Dems Proxy Battle for DPI Chair Getting Ugly
Chicago Alderman Michelle Harris (L) and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Matteson) are locked in what appears to be a proxy battle for Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
The competition for the new chair of the state’s Democratic Party of Illinois was already complicated. Governor JB Pritzker is backing southside alderwoman Michelle Harris while Senator Dick Durbin has thrown his support behind Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Matteson) to replace former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Now, competition has turned ugly.
Ahead of a vote Wednesday evening, Harris backers, presumably, released a legal opinion claiming Robin Kelly was ineligible to serve as party chair because she couldn’t raise or spend state party money.
Messages to Rep. Kelly weren’t returned, but a spokesperson told the Sun-Times Monday the allegations were false.
The congresswoman’s team called that “suggestion” both “false and offensive.”
Kelly released her own legal opinion conceding that, as a federal elected official, she would be barred from raising or spending money for state or local campaigns, something the Matteson Democrat suggested would empower other party leaders.
“I will not only make sure we follow the letter of the law, but have an inclusive, team-approach to all decisions that involve the party’s finances,” she said in a statement.
“This is something that’s at the core of how I plan to lead our party.”
The latest exchanges in the fiercely contested race began with the release of a legal opinion in a memo commissioned by the interim chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough, who has said she is supporting Ald. Michelle Harris to take over the leadership position.
It was released about two days before members are expected to pick a new leader.
In the memo, lawyer Brian G. Svoboda cited federal law that “prohibits a federal officeholder or candidate from directly or indirectly establishing, financing, maintaining or controlling an entity that raises and spends funds outside of federal limits and restrictions in connection with nonfederal elections.”
For Kelly to serve as chair, Svoboda said the congresswoman would need to either resign from her position, the party would need to “cease raising and spending funds outside federal limits and restrictions” or the party would need to “curtail the chair’s duties and powers” to avoid federal limitations.
Speaking at a news conference last Friday, Durbin called downplayed the battle for the leadership of the state party.
“We may have a difference of opinion of which may be the better among them, but there is a common belief, I think, that all three are excellent,” Durbin said. A third potential candidate, Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), removed herself from consideration for the post over the weekend. “If it was a real family feud, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Pritzker, who is up for re-election next year, confirmed he has called members of the central committee on behalf of Harris, but says he didn’t put pressure on or make promises to any member of the state central committee, who will choose the next leader.
“I just believe that we need great leadership for building the Democratic Party of Illinois, which really has been something that hasn’t been done for a number of years,” Pritzker said. “We have a great opportunity to do Latino outreach, to communities of color, broadly. We need great leadership and we need forward momentum.”
Neither Pritzker or Durbin sit on the state central committee, but each have close associates on the panel.
Chicago political consultant Frank Calabrese has been tracking commitments to both Harris and Kelly, and wrote on Twitter Monday night that Harris led 44 to 28%. Not all delegates are committed and the winner needs a 50% + 1 vote to win a majority.
Democrats announced Monday Wednesday night’s selection would be live streamed for media and the public.