McHenry County Blog

The Governor has signed the bill I have called the “Incumbent Protection Act.”

It makes Illinois’ already too early March primary, positively frigid—February 5th.

OK all you potential candidates.

Don’t let the incumbents off without a challenge.

Besides the legislature, county board seats and countywide offices are up for grabs.

You can begin circulating your petitions August 7th.

Filing can be done from October 29th through November 5th.

The law was ostensibly enacted to help Barack Obama, but it really will help incumbents the most.

You can read my year ahead of time predictions of what will happen Feb. 5th here.

Here’s the Chicago Tribune story.

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There was no snow on the trees when I took this picture on February 1st from the parking lot of McHenry West High School.

Want to bet there won’t be snow early next February?

The Governor has signed the bill I have called the “Incumbent Protection Act.”

It makes Illinois’ already too early March primary, positively frigid—February 5th.

OK all you potential candidates.

Don’t let the incumbents off without a challenge.

Besides the legislature, county board seats and countywide offices are up for grabs.

You can begin circulating your petitions August 7th.

Filing can be done from October 29th through November 5th.

The law was ostensibly enacted to help Barack Obama, but it really will help incumbents the most.

You can read my year ahead of time predictions of what will happen Feb. 5th here.

Here’s the Chicago Tribune story.

= = = = =
There was no snow on the trees when I took this picture on February 1st from the parking lot of McHenry West High School.

Want to bet there won’t be snow early next February?

The Illinois primary election will be held on February 5, 2008.

On February 7, 2007, I outlined some of the obvious results.

The most obvious is that it increases the chances of incumbents to win re-election in their own primary elections.

Senate Republicans Dale Righter (R-Charleston) and Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) made the same point in debate, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Except for liberal Republicans.

As in 1992 with Carol Mosley Braun, Republican women will gravitate to the Democratic Party primary.

That will make it easier for conservative Republicans to win primary elections.

Next most obvious is that it decreases the chances that incumbents will get credible general election challengers.

If the Chicago Bears are in the Super Bowl, there will be another great sucking sound as this sport draws a disproportionate amount of television airtime.

Challengers will have hard time getting on TV.

Will this embolden incumbent legislators to vote for tax increases?

The Illinois primary election will be held on February 5, 2008.

On February 7, 2007, I outlined some of the obvious results.

The most obvious is that it increases the chances of incumbents to win re-election in their own primary elections.

Senate Republicans Dale Righter (R-Charleston) and Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) made the same point in debate, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Except for liberal Republicans.

As in 1992 with Carol Mosley Braun, Republican women will gravitate to the Democratic Party primary.

That will make it easier for conservative Republicans to win primary elections.

Next most obvious is that it decreases the chances that incumbents will get credible general election challengers.

If the Chicago Bears are in the Super Bowl, there will be another great sucking sound as this sport draws a disproportionate amount of television airtime.

Challengers will have hard time getting on TV.

Will this embolden incumbent legislators to vote for tax increases?