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* Press release…
Illinois Black Caucus House Chair State Rep. Kam Buckner Announces Support for State Rep. Sam Yingling’s campaign for Illinois State Senate District 31
Sam Yingling currently represents the 62nd State House District and is running to represent the 31st Illinois State Senate District. State Representative Kam Buckner, House Chair of the Illinois Black Caucus, is announcing his endorsement of Yingling for Illinois State Senate.
“Our colleague and friend Representative Sam Yingling is running for the State Senate in Lake County, Senate District 31. Sam is an unwavering ally of the Black Caucus legislative agenda, working to advance the Black Caucus Pillars, minimum wage, and other issues critical to the social and economic equity for our community.”
“In sharp contrast, his opponent in the Democratic Primary, former defeated Representative Mary Edly-Allen, has opposed our legislative priorities including: voting against minimum wage which had support from our friends in labor, and fleeing the House floor so she could refuse to support the Black Caucus’ historic SAFT-E Act. The Act’s narrow passage succeeded because Representative Yingling stood with us and was a clear and strong advocate. We need him in the Illinois State Senate.”
“As we enter an election season when our basic rights are on the ballot throughout the country, we stand with Rep. Yingling against forces who seek to marginalize our community and hinder our legislative advancement,” said Representative Kam Buckner.
State Representative Sam Yingling is a strong supporter of the Black Caucus Pillars which are 1) Criminal Justice Reform, 2) Education and Workforce Development, 3) Economic Access, Equity, and Opportunity, and 4): Health Care and Human Services.
Yingling was also a strong supporter and a YES vote to increase the state’s minimum wage. Yingling’s opponent in the Democratic Primary, Mary Edly-Allen, lost her seat as a State Representative in 2020 after outspending her opponent more than 3 to 1. Edly-Allen voted NO on the minimum wage bill and opposed the opportunity for workers in Illinois to be fairly compensated for their labor.
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 9:37 am
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Melinda Bush voted for both.
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 9:46 am
Up in Lake County the 62nd 9Yingling) and 51st districts are vastly different. Rep. Edly Allen voted her district (51st) and specifically with an eye on the General Election. Now she wants to go into a much different district (31st senate) and a Democratic primary to boot. She probably fits more in the district she hopes to represent but there is no way to downplay those votes.
Comment by Nagidam Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 9:55 am
Voters get a stark contrast. Will she get enough money to be able to draw that contrast?
Comment by Fav Human Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:13 am
It’s a common attitude among some Democrats that they must “run to the right” in order to pick up votes that lean conservative and so they will vote accordingly rather than vote to a specific principle that they hold or advocate. In many cases I believe it is better to stick to that principle, especially if it is a defining platform issue for your political party, than it is to decide that ditching one’s principles will pick up a few marginal voters.
Rep Mary Edly-Allen’s 2020 campaign is an example of how an effort to structure votes to appeal to conservative leaning votes in one’s district isn’t always a successful strategy — and when it does work, was that really the only basis for that politician winning re-election?
Was her former district populated by more business owners than people earning minimum wage? Probably not, but in her case she demonstrated what her priority was when it comes to enacting legislation and I think this endorsement is a good reflection of that.
You should not expect people who count on you as a political ally to excuse something because you think it is “smart politics.” You should especially not expect them to excuse it should you lose your seat.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:16 am
===isn’t always a successful strategy — and when it does work, was that really the only basis for that politician winning re-election? ===
She said she’d vote her conscience, then tried to vote her district. Oops.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:21 am
Candy DG: Smart comment, but that “common attitude” is rarer among Dems than it used to be.
Comment by walker Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:22 am
Really interesting dynamic here. Those votes will hurt her in the Dem primary, but might make her the better general election candidate. That district will be swinging in a big Republican year. Would love to know who the Senate GOP is rooting for.
Comment by Anon 414 Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:31 am
=== It’s a common attitude among some Democrats that they must “run to the right” in order to pick up votes that lean conservative and so they will vote accordingly rather than vote to a specific principle that they hold or advocate. In many cases I believe it is better to stick to that principle, especially if it is a defining platform issue for your political party, than it is to decide that ditching one’s principles will pick up a few marginal voters. ===
Mary Edly-Allen did not lose because she ran to the right - she lost because she was a lazy candidate that didn’t do what it took to win. Also, your comments do not factor in the nature of the district. There are more business owners and white collar residents in this district than those making the minimum wage. This is a district that is very anti-tax, and whatever democratic votes that come out of there are more liberal on social issues rather than fiscal issues. Trump opened the door here to Democrats, but I do not think that will continue in the current political climate. I will say, however, that I have not seen how the remap affected this district.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:33 am
=== Would love to know who the Senate GOP is rooting for. ===
No doubt the Senate GOP will be rooting for Edly-Allen.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:34 am
Nagidam is spot on, there’s only 5 or 6 precincts from MEA’s old district in the new 31st. Meanwhile, Yingling has been running heavily contested races there for a decade. Don’t really see a path to victory for MEA even if she somehow manages to match his fundraising.
