From the Joe Walsh for Congress campaign…
Lake Zurich: Joe Walsh, candidate for Congress in the 8th Congressional District, is calling on Melissa Bean to be more specific about what issues she views as “extreme”. In a recent e-mail blast to her supporters Bean refers to the Republican Primary field of candidates as possessing “extreme right wing views.”
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8th District: Joe Walsh calls on Melissa Bean to explain what is an ‘extreme candidate’”
From the Randy Hultgren for Congress campaign…
State Senator Randy Hultgren today signed the Club for Growth’s “Repeal It” Candidate Pledge. In doing so, Senator Hultgren promised to the voters of Illinois’ 14th Congressional District that he would work to repeal any government takeover of health care.
“I have consistently opposed the Obama/Pelosi plan to nationalize our health care,” said Hultgren. “Congressman Bill Foster stood with Nancy Pelosi and against the people of Illinois when he voted for this terrible legislation.”
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14th District: Hultgren Signs Club For Growth’s ‘Repeal It’ Pledge”
From the Kirk Dillard for Governor campaign…
Helping Students Succeed for the Jobs of Tomorrow
(Peoria, IL) – Republican candidate for Illinois governor Kirk Dillard today called for more local control for school districts and a greater emphasis on math and science as part of his “Best in Class” Education Plan.
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Dillard Outlines “Best in Class” Education Plan”
From the David Ratowitz for Congress campaign…
“David Ratowitz brings experience from multiple sectors of the economy, credibility from serving his nation in the Army, and the courage to make the IL-5th not only respectable again, but winnable for Republicans.”
CHICAGO – January 14, 2010 – U.S. House candidate David Ratowitz (IL-5) has received the endorsements of Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois and Loyola College Republicans officer Brian Williams.
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5th District: David Ratowitz Picks Up Two More Endorsements”
-By Warner Todd Huton
Early in December I wrote a piece asking why Sandy Wegman of Elgin was still in the race for the 22nd District State Senate slot even though long-time Republican Steve Rauschenberger was again running for the job?
Well, it looks like she finally realized that she isn’t wanted on the ballot and has officially withdrawn her name from the ballot.
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Ill 22nd Dist. Steve Rauschenberger: Opportunist Wegman Withdraws”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Just got a reply to Governor Pat Quinn’s laughable State of the State address issued by Chairman Pat Brady of the Illinois Republican Party…
“Governor Quinn’s State of the State address today exemplifies the Illinois Democratic Party’s disconnect from reality. We are a state on the verge of financial collapse. A laundry list of government created jobs, government programs and a bail-out from the Federal Government is not a serious approach to economic and fiscal recovery. We can’t wish away a $90 billion unfunded pension liability.”
“The People of the State of Illinois will have a clear choice in November between the failed policies of the Quinn/Blagojevich/Madigan single-party rule Democrats and the fiscally responsible approach to running this state articulated by each of our Republican Gubernatorial candidates.”
Ill. GOP Chairman Reacts to Guv’s State of State Report”
From the Dennis Cook for Lt. Governor campaign…
Lockport Township and Frankfort Township have endorsed Dennis Cook for Illinois Lt. Governor, he announced today. The Will County townships are just the latest in a steady stream of endorsements for Cook.
Cook, Consolidated District 230 School Board President, said gaining the two endorsements is crucial to his campaign.
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Lt.Gov.: Cook Endorsements”
-By Warner Todd Huston
You don’t have to wait until February 2 to cast your vote in the Illinois Republican Primary.
That’s because Illinois Early Voting has begun – and you can cast your vote now!
That’s right, in Illinois you can vote early between now and Thursday, January 28. To find your local Early Voting location(s), click HERE.
You don’t need a reason to vote early – other than the fact that it makes voting more convenient to you.
Beat the long lines – and potential bad weather on Election Day – and vote early. You just need to be a registered voter and have a government-issued photo ID (such as a Drivers License).
