UPDATE 5/11/24: A lawsuit by prospective candidates has now been filed to invalidate the new law. Details and pleadings are here.
By: Mark Glennon*
As an alternative to a primary election, Illinois law allowed for a party to get its candidates on the ballot for General Assembly spots by party slating procedure, along with collection of a requisite number of public signatures on nominating positions. A number of Republican challengers have been proceeding accordingly.
But over the course of just 30 hours on the first days of this month, the Democratic supermajority changed the law to retroactively disallow that procedure, thereby barring challengers from the November ballot as Republican party candidates.
The new law almost certainly gives Democrats a win in races in which Republicans did not run a candidate in the primary and could result in dozens of unopposed races.
Gov. JB signed the new law the day after it was passed, hours after telling reporters he didn’t know all the details. He also claimed it was an “ethics” bill. “It really does make sure that we don’t have backroom deals to put people on the ballot and run as a result of some small group of people in a smoke-filled room making the choice,” Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference in Bloomington. “So I think to me, more transparency is better.” It’s not like Illinois Democrats ever line up their chosen candidates to run for the party, right?
“This is nothing more than a brazen attempt by Illinois Democrats to disenfranchise voters and eliminate political competition. To hide behind the guise of ‘ethics,’ is laughable,” said Sean M. Morrison, Chairman of the Cook County GOP.
The new law originated as a “shell bill” – one on an entirely different subject with a different label, before being changed in the 30-hour cram-through.
Senate Minority Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) said it right: “This abuse of power that blocks candidates from giving voters a choice in free, fair and open elections is unprecedented in Illinois’ 205-year history,” Curran said. “Their dictator-style tactic of stealing an election before a vote is cast is a new low for elective government in this state and undermines the core principals of American democracy.”
Democrats are widely believed to be particularly motivated by trying to assist Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville), who is running for reelection in an increasingly Republican district. However, we are told that at least 20 Republicans may be knocked out of ballot spots.
This is all brought to you by the crowd who tells us that democracy is at risk in November’s election, headed, in Illinois, by President Biden’s proxy (as he is routinely called, even by his allies), Pritzker.
At least one Democrat couldn’t ignore the hypocrisy. “At this time in our history, when we are watching Republican legislatures across the country really attack access to the ballot and attack voting rights and fundamentally attack democracy, I just think it’s fundamentally wrong for Democrats to participate in something that makes it harder for people to run, to run for office, makes it harder for folks to engage,” Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) said.
Grounds for lawsuits are now being considered, we are told by knowledgeable sources. I am no expert on election law and I don’t know what they are considering, but I have to believe that federal claims based on well-established application of civil rights laws to election rigging are in order.
It doesn’t get more shameless, tyrannical and hypocritical than this.
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
CORRECTION: This article was updated to delete a paragraph that earlier said the new law expires January 1, 2025.
The bill passed despite their votes in response to certain incidents where local prosecutors are thought to have been too lenient with non-citizens assaulting cops.
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board cited Wirepoints’ analysis of Chicago student proficiency data in their latest piece condemning the Chicago Teachers Union’s outrageous contract demands…all while a vast majority of Chicago’s children graduate unable to read at grade level.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about the details of Gov. Pritzker’s proposed $52 billion budget, why the state is struggling now that federal covid dollars have run out, the controversy surrounding Tier 2 government pensions, why Illinois’ expensive education system fails to teach children to read, the outrageous demands of the Chicago Teachers Union, and more.
Ted joined Jeff Daly to discuss how politicians can never spend enough on education despite there being no accountability for that spending, the growth of education staffing across Illinois, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $1 billion demand for Chicago schools, why Gov. Pritzker is providing $830 million in taxpayer subsidies to struggling EV carmaker Rivian, and more.
NOT defending the demos, but the Republican Party in this state is so unorganized that it is beyond pathetic. Some republican chapters are more concerned about keeping the lights on in the office than about running for office. If a viable candidate does happen to appear, a Pritzker side organization comes in to makes a donation to the Republican Party and suggests to run someone else. And the republicans do
This is a common problem for Democrats in Republican states. The Indiana Democrat party receives national party money because it is so broke and useless.
Look at the IN dem’s webpage, it’s broken, and it hasn’t worked in a long time. It was only recently they updated it from the 2022 election.
https://indems.org/
We live in an era of 24 hour misinformation and disinformation which we are pounded with daily. If you happen to notice, the opposition all the way up the man running for president is subject to one massive psyops and lawfare campaign to not only discourage voters but to outright silence any opposing views. We live in a scary time.
The demons are down to the LAST “laws”, BEFORE they start shooting us all.
Choose wisely, aim small.
