Illinois legislators will only get a brief post-election respite from politics; a week from Wednesday they’ll be back in Springfield to begin the veto session.The current makeup of the General Assembly will remain in place for that, but come the new year -- when the Capitol welcomes a new set of lawmakers elected Tuesday night -- the balance of power will shift, slightly.
Election Day is like the Super Bowl of politics.
While Gov. Bruce Rauner is the Republican Party’s standard-bearer, he had no public events yesterday (he hasn’t for weeks, actually, save for going to a couple of Cubs games and handing out candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween).
The Republican quietly cast his ballot Tuesday morning back home in Winnetka, then watched the results come in last night in private at the executive mansion in Springfield.
Despite his physical absence, Rauner made sure his presence was felt across Illinois, and in a big way.
He spent more than $30 million dollars bankrolling legislative races.
It’s part of his attempt to break the Democratic grip on the legislature -- a grip that thus far has stifled Rauner’s agenda. That, in turn, has led to a partisan stalemate that’s left Illinois without a real budget, and with an all-too-real deficit.
Rauner has frequently put the onus on Democrats to break the stalemate, with comments like this one from last year: “If the Speaker and the General Assembly doesn’t want to take up reforms, doesn’t want to pass any real structural reforms, then they should go ahead and pass a tax hike," he said. "They have a supermajority. They’re fully capable of increasing the taxes.”
Rauner won’t be able to use that excuse anymore.
A brief primer: A supermajority means one party has at least 3/5ths of the seats in the House or the Senate; that’s how many votes are needed to override a governor’s veto.
In the Illinois Senate, that takes 36 votes. And Democrats have (through 2016, anyway) 39 seats. A super-supermajority, if you will.
Republicans chipped at that some, but only a net gain of two seats.
Specifically:
-47th District: Former GOP State Rep. Jil Tracy will fill a western Illinois seat vacated by Democrat John Sullivan of Rushville.
-59th District: Long-time Democratic Senator Gary Forby of Benton, in southern Illinois, was ousted by Dale Fowler, the Republican mayor of Harrisburg.
-58th District: A seat left open by GOP Senator Dave Luechtefeld of Okawville will be filled by another Republican, Paul Schimpf, instead of former Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon.
-23rd District: It appears that Democratic Sen. Tom Cullerton of Villa Park will go back to springfield, though a challenge from Republican Seth Lewis is still too close to call as of Wednesday morning.
Given all of that, Democrats in the Senate still have a supermajority, with an extra vote to spare.
But in the Illinois House, it’s a different story.
Unless you managed to stay away from a TV all campaign season, you surely heard a Republican ad like this one, which says: “Mike Madigan made a fortune on tax appeals, representing the powerful and politically-connected. Saving his friends millions. Forcing you to pay more. It’s an inside game…”
Ads and critiques of Michael Madigan often both denigrate the longtime Speaker of the Illinois House, while at the same time exalting him as an all-powerful master of puppets.
Madigan has had a supermajority of 71 Democrats (though they’ve rarely been united enough to actually override Rauner vetoes).
That will soon end. Meaning: No more supermajority. As in, come January, when the new legislators are inaugurated, no longer will Rauner be able to say that Democrats have the votes to hike taxes against his will.
Imagine that they try (they haven’t by the way). Rauner could reject the bill, and House Democrats wouldn’t have the ranks to unilaterally override him.
Republicans gained a net of four seats in the Illinois House. One GOP incumbent, Rep. Dwight Kay of Glen Carbon, lost to Katie Stuart, in the 112th District.
But the party held onto a top-tier race in the 20th District, meaning the sole Republican representing parts of Chicago, Michael McAuliffe. The GOP also won five seats currently in Democratic hands:
-63rd District: Democratic Rep. Jack Franks ran for local office instead; his seat will go to a Republican, Steven Reick.
-71st District: Republican Tony McCombie beat first-term Democratic representative Mike Smiddy.
-79th District: Another Democratic incumbent, Kate Cloonen, who lives near Kankakee, lost her seat to attorney Lindsay Parkhurst.
-76th District: Rep. Andrew Skoog, who took over the 76th district when Spring Valley's Frank Mautino -- who is now under investigation for campaign spending -- became Auditor General, lost his first election, to Jerry Lee Long.
-117th District: Voters tossed one of Madigan's top lieutenants, Rep. John Bradley, in favor of Benton businessman Dave Severin.