NOTE: In Illinois, there is no such thing as a “Registered Republican,” “Registered Democrat,” or “Registered Independent.” If you’re registered to vote, you can vote in the Republican Primary and help choose our winning team for 2010!
If you are not registered to vote but meet the legal requirements to become a registered voter, you can register and vote at your County Clerk or Election Authority office until Thursday, January 28 under the “Grace Period” registration system. Contact your County Clerk or Election Authority for more information.
From the Paul Mitchell for the State House campaign…
Gurnee-IL: Eagle Forum of Illinois yesterday announced its endorsement of businessman Paul Mitchell in his race for nomination to the Illinois House in the 62nd District. “I am thrilled to receive Eagle Forum’s endorsement,” said Mitchell this morning. “The Eagle Forum is not only a powerful force in Illinois, but across our nation in the effort to foster conservative values in government,” Mitchell said. “I’m honored to receive this endorsement and proud to stand with the Forum in its efforts to strengthen families, fight for life, and protect our freedoms.
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62nd District: Eagle Forum of Illinois Endorses Paul Mitchell for State House Seat”
-By Warner Todd Huston
First of all, I know it looks impossible to even say, so let’s clear up that last name. It’s pronounced An-gee-ef-ski. I know, I know, that means here in Illinois we could possibly go from a Governor Blagojevich to an Andrzejewski. But the difficult last name should stand as the only similarity between the two men, for Adam seems to have some ideas on how Illinois might get out of its fiscal nightmare. I interviewed him not long ago and he had some very interesting thoughts on how to fix Illinois. (adamforillinois.com)
In fact, Andrzejewski has already made some headway in shining the sunlight of accountability on various sate and local agencies through his self-funded program — self-funded to stay independent, he said — dubbed “For the Good of Illinois.” Andrzejewski has been at the vanguard of encouraging school boards and county governments in Illinois to put their check registries and finances on the Internet for all citizens to see. In fact, his catch phrase is “every dime online in real time.”
Fiscal Realism: Interview With Adam Andrzejewski Candidate for Illinois Governor”
From the Joe Walsh for Congress campaign…
Joe Walsh continues to receive endorsements and support in his race for Congress. The following is an initial list of endorsements, further endorsements will be forthcoming:
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8th District: Joe Walsh announcing Support and Endorsements”
From the Kirk Dillard for Governor campaign…
Important Party Nominates Candidate Who Can Win in Fall
Illinois Republican candidate for governor Kirk Dillard today renewed his charge that Andy McKenna’s ethics violation sends the wrong message to voters and contrasts sharply from Dillard’s record as a leader on ethics reform. GOP officials announced last week that McKenna, while Chairman, used party funds to further a possible run for political office.
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Dillard Renews Ethical Judgment Charge at Debate”
From the Jim Dodge for Comptroller campaign…
Jim Dodge, Republican Candidate for Illinois Comptroller, earned another round of endorsements from Republican rank and file organizations. The Illinois Center Right Coalition and the Republican Assembly of West Suburban Cook County endorsed Dodge for Illinois Comptroller in the February 2, 2010 Republican Primary. Lockport Township GOP organization announced its recommendation for Dodge, as well.
“I am appreciative of these organizations’ support. This shows Party members want to bring integrity and competency back to state government to make a clean break from the politics of the past,” said Dodge. “They want someone who will be tough and stand up for the citizens of Illinois and not conduct business as usual in Springfield.”
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Dodge for Comptroller: Winning more Endorsements”
Dan Proft say the other candidates are “blah, blah, blah…” and he asks if we are ready to “turn Springfield upside down”? Well I sure as heck am!
The Illinois Republican Party hosted a debate on January 7 in Springfield with all six Republican candidates for Lieutenant Governor. The debate was moderated by Terry Martin, Executive Director of The Illinois Channel.
I had a press pass for this night, but unfortunately I had some unexpected dental procedures that afternoon so I was in no shape to go cover a debate. I couldn’t feel my face until about 9PM that night.