I think any Republican who possibly can, should leave the state. Go to a red state to retire, or to continue to work in a similar job if possible, Jeez, even live with relatives in a lower cost red state. ILL, CA, NJ, NY, MASS, VT, CT, WA, ORE, just seem too far gone. And if Biden “wins” again the U.S. will continue to devolve into chaos, but there will still be pockets of sanity and limited govt.
Voting doesn’t matter anymore is spot on and I can write that for the following reasons … And when that bastard Barry O slithered out of the Southside of Chicago he was supported by the Illinois demonrat funding machine and whatever demonrat free PAC money that was around. What got my attention then was the blatant damning of America by Barry’s “Christian” pastor, Jeremiah Wright, who has demonstrated he’s just another wolf in sheeps clothing and a demonic at that. Also, Barry quite openly began one of his favorite strategies, community organizing on a grand scale … networking grassroots demonrat… Read more »
WELL PUT…….AND I DO AGREE
I’m old enough to remember when Democrats also loved America, and tried convincing people to vote for them rather than simply gaming the system. But I’m OLD.
That argument might have more merit if Republicans weren’t trying to choose preferred candidates instead of actually letting their voters choose in the primary. Many people consider candidates chosen by party elites to also be “gaming the system”. I hope the courts correct this issue for this election but people shouldn’t have any problem with this in future elections (implemented before primary) if they truly believe in fairness.
Your comment completely misrepresents the Illinois party slating procedure. When there are no primary candidates who apply to run, then a party can select a candidate. This is not a “back room deal” to circumvent the primary process. This is a procedure to at least have a candidate in cases where no one volunteers to run
He’s just cutting and pasting Fatso’s false talking points. So he’s a liar.
Here’s photos and video of a backroom slating in front of more than 100 people at an open event.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/6a4p6GzdnjANPEMN/?mibextid=qi2Omg
That is garbage and flat out factually incorrect. Please provide some examples for your Pravda.
If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor…..
Illinois is one of the most corrupt places in the world, let alone America. Probably worse than Ukraine. This is the state that started Obama’s dictatorship. Cook County snd St Clair County are the best examples of oppressed people. Just look at East St Louis, IL. Geez been a pit since the race riots of the 60’s and never got any better.
All I know, is that gang is going to have a hard time laughing in Hell.
F[edited] Joe Biden!
Dave, I confesss it’s a little silly given how common your phrase is, but we are kinda old fashioned about permissible language.
LGB!!
Unless I woke up in Russia, our system of law explicitly prohibits any “retroactive” criminalization of things for the obvious reason that you can make anyone a “criminal” by simply defining what they did yesterday as a crime. This is Russia-style nonsense, and anyone who voted for the law should go to prison.
You don’t have a clue what the Russian legal system is. Who do you work for?
He is referring what the USSR legal system was, which we are well aware of
The Beatles made a distinction between Russia and “back in the USSR”. By the way, interesting how all of the leaders in Europe knew who Lenin was before WWI, in 1917 he left London and went through Europe in a known but sealed railcar including through Germany unmolested. Next thing you know, the Czar, his ministers and family were murdered, as Mick Jagger noted a half century later, “ooo ooo won’t you guess my name!” who? who? who?
Illinois ranks down there with two other collapsing states New York and Mexifornia. They deserve themselves.
Those states account for over 25 percent of our national GDP. If they actually ever were to collapse you can bet that it would be national crisis that would require a national bailout.
I would support Balkanization before bailing out the blue containment zones.
They won’t need or ask for your support when the time comes.
And you like that.
All of the CRE office loans and assets are in idiot government worker and union pension funds, so there’s that. The Wall Street hoodlums, already on the other side of the bet, are teeing up The Big Short Part II. Team Fatass Family will buy it up at the bottom for pennies on the dollar.
That’s why they are sending teachers to Springfield to demand money, right? Because they produce all the GDP and all…
Nonsense, those states are collapsing now, because of themselves. States have already received huge bailouts with Biden, and it was wasted, they are too corrupt and no good was done.
Look at this one folks, it wants bailouts from a bankrupt nation, which only makes it worse. Brilliant.
I didn’t say I want a bailout for Illinois. I merely stated that the US would most likely be forced to bailout those states. You can shake your fist at the clouds and yell “corrupt” and “Biden” all you want but the issues of those mentioned states will very much be an issue for the country if they ever collapse. And no, those states are not collapsing. Needing to cut a budget or raise taxes is not collapsing.
Since ‘money’ is mostly on computer screens and credit cards at the checkout line nobody needs to buy a wheelbarrow like in Weimar 100 years ago.
What comes after “trillions”?
PPF, they were bailed out under the guise of Covid relief. Yes, other states got the same, which they have largely used for tax cuts, but the effect nevertheless was a bailout for the ones struggling. And their collapse would indeed be a national crisis. That’s among the reasons why Illinois’ slow destruction is an important, national story.
