THE ILLINOIZE: Gun lawsuit expected this week...Davis: GOP needs to "elect candidates in the primary who can win"...Meet Sen. Paul Faraci...Darren Bailey can't stop sticking his boot in his mouth
January 17, 2023
Good morning, Illinois.
Since its a relatively quiet week in Springfield, let me know what you’re watching or paying attention to for the new legislative session? Any major bills or initiatives? Let me know what’s on your mind at patrick@theillinoize.com.
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Let’s get to it.
ASSAULT WEAPON BAN LAWSUITS EXPECTED THIS WEEK
It won’t be this morning, but expect at least two federal lawsuits to be filed this week challenging the constitutionality of the state’s new assault weapons ban.
Richard Pearson, the Executive Director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, says the organization has had more than 200 volunteers to be plaintiffs in the case. Another coalition associated with former NRA lobbyist Todd Vandermyde is also planning to file this week.
“There are multiple groups working on litigation,” Vandermyde said in a YouTube video earlier this week. “Unpacking this stuff and figuring out the right pieces to put in what lawsuit makes all the difference.”
It isn’t clear yet if the cases will be filed in federal court in Springfield or in Chicago.
Stephen Gutowski, who writes a popular firearms policy related newsletter called “The Reload” told me last night the recent Supreme Court “Bruen” decision “absolutely” puts the Illinois law on shaky constitutional grounds.
We’ll get a sense of the arguments in the coming days, it seems.
DAVIS: GOP NEEDS “CANDIDATES WHO CAN WIN RACES”
Just two weeks following his departure from Congress, former Rep. Rodney Davis is weighing in on the future of the GOP.
Davis was elected in 2012 (Disclosure: I was Communications Director on that campaign) and was defeated in the June primary after he was gerrymandered out of his district.
Davis said he watched the revolt of some conservative members of the House, including Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Oakland), who defeated Davis in the primary, and saw it as an embarrassment to the House. But, he said, new Speaker Kevin McCarthy will be empowered by surviving with such a strong majority of his party.
“It was embarrassing to be held hostage by a small group of people who were asking for demands that were, many of which were, already in the rules package,” he said. “Kevin McCarthy, I would argue, is a stronger speaker for having gone through what he did.”
Davis said Donald Trump may have improved his standing within the GOP by helping negotiate the final deal that made McCarthy speaker. But, he says Trump has hurt Republicans in suburban areas across the country, including suburban Chicago.
“Donald Trump pushed away suburban Republican support that had been Republican for decades,” he said. “There’s no better place to show that movement than DuPage County.”
Davis pointed out GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey lost DuPage County by around 50,000 votes last year, just 8 years after Bruce Rauner won the county by around 70,000 votes.
“We gotta elect candidates in the primary who can win,” Davis said. “Darren Bailey was a terrible candidate for governor. If [Republican] voters don’t think that has an impact on the rest of the ticket, then they’re not living in reality. At some point, you have to have Republican candidates who can win races.”
“Republicans can still win in the suburban Chicago areas with the right candidates. We’ve seen that time and time again,” he said. “We have to realize downstate is going to vote for any Republican (statewide) candidate. We, as Republicans, have to identify candidates that can get support in the areas where most of our population is.”
Davis will be a guest on our weekly Livestream and Podcast Wednesday at noon. You can watch online here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheIllinoize
MEET THE FRESHMEN: SEN. PAUL FARACI (D-CHAMPAIGN)
We probably won’t be able to get to everyone, but with so many new members this spring, we thought we should take some time to introduce you to some of the new members.
When Sen. Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) took the oath of office at the Old State Capitol last week, it was the crescendo of an emotionally draining month.
On December 9, Sen. Scott Bennett, one of Faraci’s best friends, died unexpectedly. In the ensuing days, Faraci and his family focused on helping Bennett’s family through the tragedy.
“When this happened, all of our focus was to coalesce around Stacy and the kids,” he said. “Although we couldn’t, obviously, make her whole, we had to do everything we could to help her. Truthfully, the senate seat was the furthest thing from my mind.”
But the political jockeying had begun with a 30-day deadline to fill the seat and the new General Assembly set to take the oath January 11. It wasn’t until Stacy Bennett included Faraci on a list of candidates she and the late Senator had discussed as possible successors to the seat that he decided to vigorously seek the appointment.
Faraci, 57, is no stranger to politics. He currently serves as township assessor for the township that encompasses the City of Champaign after serving two terms on the Champaign City Council. He previously worked with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and as an adviser to State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. His mother-in-law, Debbie Halvorson, is a former Senate Majority Leader and member of Congress.
The 52nd district includes much of Champaign-Urbana, Danville, and Rantoul.
Bennett was known as one of the most influential moderate lawmakers in the Senate. Faraci didn’t lay out many specific policy goals but would say he would continue Bennett’s work.
Faraci said he’s tackling the appointment with one key motto: “Be like Bennett.”
But, politics beckons. Faraci has indicated he will run for the seat next year, but progressive Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana), who was passed over for the appointment, has made steps to formally launch a Senate campaign. It sets up a potentially divisive campaign next spring.
“That’s democracy. That’s the way the system was designed and I wholeheartedly support that,” he said. “Am I 100% ready for a primary? I don’t know if anyone is, but I’ll do my best. I don’t begrudge anyone that would want to get involved.”
At this point, Faraci doesn’t seem focused on legislative agendas or aspirations, but filling the role in the best way to honor his memory is the best he can hope for.
“Whatever I do, I’d better be making him proud. I’d better be making Stacy proud,” he said. “And for the folks that elected him to the office, I’d better be making them proud, as well. That’s my driving motivation.”
OH, DARREN
Bailey tweeted this silly bit of misplaced anger yesterday afternoon complaining about a potential shooting range on the Pritzker Military Archives and Memorial Park Center just over the Wisconsin state line. Of course, in his PTSD status of being beaten by more than a half-million votes, Bailey immediately jumps to the conclusion that JB Pritzker is a hypocrite for wanting to build a gun range after banning assault rifles in Illinois.
But, here’s the thing: JB Pritzker has nothing to do with the project. The Military Archives is a project branched out of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, which is run by Jennifer Pritzker. Jennifer Pritzker is JB Pritzker’s cousin…and a Republican.
Jennifer Pritzker supported Richard Irvin in the GOP primary and did not contribute to Bailey’s campaign in the general election.
Maybe it says something that the failed GOP candidate for governor doesn’t know a major billionaire Republican donor. Maybe. But it’s easier to shout at the clouds, I suppose.
JOIN US
"If [Republican] voters don’t think that has an impact on the rest of the ticket, then they’re not living in reality. At some point, you have to have Republican candidates who can win races.”
Was there truly a Republican candidate for governor who could have won?