From the Kirk Dillard for Governor campaign…
(Lisle, IL) – Illinois Republican candidate for governor Kirk Dillard today challenged his GOP opponents on judgment and ethics, arguing he has the best record and the experience to make Illinois work again.
“With our state in crisis, we need someone who can exercise sound judgment,” Dillard told a City Club forum in Chicago. “It is vital that the voters closely evaluate every candidate to determine who has the ethical judgment and leadership necessary to turn our state around and balance the state budget without the need for a tax increase.”
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Dillard Attacks Opponents on Ethics Questions Judgment”
From the Bob Dold for Congress campaign…
Robert Dold’s message of bringing small business common sense change to Washington is resonating with voters across the district. Adding to the high-charged momentum that continues to build at the Dold campaign, Robert picked up a key endorsement Sunday from Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, who endorsed Robert for his small business background and his ability to restrain reckless spending and create jobs in Washington.
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10th District: Peraica Endorses Dold”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Last week I spoke to candidate for Congress Randy Hultgren (R, DuPage County) who would like to win your GOP nomination for the 14th Congressional District. The 14th District encompasses the cities of Elgin in the east, westward toward DeKalb, Dixon and Sterling and as far south west as Coal Valley. The shape of the district is like that of a gas pump handle with the nozzle headed westward.
Attorney and business owner Randy Hultgren is currently the 48th District State Senator elected to that position in 2007. In 1999 he was elected to the State House and served there until elected to the Senate. Hultgren has been involved in state politics for 20 some years.
On his website, Hultgren says he’s running for Congress because he believes “we need real conservatism in Washington,” and that he’s proud to call himself a “real Conservative.” (Website: http://hultgrenforcongress.com/)
I began my time with Senator Hultgren noting that the filed of candidates for the 14th District was once pretty large but that in the last month it has been winnowed down to two candidates: himself and Ethan Hastert, son of former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. It is well known that the national party and folks like Newt Gingrich have announced their support of Hastert and I wondered what Mr. Hultgren’s reaction was to this fact.
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Interview With Randy Hultgren Candidate for 14th Congressional District”
From the David Ratowitz for Congress campaign…
The following is U.S. House Candidate David Ratowitz’s response to President Obama’s January 8 address on the U.S. economy and December job losses. Material can be reprinted verbatim or in part as needed.
Two months ago, the Democrat-controlled Congress told us that the recession was over. For 30 glorious days, the stimulated economy produced more than one new job for every 54,000 unemployed Americans. Then came December, when Americans, in a holiday spending frenzy fueled by low interest rates and a 48.6 percent surge in monthly Social Security and unemployment payments, created a better than expected shopping season. The result: 85,000 more jobs lost.
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Economic Recovery: Plight of the Fundamentals”
From the Isaac Hayes for Congress campaign…
The following statement was released today by Rev. Isaac C. Hayes, the GOP nominee for Congress in IL-2, in response to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s racial remarks about Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign as a “light-skinned” African-American “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.”:
“We will not accept a double standard. Sen. Harry Reid must go” said Hayes. “When Sen. Trent Lott’s was the Majority Leader, Sen. Obama called for him to step down. ‘The Republican Party itself has to drive out Trent Lott. If they have to stand for something, they have to stand up and say this is not the person we want representing our party.’ I call on president Obama to take this same position with a member of his own party. This is the second revelation in the past few months of questionable racial remarks from Sen. Reid and we will not continue to tolerate it.”
For more information, go to: isaac4honesty.com
-By Warner Todd Huston
The new FaceBook group called Illinois Conservatives is getting some more notice. Channel 17 in Rockford did a news piece on the group (see video here and here’s the written report that aired). We discussed the group last month.
These are a bunch of young guys that got together to start their FaceBook group in the hopes that they’d be able to serve as a place to go to find out what conservatives are running for office in Illinois. They have also started to endorse particular candidates and have been amazed to find that candidates are seeking them out for their endorsement.