What’s your point Mark? It’s always under the guise of something. Cajun made the comment that those 3 states deserve each other and implied they would collapse. He seems to be under the impression that it’s just a problem for those three states when in actuality it’s a national issue. Our economy can’t afford to let those three states fail.
Why?
Would be a National Celebration! Turn the clock back to 1789. If the federal government was hit by an asteroid I wouldn’t know whether to take a – or wind my watch.
You equate MIC expenditures as GDP? Damn…..
The state governments will collapse, not society itself within the state. We’re aren’t talking about Haiti here. Their economies will continue to function, and realistically, probably function even better without the state’s heavy-handed interference. In fact, significant sectors of the economies of NY and CA could shift to another state without significant interruption in a matter of years. CA’s tech sector is based on brain power and office space alone, as most of the actual data centers are spread out and the manufacturing facilities are all overseas. NY’s financial market could disappear overnight, just as much of Chicago’s commodities trading… Read more »
Speaking of the Chicago financial exchanges did anyone catch the Friday 5/10/24 episode of Stocks & Jocks podcast in the middle where The Chief mentioned that his garage and car were broken into …again. Way kewl neighborhood sw of Wrigley. Is he waiting to get hit over the head with a brick?
“Oh dear lord these things I pray!!!” Good riddance to bad rubbish. Xi wouldnt takeover those places if they were handed to him.
When is everybody going to realize and face the facts that Democrats are traitors their treasonous disgusting traitors to The Republic and they’re the enemy of every citizen
Dimocrats only win when they find new ways to cheat elections. They have no shame.
If demons didn’t cheat in elections, they’d NEVER win except in a few inner-city races.
Election rigging, Election inteference, and Election Fraud are almost always criminal procedures that border on collusion conspiracy, and should result in RICO ACTIONs makin sentences much longer, INDICT on that, not just lawsuits, go after the originators, not the government….
I like your thinking … your method would tie-up the demonrats for years in their own strategy … LAWFARE
A commenter on Twitter made the point nicely: If this is permitted, all sorts of election rigging is permissible. For example, the ruling party could make sure all its nominating petitions are filed early, then retroactively change the filing deadline for the petitions, thereby knocking out all competition. (Most petitions are filed at or near the final deadline.)
Notice the 0 down votes on the comment. The down voters agree: great idea!
oh SURELY…. like they dealt with the MASSIVE fraud, cheating and corruption in the 2020 election…
never in history have states stopped counting on election even, then all five states come back online the next day and everyone of of them changed from one candidate winning them all handily to now losing them all.
there are no odds to calculate that and make that believable.
Democrats are not democratic. They use DOJ to prosecute opponents are importing illegals to vote. All their policies are citizen last, power first. Luckily, people are seeing their inability to govern and a rude awakening is in order for them. How does it feel to used for a vote and betrayed?
Hey, Orange Man Bad. and stuff.
Blah blah blah, so sue in federal court. And when that fails to make any difference by November, then cry about injustice into your phone’s screen showing your favorite no-solutions-ever-offered, grift-4-subscription, populist-mantra-spewing political punditry website. But in 2025 when the Bolsheviks break down your door to take whatever they crave at that moment–then hopefully you’ve also already searched out your nearest angry curmudgeon former combat soldier…and offered to be his bi*ch!
and that’s how Nazi’s come into power.
play party politics until it threatens even you.
the decades of pure corruption in Illinois is not shocking but nevertheless disgusting. I mean what else am I suppose to expect? It’s Illinois after all, home of the super mayor.
Never ever open your door to allow entry of a vampire. Not good.
Another “in your face” moment by the corrupt Democrats. They are incrementally turning America into a one-party dictatorship. All evil needs to flourish is for good men to do nothing – resist or be enslaved.
Governor Prickster hates Freedom as much as he loves stuffing his fat face.
Illinois was an illegal pathway from Canada for illegal entry into the USA. Remember when boatloads of jewish immigrants were denied entry into the USA prior and during WWII. Welcomed into Canada after financial transactions. Oversaturated Canada and then onto Illinois and Minnesota and other border states.
I have a square on my bingo card ‘Canada Provincial Secession’.
As long as it’s your freedom not his
did the gop fund this, LIKELY
The donkey party has a super majority try following matters.
[Progressive operatives] “We have the perfect solution to ensure our win, but we must keep it on the downlow!”
[IL Dems] “Screw that, let’s do it right in front of them. Do you really think they will fight back? They’re Republicans, they roll over for everything! We have the DOJ, FBI, CIA, and Obama.”