Comment by vern Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:34 am
===but that “common attitude” is rarer among Dems than it used to be. ===
From about 2014 through January 2021 there has been a constant demonstration that the GOP, Conservatives, conservatives, fiscal conservatives, et al, are completely full of it and will say whatever they think will win the election and then go along with whatever plot protects the interests of their political party’s future.
Look no further than the tremendous loyalty that the Illinois GOP has shown to Representative Chris Miller after he declared war on the American people moments before the United States Capitol was attacked to understand what the actual priorities are of the Illinois GOP.
At the same time, especially here in Illinois, Democrats that used to live by that rule have lost their seats further demonstrating that the strategy isn’t very effective. We probably shouldn’t even call it “voting their district” when in most cases the people that own the businesses paying minimum wage don’t actually live in the communities their businesses operate in.
Did it even occur to Rep Edly-Allen that she could have run on raising the minimum wage and earned more votes that way? Did it even occur to her that raising the minimum wage might have been the actual vote her district needed?
The writing is on the wall. I don’t know how she missed it.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:36 am
=== Candy DG: Smart comment, but that “common attitude” is rarer among Dems than it used to be. ===
That is true, Rep. Walker. We will see how that works out for those Reps in purple districts come the fall.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:37 am
=== Did it even occur to Rep Edly-Allen that she could have run on raising the minimum wage and earned more votes that way? Did it even occur to her that raising the minimum wage might have been the actual vote her district needed? ===
Candy - Have you ever been to that district or talked to any voters there? This would not have been a good strategy. Also, you know they do polling in these districts to see how voters feel about certain issues. If raising the minimum wage was a popular issue then they certainly would have campaigned on it.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:40 am
===and white collar residents in this district than those making the minimum wage. ===
Just because someone has a nice job doesn’t mean they want the people that work at the restaurants and stores they frequent to earn a starvation wage.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:40 am
Note that Edly-Allen had a tougher district than Yingling, and less of a long-term incumbent’s advantage.
“”She said she’d vote her conscience, then tried to vote her district”"
What’s a responsible “representative” to do? It’s a serious dilemma, not to be taken lightly. And expectations of representation differ between primary and general constituencies.
Comment by walker Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:46 am
=== Just because someone has a nice job doesn’t mean they want the people that work at the restaurants and stores they frequent to earn a starvation wage. ===
This district does not support a higher minimum wage. It just doesn’t.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:51 am
===Have you ever been to that district or talked to any voters there?===
I don’t think I can ever answer a question like that on this forum. For your purposes you are welcome to assume that I have never spoken to a voter or knocked on a door in my life. That’s a moot point to our conversation because what we’re disagreeing on doesn’t matter since the person who weighed the decision and decided to “vote her district” lost re-election in 2020.
Her decision to “vote her district” cost her an endorsement in 2022. If she had voted in favor of raising the minimum wage, maybe she would have still lost in 2020, but now she’s explaining her vote against the minimum wage to Democratic primary voters in 2022 and it’s a perfectly appropriate topic for a Democratic primary.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:52 am
Candy and Hannibal, you guys are kind of arguing over nothing. Mary won in the first place by the skin of her teeth in a perfect storm of blue wave, the Nick Sauer charges, and the GOP putting up the worst candidate possible. It’s just a Republican district, nothing she could’ve done in 2020.
When a candidate wins their first race after everyone tells them they can’t, it’s hard for them to look at underlying dynamics objectively. They tend to run in more unwinnable races until reality catches up with them. I suspect that’ll happen around the end of June here.
Comment by vern Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:53 am
This is real. Legislative Voting record has consequences.
The Chair of the Black Caucus sees Yingling as an ally and Edly-Allen as an enemy of progress.
Raising the minimum wage should be a no brainer for Dems.
Why is she a Dem anyway? Being socially for equality and choice but not being willing to raise all boats or help those below your social status is telling.
Comment by Frank talks Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:56 am
In terms of the general election, in this district or any other, because we are in a hyper-polarized aged, candidates are going to rise and fall mostly based on the party label.
There’s very little room to stand out as an iconoclast who goes against the party from time to time - especially compared to fifteen or twenty years ago.
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:58 am
For what it’s worth, the SAFE-T Act passed after Rep. Edly-Allen’s loss in the 2020 elections. Her absence for that vote wasn’t “voting her district.” It was abandoning an important caucus in her party over critical reforms.
Comment by Panther Pride Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:59 am
=== I don’t think I can ever answer a question like that on this forum. For your purposes you are welcome to assume that I have never spoken to a voter or knocked on a door in my life. That’s a moot point to our conversation because what we’re disagreeing on doesn’t matter since the person who weighed the decision and decided to “vote her district” lost re-election in 2020. ===
Ok - I will stop spinning my wheels then.
