THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Assault weapon ban gaming steam?...Kinzinger takes center stage...Campaign cash
July 21, 2022
Good morning, Illinois.
I taped an interview yesterday for the Heartland Politics show on Quad Cities NPR and the host, Robin Johnson, asked me a question I hadn’t thought of. He wondered what I would have done differently if I were running Richard Irvin’s campaign.
I’m not sure my answer was great, but, essentially, I would have allowed Irvin to be himself: a moderate, compassionate, consensus builder. I wouldn’t have tried to pigeon hole him on crime issues that clearly didn’t resonate and played such stupid games with answers about Trump or his partisan background and poorly worded talking points that made him look like a mindless drone. Essentially “Let Irvin be Irvin,” to steal a line from The West Wing.
And, frankly, you should be able to get a corgi across the finish line for $50 million.
How would you have run Irvin’s campaign differently? Drop me a note at patrick@theillinoize.com. I’ll share some of the best thoughts Monday (and won’t use your name if you don’t want me to).
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Let’s get to it.
YOUR THURSDAY FREE FOR ALL
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Proposed assault weapons ban gaining momentum in wake of Highland Park shooting (Chicago Tribune)
Proposed legislation calling for a statewide ban on assault weapons originally introduced in the Illinois General Assembly more than 16 months ago has new life after a gunman killed seven people and wounded dozens more at Highland Park’s Fourth of July Parade.
However, complications remain.
Legislation [proposed by Sen. Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) would make] possession of an assault weapon illegal in Illinois unless the gun was both owned before the bill becomes law and is registered with the State Police.
Similar legislation introduced early this year by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, had but one co-sponsor before the Highland Park massacre. Between July 6 and Thursday support grew as 45 more representatives joined, including five from Lake County, according to the website.
“We cannot continue to sit silently while people’s parents, children, and friends get shot to death in masses at parades, grocery stores, and schools,” Aquino said in a news release Tuesday. “I can’t fathom living in a state where my children have to constantly fear for their lives on a daily basis.”
Related: After the Highland Park attack, Senate hearing on ‘Protecting Our Communities from Mass Shootings’ (Chicago Sun-Times)
Editorial: State moving quickly on gun loopholes (Champaign News-Gazette)
Opinion: Proposed law seeks to influence parents of young gun owners (Shaw Media)
Naperville council adjusts provisions in assault weapon ban proposal after dozens weigh in pro and con (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger to lead questioning in Jan. 6 investigation Thursday night (Chicago Tribune)
Reps. Elaine Luria and Adam Kinzinger, who will lead questioning in the closing summer hearing of the Jan. 6 committee on Thursday night, are from different parties but agree emphatically on one thing: The investigation into the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is worth sacrificing their political careers.
Luria, a Democrat first elected in 2018, is facing a difficult reelection in a Virginia swing district that was redrawn to be more Republican. Kinzinger, a Republican who’s a pariah to some in his party because of his condemnation of former President Donald Trump, decided not to seek another term in his Illinois district.
Kinzinger has represented his Illinois district since 2013. He voted to impeach Trump and announced last fall that he wasn’t seeking another term in Congress after the Democrat-controlled Illinois Legislature approved new congressional maps that would have forced Kinzinger and another Republican incumbent who has more reliably defended Trump, Rep. Darin LaHood, into a primary matchup.
Still, Kinzinger hasn’t ruled out seeking elective office in the future.
“When you fight for your nation and you fight for people, it makes you believe in something bigger,” Kinzinger said in an interview last summer.
I like politicians who tell the truth. Adam Kinzinger is telling the truth. God bless him.
Related: Southern Illinois couple admits entering the U.S. Capitol during Jan. 6 attack, bragging on video (Chicago Sun-Times)
A list of every known Illinois resident charged in the US Capitol breach (Chicago Sun-Times)
Foster's $4.9 million campaign fund dwarfs Lauf's total, records show (Daily Herald)
Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster's campaign coffers dramatically exceed those of Republican challenger Catalina Lauf, new reports show.
Foster, of Naperville, started July with more than $4.9 million saved to spend on advertisements, mailings and other expenses during the campaign ahead. Lauf, of Woodstock, had just $25,924 set aside.
Lauf defeated five rivals to win the GOP nomination in June. Foster, who has represented the 11th District since 2013, ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
The Foster committee's net revenue for the entire second quarter was about $711,880. Campaign manager Dovile Svirupskaite called Foster's fundraising numbers "robust."
The Catalina for Congress committee started the latest filing period with about $33,826 saved, and it subsequently collected nearly $66,460. Its revenue for the entire second quarter was about $210,586.
Related: U.S. Rep. Casten is significantly better funded than GOP rival Pekau, records show (Daily Herald)
17th Congressional District Democratic Nominee Eric Sorensen added to DCCC's red to blue program (Quad City Times)
(note: the 17th is currently “blue,” so it’s kind of a silly program name)
Who is GOP Nominee for Governor, DARREN BAILEY? (Center for Illinois Politics)
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