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Post-election coverage roundup

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* OK, now do Chicago, where the lines to vote are regularly just as bad, if not worse…


The scenes coming out of Georgia are flat out unacceptable. No one, and I mean no one, should be forced to trade hours of their time as a transaction to cast a ballot. Federal legislation is necessary to prevent any state from doing this. https://t.co/AzMJ6tXiOW

— Isaiah Martin (@isaiahrmartin) November 26, 2022

* I swear I am not making this up

Kinda curious what sort of degrees they offer. /s

* The Patch

Democrat Jenn Ladisch Douglass declared victory over Republican state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi late last week in the House District 45 race.

Mazzochi, who took office in 2018, has yet to publicly concede. She can seek a recount at her expense.

Douglass said the Nov. 8 election results were certified Tuesday in DuPage and Cook counties. […]

Douglass won with 50.4 percent of the vote. Her margin of victory was 365 votes out of more than 43,000 cast.

* Speaking of close races, this one went a different way…

The following statement was released by Maria Peterson today, candidate for Illinois State Senate, in the race that resulted in one of the closest margins in the state. As the final tally now stands at 49.78% (Peterson) to 50.22% (McConchie) and with less than a 400 vote difference, Peterson has conceded the race to Senate Minority leader Dan McConchie. Although the razor-thin margin would allow Peterson to trigger a recount, she chose to accept the results.

Peterson stated:

It was an honor to run for the Illinois State Senate in the 26th District. I am proud to have run one of the most competitive State Senate races in Illinois. We came within 393 votes of the approximately 90,000 votes cast. I am very grateful for our volunteers and team who made that possible. They went door to door, made phone calls, engaged on social media, and were a huge pillar of support. Their commitment and belief in our message are the reasons we came from so far back to make a lasting impact on this district and the Illinois State Senate. My rock throughout this campaign was my husband and the love of my life, Ken, who co-piloted this race with my team.

We owe it to the voters and supporters to see that each vote was counted, especially in a race that was so close. Now that the votes have all been tabulated, I left a message with Senator Dan McConchie, congratulating him on his win. I told him that I looked forward to working with him on bi-partisan issues affecting our district.

One year ago, this was a race that no one was interested in because it was believed that Senate leadership couldn’t be unseated. With hard work, values that mattered in my district, and continued growing support, we grew our campaign every day, including winning over those who were skeptical at first. This is why we came within .44% of beating the highly funded incumbent Republican State Senate leader. I am one who takes on challenges, and this campaign faced many uphill battles. Leaders rarely face challengers in their home district - a district the incumbent helped to draw.

I am proud of my campaign’s many accomplishments. Thanks to a strong organization, we contacted more than 50,000 voters directly, and I personally canvassed more than 5,000 doors. In our contact with voters, it was clear that a woman’s right to choose mattered. In a critical time in our country’s and State’s history, we activated the Pro-Choice movement through grassroots organizing. I am also proud to have enhanced the voice of the district by bringing common sense gun laws, ethics in government and protecting the environment to the forefront of this race. As a child of immigrants, I am honored to have engaged with our diverse population in the district.

Running against one of the most powerful leaders in the State Senate was challenging; however, we kept moving forward, and our campaign was able to make a significant impact proving that when leadership is left unchecked, we leave opportunity on the table.

There is still more work to be done, and I continue to have a vision for that future. I am committed to staying in the struggle. The results of this election have made it clear that our district is ready for new voices. We must codify a woman’s right to choose, remove the threat of gun violence from our neighborhoods, and always place service before politics.

* ILGOP fundraising email…

Rich,

Can you believe we only have one month left in 2022?

We have accomplished so much this year, despite tough losses earlier this month. But, Rich, we can’t let these stumbles deter or define us.

We have to remind ourselves that it is only up from here. This is why we’re reaching out to you about our November End-of-Month fundraising goal.

We need our TOP grassroots supporters like you, Rich, to pitch in and help make the Land of Lincoln the best it has ever been. Let’s show Springfield Democrats what it means to be a true conservative in our state. Will you consider pitching in for our efforts, Rich?

