Quick Hits – Election 2020 Part 3!

Alright! Let’s finish this series off because I got other bleep to write about. To that end, today we’ll be discussing all the state rep and senate races that are worth mentioning. But before we go there, I will, once again, note that many of the Dem primary races are fraught with candidates despite the existence of a Democratic incumbent.

Taking a cue from the bizarrely large presidential field, it would seem that today’s Democratic hopefuls believe they can win any race.

To wit, Democratic 12^th State Rep Sara Feigenholtz has five, count em, five primary opponents. It’s a strange sight to see, first, because there’s clearly no respect for the incumbency, and second, it virtually guarantees her a win. Meanwhile, Democratic 40^th District State Senator Patrick Joyce has four primary opponents, and he’ll dispense with all of them, too.

Onward!

12^th State Rep

Speaker Michael Madigan has no opponent which will make the 2020 election a lot less fascinating than it could be. Where’s David Krupa when you really need him?

 

43^rd and 44^th State Rep

Anna Moeller and Fred Crespo are currently running unopposed because it would be beyond difficult to beat them at this point.

 

49^th State Rep

Democrat Maura Hirschauer will attempt to follow in the departing Karina Villa’s electoral footsteps. Villa is now vying for the 25^th State Senate seat.

There are two somewhat interesting Republican entries in this race, well-liked North Aurora Trustee Laura Curtis, and former Geneva aldermanic candidate Doug Warlick. Doug doesn’t stand a chance, and while you can’t completely count Curtis out, not only has that district turned blue, but there’s no way Darth Madigan is going to let that one go in the midst of a boatload of anti-Trumpism.

Hirschauer will win by a comfortable margin.

 

50^th State Rep

I’m kinda surprised GOP incumbent Keith Wheeler is, so far, unopposed. First, I heard he’d have an opponent early on. And second, I firmly believed terrible Democratic candidate Jim Leslie’s surprising 2018 45 percent showing against Wheeler in what has been a deep red bastion would encourage some sort of Democratic opposition.

Though I have no knowledge of it, I fully expect the Dems to slate someone here.

 

65^th State Rep

After finally winning an election in 2018, Mo Iqbal is disingenuously attempting to abandon his Kane County Board constituents to run against Republican incumbent Dan Ugaste. But he’ll have to beat primary challenger Martha Paschke first, a very unlikely possibility.

Iqbal has lost more races than I can remember, his campaign ethic has always been suspect, and with the exception of one initiative, he tends to blend in with the boardroom wallpaper. To make matters worse, the 65^th, my district, ain’t ready for any candidate whose full name is ‘Mohammed Iqbal.”

Before you hit the “send” button, don’t forget, I don’t make the rules, I only report them!

Ugaste, in turn, will crush Paschke because the 65^th is about as Republican as it gets.

 

66^th State Rep

In a case of déjà vu all over again, the GOP primary pits my former radio show co-host Allen Skillicorn against McHenry County Board member Carolyn Schofield. There are folks, like me, who think Allen has drifted far too far to the right.

But Schofield ran a terrible campaign and lost last time, she’s not the brightest bulb in the pack, and I see no evidence that dynamic will change anytime soon.

However, Allen’s not out of the woods yet! When you consider Democrat Nancy Zettler’s 43 percent 2016 showing against one of the hardest working candidates I’ve ever met, there’s a distinct possibility that newcomer Dems Jim Malone or Suzanne Ness could beat him.

In the words of the great Bob Dylan, “The Collar Counties, they are a-changing!”

 

81^st State Rep

Incumbent Democrat Anne Stava-Murray is facing off against Republican newcomer Laura Hois in what is basically a Naperville district. With the inevitable 2020 tTrump backlash, Hois doesn’t stand a chance.

 

83^rd State Rep

Considering her beyond lethargic campaign ethic, it comes as no surprise that Linda Chapa LaVia’s handpicked successor, Barbara Hernande, has drawn a primary opponent. And it also comes as no surprise that, Juan Thomas, the leader of the rival Aurora Hispanic faction is that candidate.

I’m sure you remember the dual Aurora Township government electoral follies, brought to you in great part, by the always fascinating Mr. Thomas. Considering he’s a more polarizing figure than yours truly, Hernandez’ supporters will put every effort into seeing she’s reelected, and she will be.

While I’ve previously been hard on her for her general apathy, her failure to interject anything at Kane County Board meetings, and her poor political comportment, she actually is showing signs of life and competence as a State Rep.

Believe it, or not, then Hernandez will have to face off against Republican general election opponent, Donald Walter. Clearly, there’s a reason he and Don Quixote share the same first name. Not even Saint Jude could help him in that demonstrably Democratic district. (Look it up!)

 

84^th State Rep

As expected, Democratic Incumbent Stephani Kifowit is running unopposed.

 

Let’s move on to the State Senate where there really ain’t a whole lot to report!

22^nd State Senate

Considering the “hope springs eternal” 2020 Democratic electoral theme, I suppose I shouldn’t be all that surprised that Elgin State Senator Cristina Castro drew a primary opponent in Streamwood Park District Board Commissioner Rae Yawer.

Despite my current disappointment with Senator Castro and particularly the company she keeps, given her willingness to knock on the same door three times, I’d typically dismiss Ms. Yawer outright. But add Yawer’s vast volunteer history to the fact she got 200 people to show up to her campaign kickoff and Castro may have a real battle on her hands.

It certainly will be more than interesting to watch an Asian and Hispanic woman square off against each other.

And I’m willing to sweeten that pot, too! In light of my recent columns on Ms. Castro’s poor choices, much like I’ve connected with 14^th District Kane County Board hopeful, Steve Oscarson, I’d like to make Ms. Yawer the same offer!

Should she choose to sit down with me, I would be more than happy to explain exactly how one wins a Democratic primary.

And Cristina, may I politely suggest that you and your husband avoid threatening people this time because I’ll be watching – closely!

 

25^th State Senate

This one pits Dem State Rep Karina Villa against two familiar Republican challengers, former Tim Schmitz legislative aide Beth Goncher, and former U-46 School Board member Jeanette Ward – no relation to this writer.

Despite Goncher’s keen capacity to lose elections as the result of a poor campaign ethic – she was still getting signatures last week – she will beat the hyper-rightwing loon Ward. Ward has no money and no name recognition in the heavily Republican western and southern portions of the district where that kind of thing really matters.

To wit, just four people showed up to a recent Ward meet and greet.

But a combination of Goncher’s unwillingness to work, a campaign team that loses 70 percent of the time, and Ms. Villa’s ground game skills will turn the 25^th over to the Democrats for the first time in its lengthy history.

 

49^th State Senate

I’m somewhat loathe to comment on this one because I really don’t know the players, but with incumbent Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant stepping down to run for Will County Board Executive, three Democrats and one starry-eyed Republican have thrown their hats in the ring.

The only thing I can tell you about Michael Crowner, Larry Hug, and Meg Loughran Cappel is that one of them will win the Democratic nomination.

Meanwhile, I wish I had either whatever drug presumed Republican nominee Thomas McCullagh’s is taking, or his unbounded Ned Flanders-esque optimism because no Republican will ever win that dyed-in-blue district, much less do it in 2020.

 

That’s it! Now that we’ve discussed the local races I feel competent to comment on, it’s time to move on to other things, like how the walls are closing in on Kane County Judge John Dalton. We’ll discuss that on Wednesday.