The vitriol, name-calling, and wild accusations are as close as your radio, tee vee, and mailbox. At least until next Tuesday’s primary.
We’re hearing how almost all the Republican candidates are the most aligned with former President Donald Trump, are toughest on immigrants, and are toughest on crime, and how their Republican primary opponents are closet liberals. Is this really what Illinois Republicans are about?
“I think the electorate is coming back to a much more reasonable sense of things,” said Todd Maisch (pictured, left), president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, as his organization endorsed U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (pictured, right) (R-Taylorville) – a relative moderate compared to his opponent, U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-Oakland). “They’re going to look at individuals’ records. They’re going to look at whether we just want this positive gridlock for another two years or if we actually want to move things forward. So I will predict – Todd Maisch (as opposed to the chamber) will predict – this is the last cycle that you will feel comfortable asking that question.”
While Maisch said Gov. JB Pritzker’s first term has earned praise in some ways and disagreement in others, the chamber is making no endorsement in the gubernatorial primaries. But what if, say, the liberal Pritzker meets the far-right State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenis) in November?
“I think I’ll be completely transparent and duck your question,” Maisch said with a laugh, before explaining chamber endorsements are board decisions.