IVCA Provides Updates for State Legislative Issues – 11/9/22
Illinois Venture Capital Association Illinois Legislative Report
David Stricklin / Stricklin & Associates
Wednesday, November 9, 2022
BLUE WAVE IN ILLINOIS / GOVERNOR EYES WHITE HOUSE
Illinois voters rewarded Democrats at the ballot box Tuesday, returning Democrats to all the statewide offices and sending Governor JB Pritzker to a second term and a higher national profile. At his Tuesday night victory speech, the governor thanked Illinoisans whether they are Salukis, Wildcats, or Illini, then clearly pivoted his remarks, presumably being carried by cable outlets across the country, into a direct posture of confrontation with former President Trump.
Pritzker in his victory speech was not in the slightest bit shy about his accomplishment, striking hard on social issues that will only spur talk he’s interested in running for president
“Until the Republican Party is ready to expel the extremists in their midst, we need to do it for them at the ballot box,” declared Pritzker, who repeatedly had criticized Bailey as an extremist on abortion, protecting democracy and other issues. “The fight for freedom, the fight for liberty, the fight for decency should be peaceful. But not at all timid.” Crain’s Chicago Business 11-9-22
GOVERNOR SPEECH FUELS SPECULATION
In a speech unsparing in its attacks on the GOP with contours that went far beyond Illinois’ parochial borders, the billionaire progressive Democrat and Hyatt Hotel heir called himself a “warrior” ready to take on former Republican President Donald Trump and Trump allies in the years ahead. “Here we are, two years into cleaning up the wreckage of Donald Trump’s presidency, poised to watch this man announce his return to national politics within days,” Pritzker said. Chicago Tribune, 11-9-22
DEMOCRATS INCREASE HOUSE MARGIN / DURKIN STEPS DOWN AS LEADER
Democrats in the Illinois House contested their first general election since replacing former Speaker Michael J. Madigan and increased the size of their majority in the process. At this writing, House Democrats are expecting to seat a super-majority which gives them wide berth over the 2023 and 2024 legislative agendas.
DEMOCRATS SOLIDIFY LEGISLATIVE CONTROL
In the wake of the election results, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, an ally of IVCA, notified his colleagues he would not seek re-election as House Republican Leader.
ELECTION ROUNDUP
Democrats hold on to majority on Illinois Supreme Court as Judge Elizabeth Rochford declares victory: “Rochford thanked her supporters about 10:30 p.m. after her Republican opponent, Mark Curran, called to concede in the newly drawn suburban 2nd District,” by Sun-Times’ Lauren FitzPatrick and Matthew Hendrickson.
DEMS WIN DUPAGE CHAIR / SUPREME COURT
The transition of suburban voters to the Democratic party and rural voters to the Republican party is perhaps nowhere more illustrated than a Democrat winning chairman of the DuPage County Board:
DEMS WIN SUPREME VICTORY AND DUPAGE
NEWS AND NOTES
Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability releases October report on Illinois finances:
https://cgfa.ilga.gov/Upload/1022.pdf
The Illinois General Assembly goes into Veto Session November 15,16 and 17.