We want to come back stronger than ever and we promise to stay in this fight for you.

Pitch In Today

Thank you for your support,

Stronger Illinois

* HGOP staff memo from Mike Mahoney…

Hey everyone, the last day of my latest go-round with staff will be December 2nd.

I have never been as honored or had more fun than the days spent working in the Capitol. Know that everything and anything you do in this building can positively impact the people across this great state. Working here is a once (or in my case 3x) in a lifetime opportunity, so cherish every day you are here. It is a special place with some interesting characters.

If you ever need anything, I am always just a phone call away with ideas on fine dining options in Toluca, cliffs notes on Bill Black speeches, the specials at Saputo’s, the list goes on.

Have fun, stay sane and keep me apprised of the sweatshirt order.

Michael Mahoney
Deputy Chief of Staff
Illinois House Republican Caucus

Love that dude.

* HR1013 synopsis

Congratulates Dave Dahl on being named Outstanding Illinois Father by the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood and recognizes his dedication to his son and his family.

Love that dude, too. Here he is in the press box today…

* The hazing had gotten out of hand…

Yesterday I spoke to new House members during their orientation, and I was asked to share the story of my “first” bill. It reminded me that I was the last freshman hazed by the House. Look what they made me wear back then in order to pass Bring Your Parents to School Day.🤣 pic.twitter.com/jE59xaCyVk

— Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (@RepChrisWelch) November 29, 2022


* Isabel’s roundup…

* We raise money here during the holiday season for Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, the largest foster care provider in Illinois. As of 1:35 pm, the fundraiser had reached $9,250! While needs vary for each child, $25 is the average cost of a Christmas gift. A big thank you to all who have donated! Let’s keep this going!

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 1:37 pm

Comments

  1. ” … cliffs notes on Bill Black speeches … .”

    To do the distinguished gentleman from Vermilion County justice would require both audio and video …

    Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 1:42 pm

  2. Quick Hits:

    Proft University is known for its marching band, 76 trombones, 110 cornets, and two or three folks trailing behind to take your Venmo if you are named Uihlein.

    Michael Mahoney, classy email, way to exit the stage.

    Who exactly is running the shop down there in Georgia when it’s been widely reported that one Georgia nominee took two homeowner exemptions… in Texas… and we all are reading about it now?

    Nothing is worse than bad politics by an inept campaign… that seemingly miserably failed in oppo research

    Every dime, nickel… penny… that a certain campaign is asking is admitting that the campaign completely failed in fundamentals… and now needs everyone else to bail them out.

    Now it’s “long lines and voting”…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 1:55 pm

  3. -Kinda curious what sort of degrees they offer. /s -

    Not those LIB-eral arts, that’s for sure.

    Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 1:57 pm

  4. “ OK, now do Chicago, where the lines to vote are regularly just as bad, if not worse…”

    I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve been voting for almost 40 years including most of that time in Chicago and I’ve never waited more than 15 minutes to vote. Usually it’s five minutes or less. Up until this year, we had far more polling places than they do in GA, where they cut back to create these kinds of lines, particularly in minority areas. This is classic GOP voter suppression. We don’t have anything like that here.

    Comment by New Day Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 1:58 pm

  5. ==We [ILGOP] have accomplished so much this year==

    [citation needed]

    Comment by 48th Ward Heel Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:00 pm

  6. Proft University, from the guy who spent time and money completing law school but then never bothered to take the bar! Makes so much sense.

    Comment by Bud's Bar Stool Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:00 pm

  7. ===Kinda curious what sort of degrees they offer.===

    They offer a BS in BS.

    Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:01 pm

  8. “Proft University’s Name, Image, Likeness Deal Worth ‘Tens of Millions’, Says Uihlein”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:03 pm

  9. ===We don’t have anything like that here===

    This is an early voting site. And, yes, you do have that in Chicago. A lot.

    https://www.yahoo.com/video/long-lines-long-waits-chicago-041400229.html

    https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/long-lines-traffic-jams-last-day-early-voting/

    https://www.usatoday.com/embed/video/5887854002/

    https://www.nbcchicago.com/top-videos-home/chicago-early-voting-long-line-wraps-around-block-at-loop-super-site/2347549/

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:06 pm

  10. By all means address long lines in Chicago, but I think there’s a critical difference: here the long lines work against the interests of the party in power.

    Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:11 pm

  11. Proft University - Where you can get a degree in “Loudly and deliberately misunderstanding things, then making that everyone else’s problem.”

    Doesn’t roll of the tongue, but the cut English classes because they deemed them to be too Marxist.

    Comment by Commissar Gritty Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:13 pm

  12. ===I think there’s a critical difference===

    The difference is that a Democratic city in a Democratic state has similarly long lines and nobody ever wants to come to grips with that, including this year when Black turnout was down.

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:13 pm

  13. Ditto Rich,

    My 44 Ward polling place was moved a 1.5 miles on the other side of I-290 without notice to me.
    FWIW .. LaShawn Ford is not Lazy … He is very active, positive and effective in our ghetto. Ford is a lifeline to many at the bottom of the barrel.

    Comment by dave ristau Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:21 pm

  14. I’ve never heard of anyone waiting hours to vote in Chicago. If u say otherwise show us the evidence.

    Comment by Donna Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:27 pm

  15. ===If u say otherwise show us the evidence. ===

    Scroll up.

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:32 pm

  16. First Rule: Never trust a man in a V-neck

    Comment by Lurker Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:51 pm

  17. =No one, and I mean no one, should be forced to trade hours of their time as a transaction to cast a ballot.=

    We should make it easy to vote, and generally I think that is true of most places anecdotally speaking. Not all.

    I also think we are little lazy when it comes to our time. People have given their lives to, in part, preserve our right to vote. Lets respect it a bit more and live with a bit of a time commitment.

    Chicago seems to have gone the other way on making it easier to vote which is mind boggling. I think it will come back and bite them at some point.

    Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 2:55 pm

  18. That t-shirt is misspelled. It’s missing the “I”.

    Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 3:06 pm

  19. ==it is only up from here==

    Trust us. We have hit rock bottom. We cannot go any lower. We double pinky swear.

    Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 3:17 pm

  20. To the Axios story: They say we all should be following this session. “Why it matters: Called the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA), the provision ends cash bail. It was used to hammer Democrats as “soft on crime” during this year’s midterm election cycle.”

    Yeah, how did that hammering work out?

    Comment by H-W Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 3:23 pm

  21. Rich,

    I looked at all the stories you posted. While I appreciate that last day of early voting does tend to produce long lines, my experience in Chicago and the suburbs is that that is the exception, not the rule. Pro tip: don’t wait until the last day of early voting to vote. In November, 2020, that day produced ridiculous waits of more than an hour. But if they just waited until Election Day, or voted earlier in the cycle, the lines were nonexistent. I still maintain that that is a very different situation than you find in Georgia in minority areas where the lines are 2-4 hours regularly during early and regular voting. We don’t have those problems with regularity here.

    Comment by New Day Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 4:25 pm

  22. ===I looked at all the stories you posted. While I appreciate that last day of early voting===

    You didn’t look very closely.

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 4:32 pm

  23. Did they make Welch wear the Taper hat? That is hazing gone too far indeed.

    Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 5:05 pm

  24. Mona’s and Capponi’s [banned punctuation] You gotta love a guy who knows fine dinning in Toluca.

    Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 5:33 pm

  25. As in Chicago, the number of polling places in Fulton County and Atlanta is decided locally, by Democrats, not some evil Republican in the state capital. This would be similar to blaming Governor Pritzker (or Rauner) for the stories Rich linked to. No. The number and location of Chicago polling places is decided by the Chicago Board of Elections, not the Illinois State Board of Elections. Election details like this are decided locally. https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/news/2020/09/17/registration-and-elections-announces-polling-site-changes

    Comment by Michael Westen Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 6:00 pm

  26. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out MM.

    Comment by Emmerder Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 6:27 pm

  27. Proft University? Maybe Uihlein’s linebacker grandson will enter the transfer portal and play for Proft. His grandfather sure does.

    Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Nov 29, 22 @ 8:08 pm

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