Thank God I escaped Illinois like the Family von Trapp 4 years ago under the cover of Covid Theater. I look at these Republicans like the band playing on the Titanic going down with the ship. The crime in the city and surrounding suburbs is feature, not bug. When it gets to rock-bottom the Pritzkers will do their civic duty to bail out the city, county and state by buying up the lakefront and forest preserves for pennies. Confessions Of An Economic Hitman, a tale as old as time. Looking forward to the third week of August – from a… Read more »
Just don’t say anything about their tribe’s Ukrainian ancestry. Or other family features that might indicate their allegiance is to something other than truth or preservation of the nation’s founding Christian principals.
That’s verboten!
Considering the gerrymandering along with the already heavily Democrat party majority as it is at the end of the day will this make a lot of legislative difference? It would seem, to me anyway, that if the voters really wanted things to change it would happen in the Governor’s race. There is no gerrymandering in that race so things could very well happen in that election; however as the last election showed most Illinois voters don’t vote so we can only assume they are happy with the way things are
J.B. Pritzker makes Biden look like a two-bit hood.
The Pritzker dynasty. Home to transgenderism as an income producing venture. Hosptial wings and transition drugs all investments for big $$$$ returns.
Absolute pillars of society. Of course, it’s a society that hates you and wishes to enslave you while drinking your tears. But still . . .
Who knew that always voting blue meant an authoritarian police state intent on destroying ‘our democracy’?
We will know in 6 months if we have a state or country left!!
Unfortunately we cannot vote our way out of this. Faces change but the Country is still a mess. No political candidate can fix this. It is up to the people to take back our Country and our Government – not an easy task but inevitable.
I do agree……but we both got the thumb down from…….. brainless
Don’t let those thumb downs get to you. 8 – 2 is good.
Thank you
Every one of those thumbs down is a victory. It means they are at least reading us and need to respond. And they know what you said is true.
Also Thank You
it’s Illinois most of the populace has been thoroughly brainwashed.. These are the same people who think Palestine is a real thing and not a made up word..
Brainwashed maybe but Its not a made up word.
The commie libs are out in full force.
Just as the true progressives are a minority of the democrat party, they usurped control of otherwise democrat leaning institutions and made them progressive. Conservatives have a difficult path forward because we first need to wrestle control away from the progressives who currently control the country’s institutions, and then fill them with conservatives who aren’t RINOs. Conservatives have been on the one-hand, shuttered out of some institutions entirely, and will not be able to recapture them. We also in many cases surrendered them voluntarily. There’s no reason a childrens company like Disney should be as woke as it is, yet,… Read more »
and like Illinois, Disney is failing financially. It no longer has the talent to create good content. Also, attendance is down at its parks.
The “true”?? progressives are the Trotsky wing of the communist party. They infiltrate and over a period of time displace those not committed to communism. The Neocons are a prime example. They moved into the conservative ranks and replaced true conservatives with the Bill Kristols who seek US participation in wars meant to make the middle east safe for israel. Ukraine has been an israeli vassal state for decades. Hense Zalinskyy.
What are you proposing Truth Seeker if you don’t think things can be fixed at the voting booth? What are you thinking? A bunch of old fat boomers wearing red hats and tAkInG bAcK oUr CoUnTrY? That would definitely be funny.
Who is “we”? One person’s we is not necessarily the next guy’s version.
Hey, we are doing fine in Tennessee. The whole country is not a mess, but I imagine it would seem that way if you live in a deep blue state.
As much as they complain here Honest J, these people like it here in Illinois versus other states such as Tennessee. Either they don’t think they can make the same money elsewhere or they don’t want to leave their family. Although, maybe they are just scared of actually controlling their own environment by moving? I’m not happy with Illinois politics but I realize that financially it’s best for me to stay put for another 5 years. Then I’ll be looking for another state that doesn’t tax retirement income and has low property taxes. Sure many surrounding states don’t have high… Read more »
Relatedly, I bet IL pols drool when their bean counters tell them how much revenue IL can generate by taxing retirement income. For many retirees living in IL, tax-free retirement income is easily the most attractive feature the state has to offer. I think once IL taxes retirement income, it’ll first go after the affluent but eventually go after most retirees. As I said repeatedly, that’ll result in a mass migration to other states.
Agreed. If a progressive tax is ever added to the constitution you can bet that getting those “rich” retirees to pay taxes will happen soon after. Illinois needs money so they may eventually not have a choice. I know years ago retiree income taxes were estimated at around 2 billion per year. That was when our annual revenue was only around 35 billion instead of today’s 52 billion. Also, the 65 plus demographic continues to grow in the state.
Yep, and IL will define affluent retirees such that many of us will be surprised to learn we’re affluent. Many congratulations will be in order! In IL, that’ll be our reward for working long and hard, and living within our means so that we built a financially sound retirement.
The weather is also better in Tennessee, unless you prefer the snow and ice.
Welcome to the peoples republik of Illinoisistan…
The apparatchik have spoken…