Democratic Party of Illinois chair Kelly faces rival recruited by Pritzker team, state House speaker

WASHINGTON – State Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, instructed the Solar-Occasions on Friday she is searching for to oust U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Unwell., because the chairwoman of the Democratic Social gathering of Illinois when state central committee members vote July 30.

And she or he launched her run after being recruited by high advisers to Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois Home Speaker Chris Welch.

Hernandez, simply elected to the state central committee June 28, is making the transfer to dump Kelly – who earlier introduced she is searching for a second time period – at a time when a messy change on the high of the social gathering might jeopardize two pending big issues earlier than the Democratic Nationwide Committee: bids to make Illinois an early main state and for Chicago to host the 2024 Democratic conference.

The 34 members of the state central committee – Kelly is one in every of them – will elect one in every of their very own to be chair after they meet in Springfield July 30.

Pritzker, by means of his marketing campaign committee, donated not less than $350,000 to candidates operating for the state central committee. Kelly and her ally, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Unwell., mixed despatched $63,500 to candidates.

“I’ve thrown my hat within the ring,” Hernandez instructed the Solar-Occasions. “We’ll see the place it goes.”

She mentioned Pritzker chief of employees Anne Capraraand Pritzker marketing campaign supervisor Mike Ollen “reached out, possibly someday final week.”

Illinois Speaker Welch, D-Hillside was additionally a part of the recruitment effort. A Welch spokesperson instructed the Solar-Occasions, “The speaker helps all of his members of their effort to uplift Illinois.”

Hernandez is on Welch’s management staff.

DPI Deputy Director Jake Lewis instructed the Solar-Occasions, “Since she was elected final yr as the primary Black lady to chair the Democratic Social gathering of Illinois, Robin Kelly has been relentlessly centered on constructing a celebration that listens to and serves all Democrats in any respect ranges throughout Illinois.

“Whereas there’s actually extra work to do, the social gathering has made important progress below Chair Kelly, changing into extra inclusive, extra clear and more practical in our mission to help Democratic candidates and campaigns.

“Proper now, with our basic rights below assault by right-wing extremists, the DPI’s focus is on defeating Republicans and delivering for the individuals of Illinois. We strongly encourage all Democrats to keep up that focus as nicely,” Lewis mentioned.

The intra-party battle is breaking out into the open days earlier than Democratic Nationwide Committee Chair Jaime Harrison – who’s near Kelly – arrives in Chicago on Monday to headline a fundraiser with Kelly to learn the state social gathering and maintain a roundtable with Kelly and labor leaders on the Chicago Federation of Labor.

And this will probably be fascinating – Harrison on Tuesday joins the DNC’s conference web site choice staff go to. Pritzker, Kelly and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot will seem collectively at a Tuesday press convention with Harrison to pitch the town’s conference bid.

The DNC web site choice staff — referred to as the Technical Advisory Group – hits Chicago for excursions of the United Middle and different proposed venues, and to see different metropolis points of interest on Tuesday and Wednesday. Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Houston are competing for the conference.

In the meantime, the DNC is ready to vote on whether or not Illinois will probably be one of many lead-off presidetial main states on Aug. 2 – days because the state social gathering chair vote.

Kelly was elected social gathering chair March 2, 2021. Backed by Durbin, she beat Ald. Michelle Harris (eighth), supported by Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Unwell., 51.7% to 48.3%.

The Pritzker staff — in 2021 and now — objects to Kelly as chair as a result of, as a federally elected official, she is topic to strict fundraising guidelines and contribution caps that prohibit her means to boost and spend funds for non-federal candidates.

Kelly’s allies devised — utilizing Federal Election Fee authorized steering — methods for Kelly to perform as state chair whereas avoiding authorized issues over fundraising.