“This is about southern Illinois, this is about the state of Illinois. And you know what it shows to me, that there’s hope, if you stay true to your dream, if you stay true to your Lord, then he’ll guide and direct you. It may take some time," Severin said in his campaign speech. “We can get jobs back here. Stop people leaving here as far as businesses and people having to leave the area because there aren’t jobs. Fund education. Take care of senior citizens. All the different things that my opponent said … I’m not going to go there, sorry, you guys got TV cameras on, I’m not going to talk about that stuff.”
The race is a big win for Rauner, and for Republicans.
In a statement, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin says Illinois voters sent a message that Democrats should get on board with Rauner’s agenda.
"By handily breaking the supermajority, Illinois voters sent a strong message that it is time for Democrats to join Governor Rauner and legislative Republicans in enacting reforms to lower property taxes, create more jobs, address the pension crisis and place term limits on the career politicians alongside a balanced budget," Durkin said.
But Madigan and his fellow Democrats heard something different.
Democrats ended the night with statewide victories: Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth easily bested incumbent Republican Mark Kirk in a race the race for U.S. Senate, and Gov. Rauner’s handpicked choice for Comptroller – Leslie Munger lost her job to Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza.
"I think what we say tonight was a rejection of the extreme agenda, which is making so many people in the state of Illinois victims. Victims of political inefficiencies and inadequacies on the statewide level. The middle class and the working class, and the underclass ... have been under attack by the current administration," Mendoza said in her victory speech.
In a statement, Speaker Madigan says voters showed they want to keep strong democratic majorities in the legislature, to serve as a check on the governor and his agenda.
Madigan says this cycle was a “difficult environment” for many Democratic candidates, thanks to Rauner’s unprecedented millions, coupled with “the Trump headwind in downstate Illinois.”
Trump did well in those regions, even though Illinois as a whole went strongly for Clinton.
The changes coming in Springfield — combined with the economic uncertainty that’s greeted Trump’s victory — mean the “difficult environment" will not soon be getting any easier.
Illinois House races (as of 8 a.m. Wednesday Nov. 9)
< ^District 10
111 of 118 precincts - 94 percent
x-Melissa Conyears, Dem 33,187 - 84 percent
Mark Spognardi, GOP 6,517 - 16 percent
< ^District 11
97 of 97 precincts - 100 percent
x-Ann Williams, Dem (i) 36,830 - 72 percent
Gary Mandell, GOP 14,629 - 28 percent
< ^District 12
88 of 90 precincts - 98 percent
x-Sara Feigenholtz, Dem (i) 41,467 - 76 percent
Gene Witt, GOP 13,270 - 24 percent
< ^District 14
70 of 80 precincts - 88 percent
x-Kelly Cassidy, Dem (i) 30,397 - 83 percent
Arthur Siegel, Ind 6,007 - 17 percent
< ^District 15
91 of 93 precincts - 98 percent
x-John D'Amico, Dem (i) 24,411 - 61 percent
Jonathan Edelman, GOP 15,624 - 39 percent
< ^District 18
80 of 80 precincts - 100 percent
x-Robyn Gabel, Dem (i) 35,462 - 64 percent
Jessica Tucker, GOP 19,966 - 36 percent
< ^District 20
84 of 84 precincts - 100 percent
x-Michael McAuliffe, GOP (i) 25,387 - 56 percent
Merry Marwig, Dem 19,724 - 44 percent
< ^District 24
61 of 61 precincts - 100 percent