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Illinois Conservatives on FaceBook Getting Some Notice”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Crain’s Chicago Business has just gotten into the business of indulging in foul, sexually charged name calling, apparently. Yes, you can mark Crain’s Chicago Business as only the latest news outlet to decide it’s funny to call conservatives “tea-baggers.” It’s a name that lefties have been tagging the movement with all winter, one derived from the sexually perverse homosexual practice.
This time it’s the self-assumed humorist and political columnist Greg Hinz who thought it was hilarious to call an Illinois gubernatorial candidate a “Tea-bagger.” In a blog post about candidate for Governor Adam Andrzejewski, Hinz broke out the funny bone and titled his offering, “Tea-bagger Andrzejewski goes for GOP gov’s gold.”
Now, without a doubt Greggie Hinz thinks he’s a laugh riot over at Crain’s Chicago Business. He must. After all, it is a laugh riot when a 60-something-year-old white, bald man wears an earring, isn’t it? (as can be seen in his blog photo) It must serve as his statement of “irony.” It’s his sign to those he meets that says, “Hey, dude, I’m a fun, funny guy.” Of course, it’s not really taken that way, sadly for Greggie. No, instead of being tragically hip, it’s just tragic. Speaking of hips, I hope this elder Crain’s jokester walks carefully on all this Chicago winter ice. We don’t want gramps to fall down and break his. And I hope Greggie walks carefully in those jester’s shoes with the curled up toes with the bells on them. It could be hazardous, ya know?
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Crain’s Chicago: Earring Wearing ‘Journo’ Attacks ‘Tea-Baggers’ and Conservatives”
-By Warner Todd Huston
25th District Senator Chris Lauzen (R, Aurora) has been opposed by establishment GOP types before and it looks like he’s again facing a go-along-to-get-along Republican challenger in his latest run for State Senate.
Sugar Grove Village President Sean Michels has thrown his hat in the ring against the veteran Senator from Aurora. What is his reason? He thinks that the 25th District needs someone to get along with the GOP establishment to “get things done.”
Michels told the Daily Herald that he felt that Lauzen couldn’t serve his constituents because he doesn’t work well with the party big boys.
Michels contends that Lauzen’s alienation from Republican leadership in Springfield costs the district in state money and in influence.
“He’s not effective in his own party,” Michels says, noting that after 17 years in office, Lauzen has no party leadership post.
As far as I am concerned that means that Michels wants to go along to get along, doesn’t want a senator that will fight the hard battles, wants a senator with no overriding principles, and wants someone that can just bring home the bacon to the district. Seems to me that Michels wants to practice just the sort of good ol’ boy politics that has been destroying the Illinois GOP for decades.
In the Herald interview Michels also said something that to me reveals his naivete and a complete inability to understand what a State Senator even does. Michels told the Herald that what prompted him to make this run is that he spotted a “bumpy stretch” of road near his home so he contacted a state representative who helped him get it fixed. He said that he wouldn’t be able to get this sort of help from Lauzen because Lauzen isn’t in bed with the GOP establishment — sadly, the Herald neglected to ask Michels if he even tried to contact Lauzen for help. Of course the absurdity here is that Michels thinks that a state senator’s job is to go about fixing potholes as if he were some city alderman!
While roads, bridges, and infrastructure do fall into the purview of the state senate, there is far more to the job than just fixing a “bumpy stretch” in a local road!
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Opponent Appears For Chris Lauzen’s 25th District State Senate Seat”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Last April current gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna was the Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party. At that time Party money paid for a poll to determine what the level of support was for the various Illinois Republicans that were considering, or might consider, a run for governor.
McKenna is now admitting that his name appeared on that poll at his own bidding and this was a violation of the pledge he took upon taking the GOP chairman’s seat. Like all other Chairmen, McKenna pledged to work for the party and not his own candidacy once he took the GOP chief’s role.
McKenna now admits that he directed that the poll include his own name despite that he pledged not to push his own candidacy while he was the GOP Chairman. Soon after the poll was conducted McKenna quit as party chief and then announced his own run for governor. This is all in contravention to his pledge to work for the party.
