(Chicago, IL) — June 8, 2010. State Rep. Kevin Joyce (D-Chicago) has decided to leave the Illinois General Assembly at the end of his term. Southtown Star reporter Joe Biesk reports: State Rep. Kevin Joyce said he will not seek re-election in the November election, creating an open seat in the General Assembly’s 35th House … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) – April 26, 2010. State Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Chenoa), GOP candidate for Illinois Treasurer, last week charged Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and his chief of staff, Robin Kelly, are using the belated launch of a state task for “political benefit”. “To convene a good purposed task force, two years late, hold taxpayer funded public … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — April 6, 2010. Here’s an SOS to the Democratic Party of Illinois: Democrats are likely to lose the Governor’s office and the U.S. Senate seat. Think about that for a moment. “There may not be a state in the country where Democrats have a weaker top of the ticket at this point … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — February 2, 2010. With 78% of precincts reporting, Democratic state representative candidate Dan Farley, a former Cook County assistant state’s attorney, has conceded to former Illinois assistant general Ann Williams in the state House race on Chicago’s north side to succeed State Rep. John Fritchey, according to a source. Attorney Ed Mullen, … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — January 29, 2010. Rather than a sprint–it’s a mad dash. The petition challenge to State Rep. Deb Mell (D-Chicago) by her primary opponent Joe Laiacona, which had threatened to toss her off the ballot, shackled the contest’s start. And it shows in the fund-raising of each in the second half of 2009. … Continue reading
The Quad City Times has given a big boost to Democratic state representative candidate Porter McNeil with its bright and glowing endorsement to succeed State Rep. Mike Boland (D-East Moline) in the Illinois House. Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) – January 15, 2010. Cook County Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore yesterday endorsed David Schroeder in the Democratic primary for state representative over incumbent Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) in the Illinois 5th District race. “David Schroeder has a passion for good government,” said Shore. “Schroeder will bring a sense of what’s right … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) – January 6, 2009. Democrat Ed Mullen’s grassroots campaign for State Representative for the House seat on Chicago’s north side to succeed John Fritchey has already knocked on an eye-popping 10,000 voter doors and launched its first direct mail piece. In fact, between December 12th and 19th, Mullen’s campaign knocked on the doors … Continue reading
(Palatine, IL) – January 5, 2010. Republican state representative candidate Tom Morrison yesterday criticized incumbent State Rep. Suzie Bassi (R-Palatine) for voting present 1,198 times in four years. “When it comes to my opponent, the English proverb ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ describes her failure to represent our district’s citizens in Springfield,” Morrison said. “The official … Continue reading
Hispanic activist Rudy Lozano, Jr.’s challenge to State Rep. Dan Burke (D-Chicago) for the House seat Burke has held for 19 years is drawing extraordinary old and new media coverage for a state legislative race. Continue reading
Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful David Hoffman is boasting a bit over the $25, 000 he snagged from grassroots supporters by the federal December 31 campaign reporting period. Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — December 31, 2009. “Sometimes the results are wackadoodle.” That’s the reaction of Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO) state board member Suzanne Elder to the local IVI-IPO chapter endorsement re-vote of Democratic state representative candidate Dan Farley who is seeking the House seat on Chicago’s north side being vacated by John … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — December 29, 2009. Democratic state representative candidate Dan Farley today rolled out a new and improved endorsement quote from U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-Chicago). “I support Dan Farley because of his commitment to advocate for property tax relief and reform, reduce wasteful spending, and fight for what’s right for our community and … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — December 28, 2009. The Independent Voters of Illinois–Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO) state board of directors has rejected the local district endorsement of Democratic state representative candidate Dan Farley and has scheduled a re-vote for Tuesday, December 29. Multiple IVI-IPO voters casting their ballots for Farley, a former Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — December 21, 2009. Democratic state representative candidates Dan Farley, Ed Mullen and Ann Williams have all won the endorsement of the powerful pro-choice group Personal PAC in the race to succeed State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago). Mullen and Farley, both attorneys, who are facing Williams, a pharmaceutical lobbyist, will have an easier … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — December 21, 2009. The gloves are off. In the race to succeed to succeed State Rep. John Fritchey on Chicago’s north side, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) today endorsed former Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Farley and took scarcely veiled swipe at one of Farley’s opponents, Ann Williams. “Dan Farley is … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — December 17, 2009. The Illinois Sierra Club today announced its endorsement of three candidates in the February 2nd Democratic Primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago–Todd Connor, Mariyana Spyropoulos, and Kari Steele. Sierra Club also has endorsed Nadine Bopp in the Green Party Primary. “The safety and quality of our … Continue reading
Citing his many years of leadership on education funding reform, the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) today endorsed State Rep. David Miller (D-Dolton) for Illinois Comptroller. Continue reading
December 9, 2009. Sierra Club today announced its endorsement of Robin Kelly for State Treasurer over Justin Oberman in the February 2, 2010 Democratic primary election. Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — December 9, 2009. Democrat Ed Mullen who is seeking the State House seat on Chicago’s north side being vacated incumbent John Fritchey scored an important endorsement for his campaign in February 2 Democratic primary. Northside Democracy for America voted 28-7 to endorse Mullen over opponent Ann Williams. A third Democratic contender, attorney … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — December 8, 2009. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) yesterday endorsed Metropolitan Water Reclamation District candidate Todd Connor, a former Illinois Inspector General, in the Democratic primary. The Quigley endorsement, a “must-have” among Democratic candidates seeking to run under a progressive, reform banner in Cook County, joins the growing ranks of elected Cook … Continue reading
