeatedly told large groups of people that God told them to run for President makes a lot of sense, but it is still hard to swallow.
===Now, the IL Republican establishment is similarly fractured and far, far weaker===
GOP Daddy Kenny G isn’t going to rely on the Republican establishment to win. They’re going to spend money on ads, mailers, and voter contact. What the establishment basically just has to decide if they get out of the way, get run over, or try to hitch a ride.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:19 am
===Their one black friend?===
Are there many minority elected officials outside of Irvin, or is Irvin an exception, not the rule?
===A year from now===
You support … Herschel Walker… as a man and Individual?
Whew.
Let’s stay focused on Illinois for a bit, shall we?
===…helped their African American constituents in cities across America lives improve in cities all across America===
If Chicago is one of those cities, why did the ChicagoGOP support a Democrat for mayor last time and not run a Republican mayoral candidate?
Any Republican alderman in Chicago?
I mean, you have in your programming all these talking points that are hollow to the reality… Republicans have abandoned some cities, Chicago is bereft of any real Chicago footprint as more votes come out of Chicago than anywhere, include Cook in there, it’s the largest GOP vote county… yet… you complain how Dems fail… there’s no Republican counter… that’s not on voters, friend, that’s on the party.
Irvin has done a great job in Aurora, I’m there often, spend money locally there, eat at local restaurants, bars, frequent entertainment there (less the River Boat)… but your ridiculousness is wasting the things that make Irvin who he is… by being that in-law uncle who talks about their own grievances without talking about real problems.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:26 am
=Tell us more about how the Democrats have helped their African American constituents in cities across America lives improve in cities all across America=
Sorry, I thought it was the *Republican party* that is currently actively trying to curtail voting rights, tanking the voting rights bill, championing All Lives Matter as a direct reaction to Black Lives Matter, losing their minds over critical race theory, and implicitly and sometimes openly condoning the Proud Boys. Did I mix up the parties?
Comment by LakeCo Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:35 am
Not a single GOP from McLean County backs him?
Is this backlash to the Griffin folks jilting Dan Brady or are the McLean County folks already locked in for Bailey? He definitely had a huge contingent of supporters at the Towanda 4th of July parade last year.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:37 am
This governor’s race, in the general, likely to come down to how well each candidate persuades downstate voters with the art of persuasion. If the governor runs an effective campaign telling its story - economic recovery, jobs created in small towns, turning regions around that were knee-capped by Rauner’s years - he’s got the upper hand. Persuasion will be the key.
Comment by here we go Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:42 am
=== Only matters if the Supreme Court rules before the primary===
Nope.
Worse if the primary happens, then the general.
A real double-whammy
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:44 am
=he has a huge electability appeal to the average GOP voter.=
What exactly do you consider to be the “average” GOP voter. And keep in mind that in the last cycle 52% of those votes came from downstate. Do you think those voters will be abandoning Bailey for somehow who’s base of support is largely derived from Chicago area politicians?
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:44 am
=== That is pre-pandemic talk===
Comically, that’s wishful thinking, given the Cult Leader routinely and continuously calls others “R_N_s”
Very wishful thinking, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:52 am
Dick Barr is my county board representative (before redistricting at least), he was at a ’stop the steal’ event in Schaumburg despite Biden winning his district around Round Lake Beach and Lindenhurst by more than 10 percent.
Comment by Lake Villa Township Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:54 am
The failures in education, public safety and job opportunities for minorities in large cities run by Democrats are the fault of Republicans?
Look at the polling among independents to the Democrats proposals and explain how popular their agenda to remake America and federalize elections is.
There should be some great ads with Pritzker on a wire tap talking about who is the least offensive African American to appoint as US Senator from Illinois after President Obama was elected
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:54 am
===the average GOP voter===
The “average” GOP voter may believe the dead son of a former president is not only alive… but will reveal himself like “The Great Pumpkin”
Polling of what the average or base Republican these days shows a different type of voter than you may believe.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 11:55 am
Democrats have helped African Americans in the following ways:
Protecting union rights, expanding health insurance, legalizing marijuana and using tax dollars to invest in communities, passing a capital bill, raising the minimum wage, adequately funding higher ed and social services, improving the state’s finances, the Biden stimulus that replenishes tax revenue lost by the pandemic, the national infrastructure bill, etc.
Republicans oppose practically all of it and could or would not pass any of it on their own.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 12:01 pm
The counterpoint to this impressive list?
You have Proft AND Pat Brady seemingly against Irvin.
Why?
Grifting for each, I suppose.
