Both Illinois and Missouri will have Presidential Primaries this Tuesday, on March 15. Illinois will also have downballot primaries this day, whereas Missouri will hold their downballot primaries on August 2nd (which will be in a separate post when it comes that time). Remember to go vote out to your polling place to vote on Tuesday if you have not already done so. Polls open at 6AM CDT and close at 7PM CDT. You are allowed to vote after 7PM, as long as you are in the line waiting to vote prior to the 7PM cutoff.
President (IL, MO):
Democratic: Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are the two major candidates left in the Democratic Party’s race for the nomination. Dropout Martin O’Malley is on the ballot, as are 2015 Chicago Mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, 2008 and 2012 protest vote candidate Keith Russell Judd, businessman Rocky de la Fuente, and 2012 protest vote candidate John Wolfe, Jr. Hillary is the narrow favorite in both Illinois and Missouri, but Bernie could pull off the upset. My endorsement goes to Bernie Sanders.
GOP: Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, John Kasich, and Marco Rubio are the last four of the major candidates left. At least a few other dropouts in Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Chris Christie, Rand Paul, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush, and Rick Santorum will also be listed on the ballot. Trump is presumed to be still favorite in Illinois, especially after his Chicago Rally shutdown. In Missouri, Both Cruz and Trump should be favorites to win this state. No endorsement, but Trump MUST BE STOPPED!
Libertarian: 2012 GOP Presidential candidate and former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, businessman John McAfee, and Stonegait, LLC founder Austin Petersen are the three representing the Libertarian Party for the bid to be their nominee. No endorsement.
US Senate:
Democratic: Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, former President and CEO of Chicago Urban League Andrea Zopp, and State Senator and former NFL DE Napoleon Harris are running for the right to challenge incumbent Mark Kirk. Duckworth is heavily favored to face Kirk in November. My endorsement goes to Tammy Duckworth.
GOP: Incumbent Mark Kirk and businessman James Marter are the two running for Senate. Kirk is the heavy favorite. No endorsement.
US House:
IL-01:
Democratic: Incumbent Bobby Rush and Chicago Alderman Howard Brookins, Jr. are running for the right to represent this district. Rush is heavily favored. My endorsement goes to the incumbent Rush.
IL-08:
Democratic: Villa Park Mayor Deb Bullwinkel, State Senator Mike Noland, and 2012 IL-08 candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi are vying for the right to succeed Tammy Duckworth. Krishnamoorthi is the favorite to win this primary. My endorsement goes to Krishnamoorthi.
IL-12: C.J. Baricevic and Mike Bost are the nominees for their respective parties.
IL-15:
GOP: Incumbent John Shimkus and State Senator James McCarter are fighting for the right to represent this district. Shimkus should be the mild favorite, but McCarter could pull off the upset. No endorsement.
IL-Comptroller: Susana Mendoza and incumbent Leslie Munger are the candidates their respective parties. Mendoza should be the favorite this Fall. My endorsement goes to Mendoza.
IL-HD05:
Democratic: Incumbent Ken Dunkin faces off against Juliana Stratton. This is a toss-up. My endorsement goes to Stratton.
IL-HD95:
GOP: Incumbent Avery Bourne, Dennis Scobbie, and Christopher Hicks are running for the GOP nomination to face off against Mike Mathis (D) in November. Bourne should be the favorite. No endorsement.
IL-112: Katie Stuart and Dwight Kay are the nominees for their respective parties. Kay is the narrow favorite in November, but Stuart can pull off the upset. My endorsement goes to Stuart.
IL-HD114: LaToya Greenwood and radio host Bob Romanik are the nominees for their respective parties. Greenwood is the heavy favorite. My endorsement goes to Greenwood.
IL-SD50:
GOP: Incumbent Sam McCann and challenger Bryce Benton are fighting to for the right to be the State Senator from this district. My endorsement goes to Sam McCann.
IL-SD58:
GOP: 2014 Attorney General nominee Paul Schimpf and Sharee Langenstein are the nominees for the right to replace Dave Luechtefeld and face Democrat Sheila Simon in November. My endorsement goes to Simon.
Cook County:
State’s Attorney:
Democratic: Incumbent Anita Alvarez, former Assistant State Attorney Kim Foxx, and former prosecutor Donna More are running to be the State’s Attorney for Cook County, Illinois. Pre-Laquan McDonald videotape, Alvarez was the favorite; however, with the McDonald shooting videotape revealed and subsequent protests as a result, Foxx is the likely favorite. My endorsement goes to Foxx.
Madison County:
Recorder:
Democratic: Incumbent Amy Meyer and challenger Shannon Bradford are the candidates. My endorsement goes to Bradford.
Ballot Proposals:
Illinois: Illinois Independent Map Amendment (2016)
Missouri: SJR39 will likely be on the ballot either in August or November. My endorsement is to vote NO on SJR39 if it makes it to the ballot.
Hashtags: #ILPrimary, #MOPrimary, #twmp, #twill