x-Lisa Hernandez, Dem (i) 22,721 - 79 percent
Andy Kirchoff, GOP 5,896 - 21 percent
< ^District 35
100 of 106 precincts - 94 percent
x-Frances Hurley, Dem (i) 31,488 - 65 percent
Victor Horne, GOP 17,249 - 35 percent
< ^District 42
114 of 114 precincts - 100 percent
x-Jeanne Ives, GOP (i) 32,357 - 61 percent
Kathleen Carrier, Dem 20,680 - 39 percent
< ^District 44
55 of 55 precincts - 100 percent
x-Fred Crespo, Dem (i) 21,520 - 63 percent
Katy Dolan Baumer, GOP 12,874 - 37 percent
< ^District 45
108 of 108 precincts - 100 percent
x-Christine Winger, GOP (i) 25,562 - 54 percent
Cynthia Borbas, Dem 22,130 - 46 percent
< ^District 46
97 of 97 precincts - 100 percent
x-Deb Conroy, Dem (i) 22,834 - 59 percent
Heidi Holan, GOP 16,021 - 41 percent
< ^District 48
120 of 120 precincts - 100 percent
x-Peter Breen, GOP (i) 30,359 - 57 percent
Steve Swanson, Dem 23,079 - 43 percent
< ^District 50
66 of 66 precincts - 100 percent
x-Keith Wheeler, GOP (i) 30,886 - 61 percent
Valerie Burd, Dem 19,936 - 39 percent
< ^District 55
70 of 70 precincts - 100 percent
x-Martin Moylan, Dem (i) 24,787 - 59 percent
Dan Gott, GOP 17,259 - 41 percent
< ^District 56
74 of 74 precincts - 100 percent
x-Michelle Mussman, Dem (i) 24,096 - 56 percent
Jillian Bernas, GOP 19,259 - 44 percent
< ^District 58
70 of 70 precincts - 100 percent
x-Scott Drury, Dem (i) 28,841 - 57 percent
Marty Blumenthal, GOP 21,434 - 43 percent
< ^District 59
61 of 61 precincts - 100 percent
x-Carol Sente, Dem (i) 25,443 - 61 percent
Dawn Abernathy, GOP 16,415 - 39 percent
< ^District 60
49 of 49 precincts - 100 percent
x-Rita Mayfield, Dem (i) 21,994 - 76 percent
Robert Ochsner, GOP 6,828 - 24 percent
< ^District 61
70 of 70 precincts - 100 percent
x-Sheri Jesiel, GOP (i) 26,364 - 57 percent
Nick Ciko, Dem 19,663 - 43 percent
< ^District 62
62 of 62 precincts - 100 percent
x-Sam Yingling, Dem (i) 21,681 - 52 percent
Rod Drobinski, GOP 19,732 - 48 percent
< ^District 63
73 of 73 precincts - 100 percent
x-Steven Reick, GOP 25,525 - 57 percent
John Bartman, Dem 19,560 - 43 percent
< ^District 66
71 of 71 precincts - 100 percent
x-Allen Skillicorn, GOP 27,048 - 58 percent
Nancy Zettler, Dem 19,763 - 42 percent
< ^District 68
90 of 90 precincts - 100 percent
x-John Cabello, GOP (i) 29,654 - 64 percent
Tricia Sweeney, Dem 16,662 - 36 percent
< ^District 69
97 of 97 precincts - 100 percent
x-Joe Sosnowski, GOP (i) 32,609 - 67 percent
Angelique Bodine, Dem 15,838 - 33 percent
< ^District 71
106 of 106 precincts - 100 percent
x-Tony McCombie, GOP 30,586 - 63 percent
Mike Smiddy, Dem (i) 18,053 - 37 percent
< ^District 72
92 of 92 precincts - 100 percent
x-Michael Halpin, Dem 24,987 - 56 percent
Brandi McGuire, GOP 19,329 - 44 percent
< ^District 74
145 of 145 precincts - 100 percent
x-Daniel Swanson, GOP 34,450 - 66 percent
Bill Butts, Dem 18,072 - 34 percent
< ^District 75
87 of 87 precincts - 100 percent
x-David Welter, GOP (i) 28,889 - 58 percent
Martha Shugart, Dem 20,683 - 42 percent
< ^District 76
120 of 120 precincts - 100 percent
x-Jerry Long, GOP 23,078 - 51 percent
Andy Skoog, Dem (i) 22,486 - 49 percent
< ^District 77
62 of 62 precincts - 100 percent
x-Kathleen Willis, Dem (i) 20,390 - 70 percent
Anthony Airdo, GOP 8,655 - 30 percent
< ^District 79
72 of 72 precincts - 100 percent
x-Lindsay Parkhurst, GOP 23,649 - 54 percent
Kate Cloonen, Dem (i) 20,366 - 46 percent
< ^District 81
108 of 108 precincts - 100 percent
x-David Olsen, GOP (i) 28,381 - 53 percent
Greg Hose, Dem 24,714 - 47 percent
< ^District 84
73 of 73 precincts - 100 percent
x-Stephanie Kifowit, Dem (i) 21,473 - 62 percent