But making note of it is the interesting counterpoint, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 12:22 pm
=== The failures in education, public safety and job opportunities for minorities in large cities run by Democrats are the fault of Republicans?===
Seriously, this is in-law uncle ridiculousness.
Ok, then why haven’t Republicans run and won to fix it. Why? If it’s as bad, abd you want this agreement to that, why are Republicans unable to win?
Like the in-law uncle, you want this angry blame game, but where are the Republicans running to change it?
Oh… Irvin will… oh… but then that isn’t local control, is it? Of course not. That’s not “let the local law decide how they want things”… it’s not that either… but… it is saying “She-Caw-Go”… and all that entails, doesn’t it.
===federalize elections is.===
I know you are in favor of restrictive voting, and hurting voters rights, that’s a Trumpian thing. You think that will poll well during the election… in Illinois?
What’s next, you think the election was stolen from Trump?
In actuality, - Lucky Pierre -, you’re not an Irvin supporter, you’re the hope of the Irvin campaign; be all the Trumpian you want, “just come home for Irvin”… LOL
===There should be some great ads with Pritzker on a wire tap talking about who is the least offensive African American to appoint as US Senator from Illinois after President Obama was elected===
Asked, answered, won by 16+ points.
Either go back to 2017 or go back to Facebook. This is already tiring with you.
Between us, I know no one is reading our banter, but… you keep tearing down all the good I may say about Irvin by ruining the good Irvin has going because of your bot talking points. I don’t think you’re helping much, given Irvin is suppose to bring voters like me (never Trump, anti-Rauner) folks to rethink Pritzker and come home.
Like the in-law uncle, going back to that house with your words in it isn’t much of an option.
But, you be you…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 12:40 pm
==There’s a lot of “formers” on that list.==
There’s also a whole lot of DuPage, Lake, Cook, Will, Kane, etc. on that list. A few Sangamon, but otherwise it’s almost wholly a list of Chicagoans and suburbanites. As I said before, I might be biased from living downstate but this doesn’t look like a group that’s going to sway a majority of republican primary voters. Maybe the plan is just to try to deprive Bailey of money so he can’t successfully pin a RINO tag on Irvin? Social media makes that difficult, but maybe not impossible.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 12:40 pm
==There should be some great ads with Pritzker on a wire tap talking about who is the least offensive African American to appoint as US Senator from Illinois after President Obama was elected ==
There already were. He won.
Look, LP, I understand why you’re whistling so loudly passed the graveyard, but the fact of the matter is actual African American voters are going to vote for the Democratic ticket by near dictator margins. Even Griffin’s team is only hoping to break 15% of the African American vote. You can whine to us about how it isn’t fair or it doesn’t make sense or whatever, but it’s what happens, it’s what always happens, and instead of whining to us (where we, for all you know, may not even be African American) about it, maybe you should ask that community why it happens, and listen, and act on what they say.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 12:47 pm
==In actuality, - Lucky Pierre -, you’re not an Irvin supporter==
I won’t presume to guess at anyone’s motives, but I will point out that it was just a few weeks ago that LP was assuring us of Jesse Sullivan’s electoral prowess.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 12:55 pm
JB will be running on his record as an incumbent and his opponent could be an African American Man and a young woman
if you don’t think this changes the dynamic from your long Trumpkin and Rauernite screeds from your basement lap top that is ridiculousness defined
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 1:06 pm
Let’s look at the Raunerite/Griffin record on African Americans:
Social services decimated, violence prevention programs slashed, higher ed funding starved, union rights attacked, thousands of state workers ripped off for four years, debt exploded. This was all done to bust unions, of whom so many African Americans are members and benefit.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 1:15 pm
===dynamic from your long Trumpkin and Rauernite===
All Lives Matter, Crime, Trumpian buzz words… and… a running mate that held an entire state hostage for an entire General Assembly, voting to hurt social services until unions were busted.
“Unc. Hey, Unc, we agree with you but you keep up this ridiculous stuff, even visiting Aunt Suzy is tough these days”
I mean, you can’t help but not grasp what you ruin… with the bot talking points.
===from your basement lap top===
I guess I need to rethink all this.
You can’t grasp what’s at play and how Irvin and that Crew wants this to roll.., the goal is addition. You are not helping them.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 1:20 pm
==from your basement lap top that is ridiculousness defined==
That’s pretty rich coming from someone of the likes of you. I thought you had that market cornered.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 1:31 pm
“Over 60 national, state, and local Republican leaders will serve as campaign co-chairs”
Yeah, so? Am I supposed to be impressed?
