Turnout and Democratic State Central Committeewomen

These are just early indicators, so nothing is certain about the final numbers, but folks are bound to see good or ominous news depending on which side of the aisle they root for. From Kacich's article in the News-Gazette today on Champaign County Turnout thus far:

And it's hard to beat Champaign County, where as of Thursday night there were 4,046 Democratic ballots tabulated so far to 2,295 for Republicans. That's in a county where the primary vote four years ago favored Republicans, 14,683 to 8,547.

There isn't a single factor driving the Democratic turnout, election authorities say. In Macon County, it's a two-way race for sheriff. In McLean County, there's a highly visible county board contest. In Sangamon County, Gray said, the big-money Democratic gubernatorial primary is a lot more interesting to voters in the capital than the Republican version.

In Champaign County, it's a variety of factors: county board primaries, the gubernatorial and attorney general races and the five-way race in the 13th Congressional District.

There's also President Trump, says University of Illinois political scientist Chris Mooney.

"The thing that might be unique about this election and in particular the differential between the parties would be the Trump factor," he said. "Just anecdotally it appears that the Democrats are more energized. Usually that does happen in the first mid-term election (after a new president is elected). You disappoint your fans and you really piss off the opponents. Even Ronald Reagan was down to about 42 (percent approval) in 1982. It's a tough time.

And on one of those hard to reach spaces on your Democratic Party ballot, more news on the party's State Central Committewomen races (more on committeewomen races here and more on all Champaign County area candidates here):

Madigan-Mazzotti

Friends of Michael J. Madigan, one of the campaign committees of the head of the state Democratic Party, has invested a lot of money into ensuring that Jayne Mazzotti of Taylorville remains the state central committeewoman in the 13th Congressional District.

Mazzotti is challenged by Pamella Gronemeyer of Glen Carbon, who has said she is open to having someone besides Madigan head the state party.

Madigan’s campaign fund has spent at least $45,912 on printing and postage for Mazzotti.

It’s also running a “robocall” operation on her behalf, the most recent of which was a comical call last week from U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth contending that a vote for Mazzotti “is a vote against the extreme Trump agenda” and that Mazzotti “will stand up to Trump and speak up for us.”

This for a position that is a precinct committeeperson on a statewide basis, not for anyone who would ever be able to confront Donald Trump.

Full article here.