I do think that we will have several other races to watch this year where Reps may not have “voted their districts”. Should be an interesting study on this topic.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 11:00 am
=== There’s very little room to stand out as an iconoclast who goes against the party from time to time - especially compared to fifteen or twenty years ago. ===
That is becoming more and more true MB.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 11:01 am
===Should be an interesting study on this topic. ===
In the United States we have long tolerated the idea that leadership is being at the front of a mob and I am not speaking metaphorically. The Darren Baileys of the world have leaned into this style of leadership so much to the point that they seek to create a mob at every opportunity.
Nobody beats a mob by joining it. If you don’t agree with the mob the only luxury in joining it is the ability to pretend like you aren’t responsible for the mob’s actions.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 11:18 am
=== In the United States we have long tolerated the idea that leadership is being at the front of a mob and I am not speaking metaphorically. The Darren Baileys of the world have leaned into this style of leadership so much to the point that they seek to create a mob at every opportunity. ===
Wow, that escalated quickly. Nobody has said that the voters of Lake County that were in the 51st District were acting like an angry mob. They just have a different policy preference on the issue of the minimum wage.
At the end of the day, however, I do not think this is the issue that sunk her - I think she just didn’t work very hard as a candidate and didn’t have enough voter contacts to help her get across the finish line.
Elected officials generally have more liberty to “vote their conscience” when they have good relationships with their constituents. They can actually talk to their constituents, get to know them at a personal level, and explain their votes. When they are reluctant to talk to their constituents, however, it is likely to end poorly for that candidate or elected official.
Elections are not won or lost in a vacuum. People generally vote for people they like or those that have similar policy preferences. If your policy preferences are different than your voters, you better hope that your relationship with your voters is strong enough to where they vote for you anyway.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 11:29 am
Mary Edly-Allen is the Kyrsten Sinema of Lake County. *Insert curtsy here*
Comment by Keep Lake County Blue Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 11:29 am
== No doubt the Senate GOP will be rooting for Edly-Allen. ==
“No doubt” might be a little strong. The GOP is looking at the suburban members who voted for the criminal justice reform bill, like Yingling, and licking their chops. We’ll see.
Comment by TNR Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 1:01 pm
===It’s just a Republican district, nothing she could’ve done in 2020.===
Then she shoulda voted her conscience.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 2:34 pm
=== “No doubt” might be a little strong. ===
If the GOP knows what they are doing then they will be hoping for Edly-Allen. Trust me. She’s weak sauce.
Yingling definitely has weaknesses of his own, and he may also be vulnerable in a general election, but he is much better known in the district and will be tougher to beat than Edly-Allen, who is relatively unknown, underfunded and unwilling to work.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 2:52 pm
The new 31st is only slightly different than the old, the democratic core of which, in Gurnee and Grayslake, happens to be well-represented by Sam. Mary’s great, but an unknown in the core of the 31st, and, all policy aside, Sam walks his district.
Comment by Springfieldish Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 3:03 pm
Votes are telling to a legislators own thoughts to conscience, when you factor out the district…
It’s when legislators are held accountable to votes, that’s when others measure that conscience.
That’s why there are difficult votes.
It’s the after.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 3:03 pm
MEA was in a GOP district. She voted accordingly.
It was still better to have her then the Republicans that preceded and followed her. You may have only agreed with her votes 60% of the time, but that was better then the 0% you agree w her replacement.
That said, Im sure Yingling will win this primary.
Comment by low level Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 4:10 pm
====For what it’s worth, the SAFE-T Act passed after Rep. Edly-Allen’s loss in the 2020 elections. Her absence for that vote wasn’t “voting her district.” It was abandoning an important caucus in her party over critical reforms===
FWIW, MEA drove down at the last minute as a lame duck to vote yes on the SAFE-T act becuase her vote was needed. She was unable to stay because the vote kept getting pushed out as people were legislating into the hellish wee hours of the morning. And she had to get back home to figure out how she was going to earn a living as she was about to lose all of her income.
Comment by The Young Gov Monday, Jan 31, 22 @ 10:56 pm
Have you ever seen the way issues staff usher people off the floor on tough votes? Not defending her but it’s tough for a new rep to know when to listen to leadership and staff telling you - if you vote yes on this, we lose a dem seat. Also, it’s interesting people saying Yingling ran tough races. He had a district that was far more liberal than Bush, she took tougher votes the and still she out preformed him by double digits. We’ll see.
Comment by Hard to say Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 1:10 am
Yingling is demonstrably disliked in his district, as he is known to be lazy and a wanna-be mover and shaker. Edly-Allen has served her community for 20+ years, long before entering politics. It shows. It’s disheartening to see Sam try to make this race about people who don’t live in the district, have never visited the district, and don’t care about the district. This is one to watch.
Comment by Grayslaker Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 2:20 pm
Grayslaker -
Sam has been re-elected in his district how many times again? Re-election is demonstrable support. I like Mary, but her district in Libertyville demonstrably disliked her by not electing her.
Comment by Springfieldish Tuesday, Feb 1, 22 @ 2:49 pm