The dates have been set for the IL-05 Primary and Special Election to replace Rahm Emanuel. The race begins in earnest next Monday (1/12/09) when signatures can begin to be collected in support of candidates for this office. Congressional Quarterly (CQ) reports here that prospective candidates need:
- 927 valid signers and
- they have to be collected between 1/12 and 1/19.
Looks like a fun week in my 'hood!
In related news on the race, Sara Fiegenholtz (IL State Senator) led in fund raising among all candidates as of January 2. She's raised $300,000. Various sources suggest the race will cost the winner $600,000 to $1 mil, even though the real election, the Democratic Primary, is just 2 MONTHS away.
Here's Feigenholtz on WGN
I want to encourage this online community to make this Democratic Primary in Illinois the focus of progressives attention nationally. This district deserves a dedicated progressive. The upcoming primary could be a great forum for many Chicago Northside Progressives to force our issues to the forefront of the public debate.
If you DO LIVE in the district, please sign petitions. Please encourage others to sign petitions. Help make this field a large and diverse as possible. If you can volunteer, hold a public meeting, have a candidate to lunch, or make a small donation to any of them - please do so. And, of course make noise on line, especially about the 1/12 through 1/19 signing period.
If you DO NOT LIVE in the district, blog, email, donate money and do anything else you can think of help focus attention on this race. I think the primary could end up being a great example of American grassroots and netroots politics at work. In the end, I think the more attention that is focused on this race, the more progressive the winner will be.