Six Democratic Cook County reform candidates have formed a joint 2010 campaign coalition —“ChangeCookCounty.Com”— to help advance an electoral victory for a “change agenda” in Cook County government. Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — December 4, 2009. Appointed State Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) and three-term Buffalo Grove Village President Elliott Hartstein–who is challenging Sente in the upcoming Democratic primary–are clashing on the issue of an Illinois income tax increase. According to their questionnaires submitted to the Chicago Tribune, Sente opposes an income tax hike and … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — December 4, 2009. Three important unions yesterday endorsed Comptroller Dan Hynes’ candidacy for governor, giving the Hynes campaign a crucial boost. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1546, and the International Brotherhood of the Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers Local 1—representing approximately 40,000 … Continue reading
House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) and Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang (D-Skokie)–the number two and three leaders respectively in the Illinois House–have endorsed Ann Williams’ candidacy. Continue reading
State Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) faces doubting voters as he seeks a fifth term. Continue reading
Republican Candidate for Illinois State Treasurer State Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac) has tapped a top-flight campaign team for his 2010 statewide bid. Continue reading
The Chicago Board of Elections dismissed a challenge to the candidacy of David Schroeder that clears the way for Schroeder to face incumbent State Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) in the Democratic primary for the 5th legislative district seat on February 2, 2010. Continue reading
From the Department of Kid-You-Not, Illinois 2010 Republican Governor candidate Adam Andrzejeski announces in a new press release “We’re the only campaign surging in the polls…” Continue reading
Yours truly, the editor of THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER will appear today morning at 8:00 a.m. on “Mornings with Ray Hanania”, a lively new radio show in Chicagoland. Continue reading
(Chicago, Illinois) – November 18, 2009. On Monday, Illinois 2010 Republican primary governor candidate Dan Proft and Rev. James Meeks, a Democrat State Senator and Chairman of the Illinois Senate Education Committee, met to talk education. Proft and Meeks met at the administrative offices of the 20,000 member Salem Baptist Church in Roseland to discuss … Continue reading
(Chicago, Illinois) – November 14, 2009. The New Trier Township Republican organization today endorsed Dan Proft for Governor in the Illinois 2010 Republican primary. In a field of seven candidates, Proft garnered the most votes on the first ballot, tying with Andy McKenna on the second ballot, resulting in a dual endorsement of Proft and … Continue reading
Governor Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes slugged it out at their first joint appearance at a candidate forum in Rock Island on Thursday night. Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — November 13, 2009. Americans are pissed. Incumbents are in trouble. And Independents are breaking towards Republicans as the 2010 elections approach. It’s morning in America–circa 1994. Approximately 2/3rds of Americans think the country is on the wrong track. At least 9 out 10 say economic conditions in the country are fair or … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — November 11, 2009. A petition challenge yesterday landed on the candidacy of Illinois House 5th District Democratic state representative hopeful David Schroeder. Schroeder is challenging incumbent State Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) in the February 2 primary. “Today someone filed objections to my petition signatures on behalf of my opponent Ken Dunkin,” Schroeder … Continue reading
(Princeton, NJ) — November 11, 2009. Republicans have surged passed Democrats as the 2010 congressional elections loom, according to a new Gallup poll. Not good news for national–or Illinois Democrats. Registered voters in Gallup’s new poll on the generic congressional ballot for the 2010 House elections has Republicans besting Democrats 48% to 44%, after being … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — November 6, 2009. Illinois Democratic lawmakers State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Deputy House Majority Leader Lou Lang (D-Skokie), and State Senator Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) today endorsed Governor Pat Quinn in the Illinois 2010 Democratic primary for governor over Comptroller Dan Hynes at a press conference on Chicago’s North Side. Hynes, a constituent … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — November 5, 2009. Illinois 2010 Democratic governor candidate Ed Scanlan of Oak Park is currently leading all Illinois 2010 Republican and Democratic and Green governor candidates in the Web “eyeballs” race, according to a new survey of candidate Web sites. Utilizing Alexa Internet’s Web traffic monitoring tool, THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER submitted the … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — November 4, 2009. Jim Ryan, the former two-term Illinois General who lost to Rod Governor in the 2002 governor’s election, entered the overflow 2010 Illinois Republican primary for governor yesterday. Ryan, an Elmhurst Republican, returns after nearly seven years of teaching government and politics at Benedictine University in Lisle. “The uncomfortable truth … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — November 3, 2009. There are seven candidates–all Chicago Democrats–who filed nominating petitions to capture Illinois House Deputy Majority Leader Art Turner‘s 7th district House seat, including Turner’s son, Art–who filed petitions twice. Rep. Turner is running for Lt. Governor. The candidates are: John Burros (W. Erie Street) Keith Jackson (W. Adams Street) … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — November 2, 2009. In the 2010 Illinois Lt. Govenor race, like the governor’s race, 13 candidates filed nominating petitions, and of those 13 men and 0 women filed to become the state’s second banana. In 2002, 10 candidates filed, 8-men and 2-women. And, unlike the governor’s race where there are only 2 … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — November 3, 2009. There are 13 candidates who filed petitions to run for Illinois governor in 2010. Each party–the Republicans, the Democrats and the Greens have a primary. There are 13 men, 0 women candidates. There are 7 Republicans, 4 Democrats, and 2 Greens There are 6 candidates from Chicago–3 Democrats, 2 … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — November 3, 2009. For the 2010 Illinois elections, 60 candidates filed nominating petitions for the offices of U.S. Senate, Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Comptroller and only 6, or 10 %, of those are women, down from 19.6% in 2002. In 2002, for the same offices, there … Continue reading