THE ILLINOIZE: Monday Free for All
GOP gubernatorial nominee Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia).
NOTE: This newsletter was originally sent via our daily The Illinoize newsletter. To receive free newsletters and content, click here.
October 3, 2022
Good morning, Illinois.
My Shaw Media column last week has led to a pile of angry e-mails in my inbox. I remind people that the migrants being bussed to Chicago from Texas are here legally and seeking asylum. The xenophobia and hate that has been fired at me in response ranges from calling me a “woke liberal” to calling these people (who aren’t breaking any laws) “cockroaches.” Ugh.
There are 36 days to the General Election.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions, so if you’re wondering, this poll is more likely to be accurate than this poll. One is independent and academic, the other is from a partisan PAC. Plus, most private polling I’ve been told about still has the race ranging from 15-19 points.
The Governor has nothing on his public schedule. The Bailey campaign has not released a public schedule.
As we approach five weeks to Election Day, I’m asking for your support as we don’t accept ads from candidates or PAC’s. I hope you’ll support our independent work by becoming a paid subscriber. It’s only $9.99 per month or $99 per year. Be in the know over the final two months to Election Day by subscribing today.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR MONDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets)
Darren Bailey questions Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s patriotism (Chicago Tribune)
Republican governor candidate Darren Bailey on Sunday opened a new avenue in his attacks on Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, questioning the patriotism of the first-term governor.
In a video on Facebook as Bailey was preparing for his annual fundraiser at his farm in downstate Xenia, the GOP state senator noted the set up for the event included a stage featuring a large American flag.
“There’s the stage again. Amazing, beautiful American flag back there,” Bailey said. “I want to share something with you. J.B, Pritzker’s rallies and his events, I don’t, I don’t often see the flag flying in a prominent position, just keep that in mind.”
Bailey has sought to use his conservative rural grassroots and religious-based campaign to repeatedly attack Pritzker as a wealthy liberal Chicagoan who is out-of-touch with average working people.
In a prayer he offered during his Facebook post, Bailey offered thanks for “the bountiful harvest across Illinois” and added for Election Day, “Father God, I pray that on Nov. 8, we have another harvest, and that’s a harvest of good people being elected to positions in a state that is going to change the course of this nation.”
He went on to pray for God’s help to “remove evil, wicked and corruption from our government.”
In a posting on Twitter, Pritzker’s campaign manager, Mike Ollen, said Bailey “will say absolutely anything but the truth.”
Ollen’s tweet featured a photo from the first debate between Pritzker and Bailey, which occurred on Friday. During the virtual event, Bailey appeared in a room with no background while Pritzker was flanked by both the U.S. and Illinois flags.
Silly season is in full effect.
Related: Associated Press Media Editors host governor candidates in broad-ranging discussion (Capitol News Illinois)
Crime and guns dominate first debate between Gov. J.B. Pritzker and GOP challenger Darren Bailey (Chicago Tribune)
Bailey and Pritzker's fiscal prescriptions for Illinois couldn't be more different (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Record review: Pritzker touts fiscal and crisis management — but critics just see campaign management (Chicago Sun-Times)
Record review: Bailey proud to be lawmaker who tells truth about Illinois’ decline — not one who makes lots of laws (Chicago Sun-Times)
GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey’s latest Chicago comparison: An ‘unruly child’ in Illinois’ ‘family’ (Chicago Tribune)
Pritzker, Durbin fires up canvassers in Joliet for Will County Latinx Day of Action (Shaw Local)
In the fight for the US House, one of the most important battles is in northwest Illinois (Chicago Tribune)
The front line of this year’s fierce fight for control of the U.S. House of Representatives cuts straight through the river cities and rural communities of the 17th Congressional District in northwestern Illinois.
But on the streets of Rockford and Rock Island, the face-off for the open seat between Democrat Eric Sorensen and Republican Esther Joy King is being met by voters with stony silence.
The low-key nature of the high-stakes contest playing out in their towns comes despite the fact that national politicians are paying close attention to the election, which is considered one of a handful of races that could go either way among the 435 House seats on the ballot in midterm elections across the country.
The outcome, where the congressional seat that is currently in Democratic hands could flip Republican, could also have an outsized impact on whether Republicans take control of the House or Democrats keep it.
King and Sorensen are both trying to hew to the political middle and play up their efforts to improve the economy in a moderate district home to lots of blue collar and agricultural workers. King has opened a big fundraising lead as the campaign enters the home stretch with the help of several high-profile national Republicans, though Sorensen says he will have plenty of money to connect with voters in the race’s final weeks.
Related: Opinion: Clear differences in Budzinski, Deering race (Alton Telegraph)
Survey: Lauren Underwood: Democratic candidate 14th Congressional District (Daily Herald)
Survey: Scott R. Gryder: Republican candidate for 14th Congressional District (Daily Herald)
Survey: Bradley S. Schneider: Democratic candidate for 10th Congressional District (Daily Herald)
Survey: Joseph Severino: Republican candidate for the 10th Congressional District (Daily Herald)
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
Illinois treasurer candidates Mike Frerichs, Tom Demmer spar over role of office (Daily Herald)
Bustos: Inflation Reduction Act brings down costs for Illinois families (Rockford Register Star)
Ken Griffin may be gone, but his influence and cash still linger in Illinois politics (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Watch debate over the state referendum on Amendment 1, about unions (Daily Herald)
Unfounded election fraud accusations pour in to Illinois officials (Chicago Sun-Times)
Where rivals in 54th District stand on SAFE-T Act, crime, gun control (Daily Herald)
Illinois House District 53 endorsement interview (Daily Herald)
SOME TOP LINKS FROM LAST WEEK