THE ILLINOIZE: Monday Free for All...On the day before...Trump endorses Bailey...Roe reaction...Election roundup
June 27, 2022
Good morning, Illinois.
Trump has flown in and out of Illinois. Roe is gone. Now hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans (at least) head to the polls tomorrow for primary day. What a wild ride this late June primary has been.
So, let’s do this officially:
There is 1(!) day to the June 28 primary. There are 134 days left until the November 8 general election. It has been 133 days since the Richard Irvin campaign bothered to take our call or text or e-mail or carrier pigeon. The Governor’s official staff hasn’t responded to our inquiries in 516 days (though, to be fair, his campaign is a delight to work with).
I’ll be on WLS-AM with Steve Cochran this morning a little after 6 previewing a bunch of races and generally just trying to make Steve laugh. You can listen online here.
I’ll be on set on WGN-TV tomorrow night providing analysis for results as they come in and likely getting into arguments with the feisty Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas, who will also be on set. If I get a live stream link, I’ll put it in the newsletter tomorrow.
I won’t be behind the computer much Tuesday night, obviously, as the TV lights have me like a moth to a flame, but our friends Ben Garbarek (himself a new dad) and Rebecca Holland will keep the live blog up at www.theillinoize.com and our Twitter feed (@the_illinoize) up and running. I’ll jump in when I can and may try to squeeze in a quick video or two. We’ll also have a free newsletter Wednesday morning wrapping things up. Paid subscribers will get some analysis and other stuff we’re hearing a little later Wednesday morning.
If you aren’t yet a paid subscriber, I would certainly ask you to join us. Paid subscribers got GOP primary polling hours ahead of anyone else Saturday. They also get subscriber-only newsletters with exclusive content, analysis, rumors, and other nonsense Wednesday and Friday mornings.
It’s just $9.99 per month or $99 for a year. It’s pretty much the best value in political media in the state. There, I said it.
Always reach out at patrick@theillinoize.com with your questions, thoughts, or comments. Sometimes I’m slow, but I do try to respond to everyone personally.
Sorry, that was a book. Let’s get to it.
YOUR MONDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets)
Donald Trump endorses Darren Bailey in GOP primary for governor during downstate rally (Chicago Tribune)
Former President Donald Trump used a rural west-central Illinois fairgrounds rally Saturday night to endorse Darren Bailey for the Republican nomination for governor in Tuesday’s primary as he also restated his backing for U.S. Rep. Mary Miller and took a victory lap for the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
“He will crack down on the violent crime that is devouring our Democrat-run cities and restore the state of Illinois to greatness. Darren has my complete and total endorsement,” Trump said, labeling first-term, reelection seeking Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker “one of the worst governors in America.”
Bailey, an ardent Trump supporter who has actively sought the former president’s endorsement as the capstone for success in a six-way GOP primary race, said he will work to have Illinois welcome a new White House bid by Trump in 2024.
“Here’s the deal. I will not lie to anyone and I will not let anything go unnoticed. And when I see it, I will name it,” Bailey said after Trump told the story of Bailey plucking a misplaced hair out of the former president’s head during pre-rally picture taking.
We told you over the weekend new polling shows Bailey up 20 points. So, while this may help him cement the primary, you had better believe the Pritzker folks will hang Trump around Bailey’s neck for the general in a state Trump lost by a million votes.
Related: Trump addresses border crisis, 2020 election among other topics during Adams County rally (Quincy Herald-Whig)
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller’s ‘white life’ comment is latest controversy in her short two years in Congress (Chicago Tribune) (note: I’ve been a big critic of Miller, but this is a stupid controversy. She got tongue tied and said the wrong word. They’ve already confirmed the script said “right to life.” That said, she has opened herself up to this kind of criticism.)
Trump rally could be ‘tipping point’ for Mary Miller’s campaign, expert says (Illinois Public Media) (note: I know Rick Wilson and he’s a really smart guy. He also wrote a book called “Everything Trump Touches Dies” that honestly made me laugh out loud.)
