How Some Illinois Politicians Spend Thanksgiving
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza with her family on Election Night in 2016. Mendoza says they are scaling down their traditional Thanksgiving celebration to just her immediate family and her 85-year-old mother, who lives with her. She has a brother currently hospitalized with COVID-19.
Every family has a Thanksgiving tradition. Some have a “Turkey Bowl” football game in the cold while others may be crazy enough to participate in a Thanksgiving morning “Turkey Trot.” (Who are those people?)
Like with many families around the state, COVID-19 is changing plans. We asked a few Illinois political leaders about Thanksgiving traditions or how plans have changed in 2020.
Incoming Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods):
A local church in my district always (except maybe this year) brings Navy sailors going through basic training at Great Lakes Naval Base in for a Thanksgiving lunch and fellowship with locals from the community. It gets them a break from the confines of the base while they are away from their family. I go with my kids and serve these sailors their meals and hang out with them, hear their stories and get to know them for a while before they go for an organized afternoon of fun. We then join the rest of the family who lives in the area for our afternoon meal.
State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, via spokesman Abdon Pallasch:
Comptroller Mendoza will be at her home in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood with her husband, their 7-year-old son and her 85-year-old mom, who lives with her. Her older brother would normally join her for dinner for Thanksgiving, but sadly, like so many others, he is sick in the hospital battling COVID-19. This Thanksgiving, she and her family will be giving thanks for the dedicated doctors and nurses on the front lines fighting the pandemic, helping care for the sick.
If you haven’t seen, staff from Mendoza’s office donated 160 turkeys and canned goods to struggling folks in the southern Illinois community of Cairo.
Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Matteson):
Most years, the Chicago Kelly’s travel to NYC for a large family gathering. This year, it will be much smaller (household) with NYC and other family zooming in so they are all still together.
It’s not Thanksgiving without calls to Aunt Cookie and Aunt Gloria.”
Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) with no frills:
I’m celebrating the holiday at home and having dinner with my immediate family.
