The Primaries will be held tomorrow, March 18th, in the Land of Lincoln (my home state). Before we go any further, there is one major change to the electing of our Lieutenant Governor to know about: The Lt. Gov. is no longer elected separately from from the Governor. Each candidate has picked a running mate, much in the vein of the Presidency.
Remember to go vote on Tuesday. Polls open at 6AM CDT and close at 7PM CDT. You are allowed to vote after 7PM, as long as you are in the line waiting to vote prior to the 7PM cutoff.
I am running for an elected office for the 1st time ever. That race will be discussed after the fold.
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Hashtags: #ILPrimary, #twill
IL-Gov/IL-Lt. Gov:
Dems:
Incumbent Pat Quinn and running mate Paul Vallas are the favorites to win, as former CeaseFire director and domestic abuser Tio Hardiman/Brunell Donald is also on the ballot. I endorse Quinn/Vallas or write-in.
GOP:
The biggest battle in the state of Illinois (on paper) is right here, and the 2010 Top Two (Brady, Dillard) are running again.
The candidates are businessman Bruce Rauner, State Senators Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard, and scandal-ridden Treasurer Dan Rutherford. Rauner is the clear favorite to win the primary.
The running mates are: Bill Brady/Maria Rodriguez, Bruce Rauner/Evelyn Sanguinetti, Kirk Dillard/Jil Tracy, and Dan Rutherford/Steve Kim. I endorse Brady/Rodriguez in a rematch of 2010, with him losing to Quinn again.
IL-Sen:
Dems:
Dick Durbin is the incumbent. I endorse Durbin to win the General.
GOP:
Businessman Doug Truax and State Senator Jim Oberweis are the nominees. For the GOP Primary, I endorse Jim Oberweis, as it will cripple the GOP further.
IL-Treasurer:
To replace outgoing incumbent Dan Rutherford, who is running for Governor.
Dems:
State Senator Mike Frerichs is running. He is endorsed for the Primary and the General.
GOP:
House Minority Leader Tom Cross (who voted for SB10) and DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan are running. Grogan is the pick of the IFI/SoCon wing of the ILGOP, while Cross is the pick of the GOP power brokers. In the GOP Primary, I endorse Grogan, as it will make Frerichs' life easier in the general.
Congressional Races:
IL-09, GOP:
David Earl Williams and Susanne Atanus, two crazy GOP candidates, will have the right to face off against incumbent Jan Schakowsky (D) and lose to her big. Neither GOP candidate is endorsed.
IL-11, GOP:
The contest on the GOP side is all about facing off incumbent Bill Foster (D).
The candidates are Grundy County Board Member Chris Balkema, State Rep. Darlene Senger, Far-Right talker Ian Bayne, and Bert Miller. Bayne is endorsed, as it will give Foster the easiest time of winning.
IL-12:
Incumbent Bill Enyart will try to hold off Mike Bost in the General in November. Enyart is endorsed for the General.
IL-13:
The all-important swing seat in the nation.
Dems:
3rd Circuit Chief Judge Ann Callis, professor George Gollin, and social policy analyst David Green are running. As a resident of Madison County, Callis is endorsed.
GOP:
Incumbent Rodney Davis is running, and 2003 Miss America winner Erika Harold and perennial candidate Michael Firsching are running. Harold is endorsed to go on to face the Democratic winner.
IL-18, Dems:
Two Democrats, Army veteran Rob Mellon and farmer Darren Miller, are running against incumbent Aaron Schock (R). Mellon is endorsed.
Illinois House:
HD39, Dems:
Incumbent Toni Berrios and progressive challenger Will Guzzardi are duking it out in the primary. Guzzardi is endorsed.
HD40, Dems:
Appointed incumbent Jaime Andrade will face off against union-backed lawyer Nancy Schiavone. Schiavone is endorsed over Andrade.
HD81, GOP:
Incumbent Ron Sandack, who was one of three House GOP Yes votes to SB10, is facing a primary challenger in Keith Matune, a challenger backed by the IFI/SoCon wing of the GOP. Sandack, for his courageous AYE vote on SB10, is endorsed.
HD112:
Incumbent Dwight Kay (R) will face off against Democratic challenger Cullen L. Cullen. Cullen is endorsed for the General.
HD115:
This is to replace outgoing House Rep. Mike Bost (R), who is running in IL-12 against Bill Enyart (D).
Dems:
Director of Mine Safety and Enforcement Tom Mayville and former Jackson County Sheriff Bill Kilquist are running. I endorse Kilquist.
GOP:
Illinois Department of Corrections employee Terri Bryant and business owner Bob White vie to keep the seat Red. I endorse neither.
Illinois Senate:
SD52:
Mike Frerichs' Senate Seat, should he win Treasurer, will likely be filled by a Democrat for the rest of his term until 2016.
Ballot Proposals:
Term Limits for Legislators Amendment. It would reduce the Senate form 59 to 41 members, while increasing the House from 118 to 123. It would also require 2/3rds in both houses to override a veto, instead of 3/5ths. If it makes the ballot, it ought to be rejected by the voters.
If there is an amendment to switch to the progressive income tax, I will endorse it.
Madison County:
Sheriff, Dems:
The incumbent Sheriff is Bob Hertz, and the challenger is John Lakin. The winner of this primary will be our next Sheriff in Madison County. I endorse Lakin.
Nameoki 5 Precinct Committeeman, Dems:
My precinct in Madison County. This is my 1st ever attempt at an elected office, running against incumbent and long time county institution Helen Hawkins.
I am hoping to win the race.