Chicago City Wire

The Illinois Republican Party took a shot at Democratic candidates for governor on Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair, suggesting in a release that the rival party should change the name of the day.

"Illinois Democrats are kidding themselves – today is really Madigan Day at the Illinois State Fair,” Illinois GOP spokesperson Aaron DeGroot said in the release. “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."

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), elected to the leadership position in 1983, became the longest-serving state House speaker in the country in early August, the Chicago Tribune reported. Madigan’s tenure and highly visible presence in state government and Democratic Party over a 32-year period have made him an easy target for Republican ire, Tribune columnist Eric Zorn wrote.

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago)

During Madigan's time in office, Illinois has accrued the highest pension debt of any state, along with a number of other debts, and seen a decline in its business prospects. Zorn said those facts make Madigan -- who is also the chair of the state’s Democratic Party -- an albatross around the necks of the party’s gubernatorial candidates, who must find a balance between defending the party and its leader and separating themselves from the policies that have brought Illinois to its current state.

Billionaire J.B. Pritzker has had the most visible relationship with Madigan, who has said he will not weigh in on the primaries. Prtizker earned the endorsement of the AFL-CIO and has enjoyed party support thanks to his vow to self-fund his campaign, putting the Democrats on even footing with Gov. Bruce Rauner. 

According to DeGroot, Madigan and his “Chicago Democratic Machine” have been steering support to Pritzker in return for his policy alignment. For his part, Pritzker told the Tribune that the Democratic Party needs to make improvements but did not mention Madigan by name.

Millionaire businessman and Kennedy family scion Chris Kennedy has taken a more adversarial tone with Madigan, but the Illinois GOP notes that his policy points have fallen in line with Madigan’s. Kennedy supported the income tax hike in the state’s budget and has criticized Rauner’s agenda for promoting the state’s economic climate as unrelated to the needs of businesses, the Chicago Sun Times reported. 

Madigan has complimented Kennedy as an excellent candidate, according to the Illinois GOP, while Kennedy told the Tribune that it is not his job to defend Madigan, but that Rauner shares the blame for Illinois’ woes.

Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) also landed in the GOP's crosshairs. Biss told the Tribune that Madigan is part of the state’s problems, but that his campaign wouldn’t focus on replacing one person. The GOP pointed to a Sun-Times report showing that Biss formerly headed the Leading Illinois for Tomorrow (LIFT) super PAC, which Madigan used and directed as the Democratic Party chair. 

Additionally, while in the House, Biss voted for Madigan’s continued tenure as speaker and Madigan-backed legislative maps, according to the GOP. In the Senate, Biss has voted for the budget and tax hike supported by Madigan.