Further proof we need to get voters to a place where they actually know what they’re talking about (Lee Enterprises)
Miller targets 'establishment RINOs' in final campaign push; Bailey lands Trump endorsement (Quincy Herald-Whig)
Trump endorses GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey (Lee Enterprises)
Trump endorses Darren Bailey for Illinois governor (WBEZ)
Bailey’s Trump card? Ex-president gives ‘complete and total endorsement’ to downstate farmer in GOP gov race (Chicago Sun-Times)
Pritzker calls General Assembly back to Springfield to ‘further enshrine’ reproductive rights (Chicago Sun-Times)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday said he will call the General Assembly into special session in the coming weeks to “further enshrine” reproductive protections in light of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“Together, the Democratic leadership in Illinois is committed to taking swift action to further enshrine our commitment to reproductive health care,” Pritzker said at a Chicago news conference.
The governor said that he wants to expand the availability of health care professionals to handle an increase in women coming to Illinois to seek abortions and to boost funding for abortion providers to help prepare for that. Pritzker said they’re “considering a number of things.”
Planned Parenthood earlier this week called for both of those measures in expectation of the Supreme Court decision.
The Democratic governor also extolled a message he’s been spreading for months: “Illinois will be a safe haven for the exercise of your reproductive rights.”
This seems like less of a legislative move and more of a political move. All forms of abortion are legal and will remain legal. There’s talk of an advisory referendum, but I guess we’ll see.
Related: Here's what Pritzker aims to achieve in a post-Roe special legislative session (Crain’s Chicago Business)
GOP gov hopefuls: ‘Historic’ overturn of Roe v. Wade signals ‘battle for life in the frontlines moves right here to Illinois’ (Chicago Sun-Times)
'Important moment for our nation': State, local officials react to Roe vs. Wade decision (State Journal-Register)
With Roe overturned, Illinois — a Midwest refuge for abortion care — prepares for influx of patients from other states (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois to become a ‘national target,’ anti-abortion activists say as thousands of abortion supporters gather in Federal Plaza Friday night (Chicago Tribune) (note: it’s pretty annoying the media refuses to refer to people who oppose abortion as “Pro-life.”)
Opinion: Let's eschew pro-choice or pro-life for pro-reduction (Champaign News-Gazette)
What's next for Planned Parenthood, Right to Life in Illinois after court's Roe decision (State Journal-Register)
Republicans see opening in secretary of state race (Capitol News Illinois)
It’s often said that more people interact with the secretary of state’s office than any other department in state government, except perhaps the Department of Revenue.
The office is primarily known for administering motor vehicle services – drivers licenses and vehicle registrations – but it reaches far beyond that.
John Milhiser, a former state and federal prosecutor from Springfield, and Dan Brady, a longtime state representative and assistant minority leader from Bloomington, are vying in the upcoming June 28 primary for the chance to carry the GOP banner into the general election.
Milhiser, 52, is part of a “slate” of candidates endorsed by billionaire businessman Ken Griffin. But Brady, 60, has been leading in recent polls, although a large block of likely GOP voters remained undecided.
Brady served as McLean County coroner from 1992 until he was elected to the Illinois House in 2000.
“I believe my background certainly gives me a distinct advantage of experience when it comes to county government where I served as county coroner and worked with the secretary of state's office in particular on organ tissue donation issues,” Brady said.
Related: Candidate interview: Anna Valencia running for secretary of state (Capitol News Illinois)
Valencia on WMAY with me Friday (WMAY)
Candidate interview: Alexi Giannoulias looking to reclaim statewide office (Capitol News Illinois)
A Leading Illinois GOP U.S. Senate candidate protested at the Capitol on Jan. 6 (WBEZ)
Kathy Salvi on WMAY with me Friday (WMAY)
Congress candidate Jonathan Jackson: Made ‘mistake’ in ignoring personal financial disclosure deadline (Chicago Sun-Times)
About $2.8 million in outside money in Villegas, Ramirez Illinois 3rd congressional primary (Chicago Sun-Times)
Illinois' 17th Congressional District has many candidates to choose from for June primary election (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Two Republicans face off to run for 118th District of Illinois House of Representatives (Southern Illinoisan)
Meet the 2 Democrats and 2 Republicans facing off in the new 91st District (Bloomington Pantagraph)
SOME TOP LINKS FROM LAST WEEK
Trump Endorses Bailey for Governor as Polling Shows Southern Illinois Senator Leads GOP Field by 20
Opinion: Is the Irvin Campaign Just Playing Out the Stretch?
Villegas and Ramirez Battle in New Latino Dominated District
JOIN US