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 1:31 pm
I mean, Irvin is going to spend the next 6 months loudly insisting that he’s a very typical Republican. This very post is one of his first attempts to do so. It is not automatic that, after that, voters will not consider him a typical Republican, with all the baggage that that entails.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 1:38 pm
JB should come out with RINO ads aired downstate on Irvin.
Comment by Real Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 1:41 pm
It is the Democrats who are whistling past the grave yard and ignoring the mass exodus of African Americans from Chicago.
Chicago’s Black population dropped to 787,551 in 2020, its lowest total since the mid-1950s.
400,000 less African Americans in Chicago than 1980
No wonder there is so much misdirection about crime being a Trumpkin buzzword
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-chicago-black-residents-exodus-census-20211122-uphhe7bakngtjoh45uhnqjepwy-story.html
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 1:46 pm
== The failures in education, public safety and job opportunities for minorities in large cities run by Democrats are the fault of Republicans?==. LP
Could you please tell us what the GOP ideas are, or are they a blank sheet of paper like the Rauner budget and GOP redistricting proposal? I always called those HB0000 because there was no GOP proposal.
Comment by low level Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 1:46 pm
=== Chicago’s Black population dropped to 787,551 in 2020, its lowest total since the mid-1950s.
400,000 less African Americans in Chicago than 1980
No wonder there is so much misdirection about crime being a Trumpkin buzzword===
This is an odd take for you - Lucky Pierre - as your goal is to defranchise and make more difficult minorities to vote in urban areas.
You’d think population loss would be good, no need to worry if they vote.
Also… you’d think with less persons of color the Republicans could find more opportunities. Yet, not one city official is an elected Republican, the ChicagoGOP supported a Democrat.
Where’s Aunt Suzy when we need her?
To try to get this back to the post…
It can’t be denied, getting these names to commit to this pair to run is a major show of strength to the premise that this run can overcome what Scott Kennedy is showing as a trend likely not the Irvin/Bourne friend.
How the Trumpkin/Cultists see this pair, it doesn’t matter, even these names don’t matter, but what will matter is who can get which voters to vote, given this playing field and these candidates.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 2:00 pm
We had two national economic collapses in a row under Republican presidents. That’s millions of African American job losses. Millions of jobs were gained back under Presidents Obama and Biden. Obama had an astounding 75-month job gains streak.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 2:03 pm
What are the GOP ideas?
Look at the pro growth policies implemented in the states adding population like Texas, Florida and Tennessee that are doing the opposite of what Illinois is
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 2:04 pm
=== Look at the pro growth policies===
Asked and answered, and defeated, along with the Floridian Bruce Rauner.
Try again.
Winning policies.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 2:08 pm
Some (most) of these endorsers will be seeking funding and support from Ken Griffin . It’s not crazy to think that’s in here too.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 2:15 pm
==What are the GOP ideas?==
If they have some then they’ve been rejected spectacularly in Illinois since they can’t seem to win elections. Why else would they be a super-minority in the General Assembly if they had any “ideas?”
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 2:15 pm
==Tell us more about how the Democrats have helped their African American constituents in cities across America lives improve in cities all across America==
You know, Lucky Pierre, it occurs to me that we can actually find a specific African American voter to ask about this very question. He’s a Republican, too, so you don’t have to worry about him being biased. And he’s a locally elected official, so you know he’s dealt with these issues.
SO, without further ado, here is what Aurora Mayor and Republican precinct committeeman Richard Irvin has to say about what one particular Democrat, Governor JB Pritzker, has done to improve African American lives:
“I want to thank you, Governor Pritzker, for being here today, and for making black and brown communities a priority for health care equity. Your announcement today builds upon our collective foundation in equity and inclusion. Thank you, sir.”
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 3:59 pm
Maybe - Lucky Pierre - might want to sit out a few plays… goodness, - Arsenal - that was restaurant quality.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 4:02 pm
What have Republicans done for African-Americans? Elected Rauner, elected Trump and brought massive damage, and now trying to squelch and cancel the teaching of racism in schools while disenfranchising voters. Not voting for help with child care, child tax credit and everything else in the Biden agenda. Does the GOP really want to go here?
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 4:26 pm
I won’t hold my breath to hear the JB reciprocate with kind words for Richard Irvin.
Oh never mind his spokesman said he jumped in the clown car the other day.
Bipartisanship and comity is not the strong suit of the most progressive Governor
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 5:51 pm
===I won’t hold my breath to hear the JB reciprocate with kind words for Richard Irvin.===
LOL
They said nice things about each other in the past. I detected no such nice things in Irvin’s announcement. You really need to go in for some reprogramming because you make no sense.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 18, 22 @ 6:57 pm