One month ago the state party decided to investigate McKenna’s action and today this tepid response was issued by the party:
The State Central Committee of the Illinois Republican Party has concluded that Mr. McKenna should not have done so without prior Central Committee approval and disclosure. Mr. McKenna had no intent to violate the spirit or the intent of the Party’s by-laws and he sincerely apologizes for having done so.
Well, maybe it isn’t completely tepid in that it actually happened at all. Brady should be given some level of kudos for even starting the investigation in the first place. That in itself is a step, no matter how small, away from the good old boy’s network that affords them license for every infraction or criminal action.
Still, I think Brady should have gone farther and demanded that McKenna repay the $25,000 the party spent on the poll back in April.
Andy McKenna is a prime symbol of all that is wrong with the Illinois GOP.
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Chairman Brady, McKenna Owes the Ill. GOP Twenty-five Grand”
From the Kirk Dillard for Governor campaign…
Republican candidate for governor Kirk Dillard today welcomed the endorsement of the Chicago Sun-Times in his race for the GOP nomination.
“I’m honored to be selected among the field of Republican candidates running for the state’s highest office,” said Dillard. “I have long valued the Sun-Times for its editorial positions on issues of importance to Illinois. To receive its endorsement is a true honor.”
In its endorsement, the Sun-Times said of Dillard, “No other candidate comes close to matching his experience in the executive and legislative branches of state government, his knowledge of the back doors of power in Springfield, and his proven ability to build cross-party coalitions without abandoning core Republican values.”
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Chicago Sun-Times Endorses Dillard for Governor”
Comptroller candidate Jim Dodge of Orland Park is hitting his opponents hard in this ad. Remember folks, our primaries are in just
From the Adam Andrzejewski for Governor campaign (pronounced Angee-efski)…
“Attorney General Lisa Madigan argues in court that the citizens of Illinois do not have a right to a secret ballot.”
Adam Andrzejewski, Republican candidate for Governor, is calling on the state legislature to restore Illinois citizens’ right to privacy in the voting booth. In late 2007, the Illinois General Assembly passed an update to the election law that effectively undermines the Illinois citizens’ right to a secret ballot.
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Andrzejewski calls on Legislature to restore Citizens’ right to a Secret Ballot”
From the Jim Dodge for Comptroller campaign…
In an effort to cut through campaign ad clutter, Jim Dodge, Republican Candidate for Illinois Comptroller has launched the first stage of an innovative campaign communication approach. This concerted statewide voter outreach is designed to direct voters to the campaign web site, www.jimdodge2010.com, and provide them immediate access to unfiltered information not only about Dodge’s background, qualifications and goals for the office but also the critical information about Dodge’s opponents that Republican voters must considered before voting.
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Comptroller: Dodge Launches State-Wide Campaign”
From the Kirk Dillard for Governor campaign…
Radio talk show hostess and commentator Sandy Rios today endorsed Republican candidate Kirk Dillard for governor. Rios said Dillard is the best Republican in the field of candidates vying for the GOP nomination on February 2.
“Kirk Dillard is my pick for governor,” Rios told her listeners on WYLL, AM 1160 in Chicago. “I care so much about what happens in this state and this race really matters. Kirk is good on the issues and has good relationships across party lines.”
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WYLL’s Sandy Rios Endorses Dillard”
From the Dirk Beveridge for Congress campaign…
January 6, 2010…Barrington, Ill. Tomorrow, at the Lake County Republican Party Debate, Dirk W. Beveridge (48), Republican candidate for the 8th Congressional District, will formally announce endorsements he has earned from a coalition of job creators, industry leaders and entrepreneurs.
“Dirk understands business issues and job creation,” explains Ron Bullock, Chairman and Owner, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. and 2009 Chair, Illinois Manufacturers Association.
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8th District Dirk Beveridge: Announcing Endorsements”