Dem candidates for governor line up to showcase their loyalty to Madigan and kiss his ring

“Illinois Democrats are kidding themselves – today is really Madigan Day at the Illinois State Fair. Democrat candidates for governor have nothing to celebrate about Madigan’s record-setting, disastrous reign of terror over Illinois, but that doesn’t stop them from traveling to Springfield to showcase their loyalty and kiss his ring.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

After Speaker Mike Madigan landed the title of “longest-serving state House speaker in U.S. history,” Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair is no longer known as Democrat Day – it’s Madigan Day.

At the helm of the Democratic Party of Illinois since 1998, Madigan has used his Chicago machine to accumulate wealth for himself and his cronies, consolidate political power, hike taxes, and squash reform, all to the detriment of Illinois families and taxpayers.

Now Democrat candidates for governor have made the journey from Chicago to Springfield to showcase their loyalty and kiss Madigan’s ring. With loyalists like these, it’s no surprise Madigan wants an ally in the Governor’s Mansion:

J.B. Pritzker

J.B. Pritzker and Mike Madigan have embraced one another from the start. Madigan and the rest of the Chicago Democratic machine have been “steering unions, interest groups, or politicians” to back Pritzker in exchange for assurances that J.B. falls in line. When his campaign was asked how Pritzker would address the heavy handed tenure of Madigan, they mentioned that Illinois Democrats need to improve, but conveniently left out their good buddy Mike Madigan. Behind closed doors, Pritzker voiced his support for Madigan’s tax hike plan: to raise taxes even higher than Madigan’s recent 32% tax hike.

Chris Kennedy

Chris Kennedy has made no bones about his support for Mike Madigan’s agenda. Kennedy thinks reforms to state government are “bullsh*t” and has backed Madigan’s 32% tax tax hike. When asked if Madigan should be reelected as Speaker, Kennedy was at a loss for words. Madigan loves Chris Kennedy’s loyalty so much, he thinks Kennedy is an “excellent candidate” and “a very good candidate for governor.”

Daniel Biss

Daniel Biss talks a good game about taking on the “money and the machine,” but he has a record of working for both. Biss ran a Super PAC that one Illinois Democrat operative called a “Madigan joint“. That Super PAC took boatloads of cash from Madigan, special interests, and insiders like Pritzker and Kennedy. During his short tenure in the House, Biss made Madigan Speaker for another term and voted for Madigan’s rigged legislative maps. Later in the Senate, Biss voted for Madigan’s wildly unbalanced budget and 32% tax hike.

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