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Stonepounder

(4,033 posts)
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 12:35 AM Apr 2017

Democrats In Illinois Just Unseated A Whole Bunch Of Republicans

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/democrats-grassroots-trump-elections_us_58efd21de4b0bb9638e270c1?sec3kkytkfz4lhaor&ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

WASHINGTON ― In a spate of local elections last week in Illinois, Democrats picked up seats in places they’ve never won before.

The city of Kankakee elected its first African-American, Democratic mayor. West Deerfield Township will be led entirely by Democrats for the first time. Elgin Township voted for “a complete changeover,” flipping to an all-Democratic board. Normal Township elected Democratic supervisors and trustees to run its board ― the first time in more than 100 years that a single Democrat has held a seat.

“We had a pretty good day,” said Dan Kovats, executive director of the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association. “We won in areas we normally would win, but we also won in areas Republicans never expected us to be competitive in. They were caught flat-footed.”

These may seem like relatively small victories ― we’re talking about municipal races in towns with tens of thousands of people ― but they fit with a broader pattern that should have Republicans on edge ahead of the 2018 elections: Progressive grassroots activism, exploding with energy since President Donald Trump’s win in November, is fueling Democratic gains in GOP strongholds.



Lots more at the link.
Keep tending that grass out there, folks. Keep those roots strong!

40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Democrats In Illinois Just Unseated A Whole Bunch Of Republicans (Original Post) Stonepounder Apr 2017 OP
This is how it starts. charlyvi Apr 2017 #1
Yes Yes....this is great news. Demsrule86 Apr 2017 #26
Yup, good to see them do this and it was a mistake for the Democrats to focus to much cstanleytech Apr 2017 #40
We need more Democrats at the local and state level Frances Apr 2017 #2
Exactly what I was talking about Tuesday RandySF Apr 2017 #3
I remember. Ligyron Apr 2017 #24
Truly Beautiful. oasis Apr 2017 #4
It seems that this tRump maladministration does have a silver lining. tavalon Apr 2017 #5
If I had the talent for raising money RandySF Apr 2017 #6
add the demographic shifts. Dawson Leery Apr 2017 #7
Yay Dems!!! Mahalo, Stonepounder! Cha Apr 2017 #8
No--not small. zentrum Apr 2017 #9
Exactly drmeow Apr 2017 #13
Yes! Never zentrum Apr 2017 #14
Me neither drmeow Apr 2017 #32
Ruiner (rauner) is next! Thekaspervote Apr 2017 #10
which 2? mopinko Apr 2017 #21
He's Toast ProfessorGAC Apr 2017 #23
That is where we start. Demtexan Apr 2017 #11
Great news, now they must justify the faith put in them OnDoutside Apr 2017 #12
YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!! BlancheSplanchnik Apr 2017 #15
good news yay! luvMIdog Apr 2017 #16
The resistance begins at the local level! Initech Apr 2017 #17
This is the type of info worth 500 recs top of Greatest Page Pacifist Patriot Apr 2017 #18
K&R. nt raccoon Apr 2017 #19
IL Democrats also arent afraid to talk about legalizing marijuana. I suspect that helped. Warren DeMontague Apr 2017 #20
i dont think it was an issue. mopinko Apr 2017 #22
I don't know. My 80something yr. old mother wants it to pass there, pretty badly. Warren DeMontague Apr 2017 #31
Please get involved in your local Democratic Party organization. MineralMan Apr 2017 #25
How does one do that? Bradical79 Apr 2017 #28
Google democratic party county state MineralMan Apr 2017 #35
Most of the time, one can search for the county's Democratic Party meeting duhneece Apr 2017 #33
This is a big deal. kcr Apr 2017 #27
Please! Rauner must be next to Goooooo! Stellar Apr 2017 #29
Great news! Things are looking up! smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #30
Sweep'em out. tenorly Apr 2017 #34
Beat the fornicators! Horse with no Name Apr 2017 #36
As they say, all politics is local NastyRiffraff Apr 2017 #37
Don't wake the elephants-- lastlib Apr 2017 #38
This was posted April 5 and 7 in the Illinois forum. murielm99 Apr 2017 #39

cstanleytech

(26,087 posts)
40. Yup, good to see them do this and it was a mistake for the Democrats to focus to much
Sat Apr 15, 2017, 12:17 AM
Apr 2017

on the federal elections as it let the Repugants gain far to much power at the state and local level across the country but hopefully the Democrats wont forget that lesson now and things will begin to change though it will take atleast a few years before we see much change.