Mike Strick, GOP 13,320 - 38 percent
< ^District 93
150 of 150 precincts - 100 percent
x-Norine Hammond, GOP (i) 22,925 - 55 percent
John Curtis, Dem 19,071 - 45 percent
< ^District 94
143 of 143 precincts - 100 percent
x-Randy Frese, GOP (i) 35,683 - 75 percent
Bobby Pritchett, Dem 11,772 - 25 percent
< ^District 95
124 of 124 precincts - 100 percent
x-Avery Bourne, GOP (i) 27,464 - 57 percent
Mike Mathis, Dem 20,692 - 43 percent
< ^District 99
107 of 107 precincts - 100 percent
x-Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, GOP (i) 35,255 - 61 percent
Tony DelGiorno, Dem 22,078 - 39 percent
< ^District 101
99 of 99 precincts - 100 percent
x-Bill Mitchell, GOP (i) 41,608 - 75 percent
Christine Law, Dem 13,597 - 25 percent
< ^District 110
118 of 118 precincts - 100 percent
x-Reggie Phillips, GOP (i) 29,238 - 65 percent
Dennis Malak, Dem 16,067 - 35 percent
< ^District 111
99 of 99 precincts - 100 percent
x-Daniel Beiser, Dem (i) 24,708 - 53 percent
Mike Babcock, GOP 22,285 - 47 percent
< ^District 112
90 of 90 precincts - 100 percent
x-Katie Stuart, Dem 27,454 - 52 percent
Dwight Kay, GOP (i) 25,753 - 48 percent
< ^District 113
110 of 110 precincts - 100 percent
x-Jay Hoffman, Dem (i) 26,590 - 59 percent
Katherine Ruocco, GOP 18,392 - 41 percent
< ^District 114
102 of 102 precincts - 100 percent
x-LaToya Greenwood, Dem 25,774 - 57 percent
Bob Romanik, GOP 19,275 - 43 percent
< ^District 115
121 of 121 precincts - 100 percent
x-Terri Bryant, GOP (i) 25,452 - 56 percent
Marsha Griffin, Dem 20,183 - 44 percent
< ^District 117
104 of 104 precincts - 100 percent
x-Dave Severin, GOP 26,878 - 53 percent
John Bradley, Dem (i) 23,949 - 47 percent
< ^District 118
140 of 140 precincts - 100 percent
x-Brandon Phelps, Dem (i) 26,361 - 58 percent
Jason Kasiar, GOP 18,968 - 42 percent
Illinois Senate races
< ^District 22
119 of 119 precincts - 100 percent
x-Cristina Castro, Dem 38,993 - 64 percent
Tracy Smodilla, GOP 21,699 - 36 percent
< ^District 23
204 of 204 precincts - 100 percent
Thomas Cullerton, Dem (i) 43,640 - 50 percent
Seth Lewis, GOP 42,852 - 50 percent
< ^District 25
154 of 154 precincts - 100 percent
x-Jim Oberweis, GOP (i) 53,524 - 55 percent
Corinne Pierog, Dem 43,761 - 45 percent
< ^District 26
167 of 167 precincts - 100 percent
x-Dan McConchie, GOP (i) 62,737 - 59 percent
Kelly Mazeski, Dem 43,048 - 41 percent
< ^District 28
144 of 144 precincts - 100 percent
x-Laura Murphy, Dem (i) 45,468 - 53 percent
Mel Thillens, GOP 39,869 - 47 percent
< ^District 29
134 of 134 precincts - 100 percent
x-Julie Morrison, Dem (i) 52,532 - 59 percent
Benjamin Salzberg, GOP 36,573 - 41 percent
< ^District 31
131 of 131 precincts - 100 percent
x-Melinda Bush, Dem (i) 47,585 - 54 percent
Michael Amrozowicz, GOP 40,508 - 46 percent
< ^District 32
152 of 152 precincts - 100 percent
x-Pamela Althoff, GOP (i) 64,632 - 68 percent
Melissa Coyne, Dem 30,804 - 32 percent
< ^District 38
206 of 206 precincts - 100 percent
x-Sue Rezin, GOP (i) 55,224 - 58 percent
Christine Benson, Dem 40,143 - 42 percent
< ^District 49
110 of 110 precincts - 100 percent
x-Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Dem (i) 50,996 - 53 percent
Michelle Smith, GOP 45,904 - 47 percent
< ^District 52
155 of 155 precincts - 100 percent
x-Scott Bennett, Dem (i) 52,045 - 61 percent
Michael P. Madigan, GOP 33,395 - 39 percent
< ^District 58
232 of 232 precincts - 100 percent
x-Paul Schimpf, GOP 58,780 - 61 percent
Sheila Simon, Dem 37,409 - 39 percent
< ^District 59
243 of 243 precincts - 100 percent
x-Dale Fowler, GOP 53,253 - 55 percent
Gary Forby, Dem (i) 42,973 - 45 percent
