IFT members contribute to Election Day victories

In addition to the question of whether or not Illinois should hold a constitutional convention, the IFT was heavily involved in numerous contested legislative races. In addition to the many IFT volunteers who assisted in key campaign activities, the IFT also made financial contributions, provided staff assistance, and coordinated mail and phone calls in support of key candidate's to IFT members. Below is a summary of the IFT's efforts and and our results in the 2008 General Election.

Con Con
The IFT was a major partner, founding member, and key contributor to the Alliance to Protect the Illinois Constitution (APIC). Working with our APIC partners, the IFT conducted meetings, editorial board interviews, and an earned media and paid advertising campaign to educate the public about the dangers of convening a constitutional convention. In addition to IFT expenditures, the AFT contributed also contributed to the effort from its Solidarity Fund for the campaign - the first such disbursement to assist the IFT. Despite the prominent ballot position of the question, Con Con question was defeated overwhelmingly, with 68 percent of voters indicating that Illinois should not convene a constitutional convention – a major victory for the IFT and its members and the rest of organized labor. A legal challenge over the result may yet be filed by the Chicago Bar Association. The IFT will keep you up to date as developments occur.

United States President
IFT activities on behalf of Barack Obama and Joe Biden included staff and volunteers working in Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa and, of course, Illinois. In the battleground states alone, a total of 26 staff and volunteers worked approximately 250 days for the Obama-Biden ticket from mid-September through Election Day. That total does not include dozens more members, staff and retirees who worked many weekends in neighboring states leading up to the election who participated on their own time and not through the coordinated efforts of the IFT.

United States Senate
Our good friend Dick Durbin, assistant majority leader of the United States Senate, easily won his re-election bid despite cancelling most of his appearances the final three weeks of the campaign due to his daughter’s illness and hospitalization in the Washington, D.C. area. Sadly, his daughter succumbed to her congenital heart ailment the weekend before the election.

United States Congress

Illinois has 19 congressional districts. The IFT made endorsements in 16 of those contests, with 12 IFT-endorsed candidates winning their bid for election. Prior to Election Day, the partisan make-up of the Illinois Congressional delegation was 11 Democrats (including Bill Foster, who took the seat of Dennis Hastert, former Republican Speaker of the House, in a special election held earlier this year) and eight Republicans. As a result of the election, the Illinois congressional delegation will include 12 Democrats and seven Republicans, thanks to the victory of State Senator Debbie Halvorson in Congressional District (CD) 11. She will replace retiring Congressman Jerry Weller (R). Following is a synopsis of the most contested congressional races.

Illinois State Senate

Forty of Illinois’ 59 State Senate districts were up for election this cycle. The IFT made endorsements in 26 contests – 23 IFT-endorsed candidates won and three lost. While the announcement of Senate President Emil Jones’ retirement and the stepping down of Minority Leader Frank Watson were major developments, the partisan make-up of the Illinois State Senate did not change with this election. The breakdown of 37 Democrats and 22 Republicans remains. Highlights of IFT involvement are the victories of freshman Senator Linda Holmes (D) and Labor Committee Chair Senator Gary Forby (D). Below is a synopsis of the key contested races.

Illinois House of Representatives

There are 118 State House districts on the ballot each election year. The IFT made endorsements in 83 contests: 72 IFT-endorsed candidates won and 11 lost. Prior to Election Day, the partisan make-up of the Illinois House was 67 Democrats and 51 Republicans. The House Democrats had a net gain of three seats for a new partisan split of 70 Democrats and 48 Republicans. Highlights of the IFT involvement are the victories of Mark Walker (D) and Jehan Gordon (D), as well as the near victory of Dianne McGuire (D). Below is a synopsis of the most contested races.