Webber continues with more ridiculous assumptions on the Illinois election
Debunking Webber’s assumption that all Democrats are in Cook County
Let’s take the 2018 gubernatorial election for example. Then-candidate JB Pritzker would win in the same number of counties. Eight of them are the same usual suspects, including Cook. The other eight were counties that vary in turnout from election cycle to election cycle. Taking Cook County out of the picture, the largest winning margin for Pritzker was by nearly 18 points in Champaign County, 13 points in Jackson and Alexander counties, and 12 points in St. Clair County. All other counties had results of Pritzker winning by eight points or less. The only county that neither Pritzker nor then-Governor Bruce Rauner would carry was Pike County. More votes went between former Sen. Sam McCann of the Conservative Party and Kash Jackson of the Libertarian Party. McCann would receive a lion’s share of those votes.The state’s attorney’s race in Cook County
Webber would mention the Cook County State’s Attorney race briefly, continuing to make attacks toward Democrat Kim Foxx. I don’t recall a single op-ed from the Daily Journal that fired at the incredibly weak Republican in the race. What about his shortcomings and wrongdoings as a prosecutor? But guess who else he ignores? The Libertarian who ran in that race: Brian Dennehy. Despite a major disadvantage in fundraising and campaigning, enough voters wanted a change in another manner. While results are not official, Dennehy would earn nearly 7% of the vote on Election Day.New Illinois….and why this sixth attempt to eliminate Chicago will fail again
Webber would mention this New Illinois organization. They have a plan of splitting the State of Illinois, much like how West Virginia split from Virginia in 1863. One problem which leads to hypocrisy and lies from moment one: their mission statement. It states that “we are a nonpartisan organization addressing the urban vs. rural, small-town and suburban divide in the state.” Here’s where I laugh: 99.92% of the people involved in this organization are all a bunch of crybaby Republicans. Imagine that. Here’s where I think it won’t work: the track record of five previous referendums failing. Three binding referendums in the 1990s would overwhelmingly fail. The reasoning for its failure: that Illinois would struggle economically without its largest economic hub. The previous two, which were non-binding, would fail to make the ballot. Additionally, here’s another way I believe New Illinois will fail: the Libertarian Party recently earned their recognized party status as a result of the State’s Attorney race. There’s going to be much more resistance to the movement, especially from Libertarians who fought to make the ballot for this race.One crucial reason why Chicago will not become the 51st state
Finally, one more way I believe this movement fails: Congress won’t approve a 51st state unless it’s an existing U.S. territory. Puerto Rico has been leading this charge since 1967, 15 years after becoming a commonwealth territory. That vote would reject statehood. However, that opinion has improved over the years. While a 1991 constitutional amendment would fail, statehood opinion would increase. Three referendums in 1993, 1998, and 2012 would not have clear majorities. While there was overwhelming support in 2017, there was only a voter turnout of 23%. In 2020, there was a 52% voter turnout, and there was nearly a 5-point spread in favor of statehood.For more opinion and commentary, follow Jake Leonard @JakeLeonardWPMD and Heartland Newsfeed @HLNF_Bulletin on Twitter. Additionally, you can follow Heartland Newsfeed on Facebook and Reddit among other platforms. You can now follow our news updates on Telegram, Flote and MeWe.
Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.