Democrats tout unity at State Fair — but gov, party chair Kelly keep distance
SPRINGFIELD — Democrats touted their leadership and unity Wednesday in their return to the state’s capital city for Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair.
But the absence of the state’s top executive from a brunch pep rally cast doubt on that solidarity even as the head of the Democratic organization hosting the event tried to downplay any suggestion of discord within the party’s ranks.
“Whatever you may read in the press, Democrats in Illinois are united,” said Kristina Zahorik, the president of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association. “There’s too much at stake to be divided.”
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, the chair of the Illinois Democratic Party, stumped for the entire Democratic ticket — including herself, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other elected Democrats — during the brunch.
Kelly, who beat out Pritzker’s chosen candidate to take the state party reins, downplayed the governor’s absence, even though the Chicago Democrat hosted his own event later in the day.
“That’s Pritzker’s choice,” the south suburban congresswoman said. “Everybody makes their own decisions on what they want to do.”
Democrats did all seem to agree that there was a lot on the line in next year’s midterm elections, which often see the party of the president lose in contests across the country.
The county chairs’ Wednesday brunch is designed to kick off Governor’s Day events at the fair, even though it was held under a tent outside a hotel off the fairgrounds this year in deference to Pritzker’s safety concerns — only for him to opt to send a video rather than attend in person.
Forging ahead anyway, Democrats billed themselves as the only party with the vision to move the state — and the country — forward.
“Who better to build back this country than Democrats?” Zahorik asked.
Pritzker chose to skip the morning’s events in favor of family plans in Chicago but made it back to Springfield to throw his own rally on the Director’s Lawn on the fairgrounds Wednesday afternoon. His event featured the state’s constitutional officers and was largely a reprisal of the morning’s events — but with Pritzker in attendance.
At the afternoon event, a band played funk and soul music before Pritzker pitched Democrats and their policies saying “over and over, it’s Democrats who deliver for the people of Illinois.”
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Illinois
Treasurer Mike Frerichs, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Secretary of State Jesse White all spoke at Pritzker’s event.
Kelly attended Pritzker’s rally but did not speak or sit on the stage with the statewide elected officials who did address the crowd.
Surrounded by reporters afterward on the lawn, Pritzker brushed off questions about not attending the morning’s event.
“Lots of people had lots of things to do,” Pritzker said. “I’m excited about the fact that we had so many Democrats here, and the people who could make it did — I’m excited about that.
“There’s some people who try to write that people are boycotting or not going to something because they don’t want to — they don’t want to be there. The truth is that we’re all very busy . ... I try to get to everything that I can, and I support every Democrat that was at the IDCCA event this morning.”
The governor committed to supporting his own campaign fund, Blue Wave Illinois, to help support down-ballot candidates and political organizations, but didn’t give a clear answer about whether he’ll contribute to the Democratic Party of Illinois’ coffers now that its party structure has been clarified.
As a federal officeholder, Kelly — who beat Pritzker’s pick, Ald. Michelle Harris, to lead the state party in March — is prohibited from raising “soft money,” which goes toward state elections.
“As you know we’re all working together to make sure we elect Democrats up and down the ticket,” Pritzker said.
Last year’s cancellation of the Illinois State Fair — and Democrat Day and Republican Day events — was the first since 1945, when World War II pushed the festivities into a hiatus.
The fair is famous for its corndogs and lemon shake-ups, but Pritzker offered his own shake-up last week when he said he would not attend the county chairs’ brunch due to COVID concerns.
That didn’t deter the politicking Wednesday.
Declaring his expected candidacy for reelection at the brunch, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul reprised a campaign slogan from four years ago, calling his work in the office “the work of my life — and I’m just getting started.”
Candidates vying to succeed Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White gave brief speeches at the morning’s brunch. Later Wednesday, White said he expects to make a decision on who to support in the race sometime in January.
“It’s too early right now,” White said. “I have a sneaking suspicion there will be a few more people getting into that race.”
Illinois Republicans will host their own festivities Thursday.