Ligyron

(7,592 posts)
24. I remember.
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 09:57 AM
Apr 2017

Cheerful OP even tho I'm in Florida and Dump will be in my town AGAIN tonight screwing up local businesses and boating navigation.

tavalon

(27,985 posts)
5. It seems that this tRump maladministration does have a silver lining.
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 12:48 AM
Apr 2017

There are a lot of newly awake people.

RandySF

(57,661 posts)
6. If I had the talent for raising money
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 12:48 AM
Apr 2017

I would devote it to elected Democrats to local and state legislative offices across the country.

drmeow

(4,996 posts)
13. Exactly
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 02:09 AM
Apr 2017

The Dems need to be cultivating fresh and young talent and going back to Dean's 50 state solution.

zentrum

(9,865 posts)
14. Yes! Never
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 02:27 AM
Apr 2017

...really understood why he was so shut down and shut out and kept from doing the fifty state strategy back in the day.

Might have won for us in 2016 and we wouldn't be facing this RW coup.

drmeow

(4,996 posts)
32. Me neither
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 06:48 PM
Apr 2017

Maybe he left rather than being pushed out, but I find that hard to believe.

I think we are going to start seeing more grassroots/bypass the DNC campaigns (which would not, IMO, be a bad thing).

Thekaspervote

(32,606 posts)
10. Ruiner (rauner) is next!
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 01:02 AM
Apr 2017

We already have a crowded field of dem candidates for gov. 2 really stand out, either would make a great gov!

ProfessorGAC

(64,427 posts)
23. He's Toast
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 09:53 AM
Apr 2017

He's the 8th LEAST popular (or approved of) governor in the country, and the 9th MOST disapproved of in the country.

And there are no "remember what he said and what he actually did" ads running yet.
GAC

Demtexan

(1,588 posts)
11. That is where we start.
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 01:12 AM
Apr 2017

It can happen.

My county went totally blue in Texas in the last election.

Congrats.

OnDoutside

(19,908 posts)
12. Great news, now they must justify the faith put in them
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 01:58 AM
Apr 2017

And follow up with doing the right things, so Republican control will become a distant nightmare.

Pacifist Patriot

(24,647 posts)
18. This is the type of info worth 500 recs top of Greatest Page
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 06:51 AM
Apr 2017

These local elections are priceless and where it all begins!

mopinko

(69,812 posts)
22. i dont think it was an issue.
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 09:49 AM
Apr 2017

at least it wasnt from anyone i talked to.
this is a state action that has been kicking around since we did mmj.
might have had a small impact on some.

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)
31. I don't know. My 80something yr. old mother wants it to pass there, pretty badly.
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 05:37 PM
Apr 2017

Nevertheless, there is this weird disconnect between Eastern pols and their voters- witness how the Massachusets legislature has desperately tried to throw up roadblocks to implimenting the legalization the voters there passed- hell, in Florida you have a MMJ amendment that passed by over 70%, and all the legislature can agree on is that something needs to be done NOW to prevent it from resulting in any medical marijuana patients actually being able to obtain, you know, medical marijuana.


Compare that to the situation on the West Coast, where our leaders actually have a clue on this issue.

I think Illinois is a breath of refreshing sanity, far too rare east of the Rockies right now.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
35. Google democratic party county state
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 08:12 PM
Apr 2017

Use your county and state, of course. If that didn't work, omit the county and visit your state part website.

duhneece

(4,105 posts)
33. Most of the time, one can search for the county's Democratic Party meeting
Fri Apr 14, 2017, 07:36 PM
Apr 2017

Our small county has had monthly meetings for at least 14 years (since I went to first one in 2003 at the run-up to the Iraq War)...but Lubbock only holds meetings every 3 months.
Find out who's running, at state/county/city/US and ask how you can help.
Then, in several years, run for office yourself...or continue to help your party, your candidates.

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