Chicago City Wire

Republican candidate for Illinois' 18th Senate District Christine Shanahan McGovern recently shared a Facebook post from gubernatorial candidate Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Loisville) who repeated his stance against COVID mandates.

"Vote Darren Bailey for Governor!" McGovern posted. "We can never let what happened in IL happen again! This was why I helped facilitate the Chicago ReOpen to support our Mom and Pop businesses. Every business is essential not just the marijuana dispensaries, big box, and the new Planned Parenthood. Let’s not forget JB’s farm was essential too. Remember our elderly mothers and fathers were denied their family and left to die alone. This is why I came out hard against BLM because as I said they are a political pac that has done nothing to help our Chicago black communities. My Liberal Loony neighbors put me in a racist group because of my truthful statements. Several even tried to dox me and called my work. Little did they know I own the company."  

McGovern said there's no stopping her from being the voice of the people.

"This is why I started the Back the Blue," McGovern added. "My friend’s husband was hurt at the Columbus Statue. Our police had bricks, frozen water bottles, dangerous explosives and even human sh** thrown at them. This is why I helped clean up businesses that were looted the old fashion way with brooms and throwing away debris. This is why I went to church in Englewood because they stayed open despite the threats from our Mayor. I am a person who has fought for our kids! I am not afraid to say it how it is! I am not politically correct and those South Dakota researchers can kiss my a@@ for their research on my use of toxic language. I will always be a voice for District 18!"

McGovern, a resident of Chicago for 25 years, is a mother and business owner. She organized the Chicago team of ReOpen Illinois in support of small businesses. ReOpen Illinois fought Pritzker's lockdowns and has recently stated that "JB killed Illinois businesses, forced thousands out of work, closed your schools, masked your kids, all while his family escaped to their Florida horse ranch. Now [h]e wants you to rehire him. His arrogance is mind blowing."

The Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California Berkeley used data from 18 million smartphone users traveling through America's busiest metro areas to track the economic recovery of cities post COVID

Using this study, ZeroHedge, summarized that cities that embraced typically Democratic policies did not recover as well as Republican-leaning cities. Chicago's post-pandemic downtown recovery was 43% of pre-COVID activity, with the worst being San Francisco at 31%, Cleveland at 36%, and Portland at 41%. The best downtown recoveries were in Salt Lake City, whose recovery rate was 155%, Bakersfield at 117% and Columbus at 112%. 

According to her campaign website, McGovern was elected twice to her local school board. She is  involved in the community, having coached sports teams, acted as a Girl Scout leader, and having initiated Back the Blue. 

Her website says she is running because she knows her community needs a voice as it has long been dominated by the "Chicago Machine." On jobs, she sees the need to rebuild the economy after COVID and keep jobs from leaving the state. On crime, she promises to back legislation that supports the police and that gives them the training and resources they need. She is also an advocate of pension reform and common sense spending in Springfield. On education, she says that political agendas have no place in the classroom and schools should promote the basics of education, like STEM. McGovern also supports school choice.

She is running against incumbent Sen. Bill Cunningham (D). The 18th Senate District includes Palos Heights, Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn.