What It Means – Elections

All across the country, from federal races to local races, the national mood and resulting election wave dominated and largely prevailed.  In Illinois, that same wave only flowed for the federal races, not the General Assembly or governor’s race. Mark Kirk won President Obama’s Senate seat, and there were four GOP pickups in the House...

All across the country, from federal races to local races, the national mood and resulting election wave dominated and largely prevailed.  In Illinois, that same wave only flowed for the federal races, not the General Assembly or governor’s race.

Mark Kirk won President Obama’s Senate seat, and there were four GOP pickups in the House (assuming Joe Walsh prevails). In terms of Congress, the Republicans have retaken the House and gained six seats in the Senate with many races still undecided.  Nationally, of the 6100 state legislative seats, the GOP will pick up over 500, the largest since 1928.  The likely gain of 23 chambers surpasses the 20 wins in 1994’s wave election.  Further, the GOP has gained seven governorships, bringing them to 29 with a few still undecided.

The Illinois GOP gained six House seats and two Senate seats in Springfield, a significant drop from the national trend of statehouse electoral changes.

The difference in the six-county Chicago metro area tells the tale (see the table nearby).  While many people thought that Mark Kirk would run behind Sen. Brady, the opposite was true, and this proved to be decisive.  Mark Kirk outperformed Sen. Brady by 68,000 votes in the six counties of Chicagoland, and that was decisive in why Kirk won and Brady is 8,000 votes behind.

More telling, Kirk outpaced Brady in the six counties by winning 43.7% to 41.5% (and thus gaining the 68,000 additional votes).  What is more surprising is that Kirk won 63.7% of the downstate vote to Brady’s 63.4%.

The fact that Illinois voters turned over four Democratic seats in Congress to outspent Republicans illustrates that this it was not just a resource issue.  Strategy (for many, this included successfully connecting one’s candidacy to the wave), messaging and the ground game all mattered.  Where it was well done, the wave flowed.  Where it was not, it ebbed.

As to what happens next in Springfield, the plan is simple. Our state needs a common-sense, unifying vision for a better future.  One simple, clear, nonpartisan vision is to make Illinois #1 in job creation with household incomes rising.  Illinois currently ranks 48th out of the 50 states in job creation and household incomes are falling (they once ranked as high as sixth and are now down to 12th).

Whoever finally wins the governor’s race should establish a simple decision-making filter—does this proposal help increase private sector job creation and increase household incomes?  If the answer is yes, the proposal should be supported.  If the answer is no, the proposal should be opposed.  We aim to be that filter. Putting people back to work and increasing household incomes helps families, and it also helps state and local government with rising tax revenues—all without increasing the tax burden on Illinois families.

There will be arguments about how to achieve these goals, but the goal of being #1 in jobs with household incomes rising should be unifying, not divisive.

The bottom line is that Tuesday was a great win for those seeking competitive elections and a more competitive environment. But one thing is for certain:  While the November 2nd wave is now washing out to sea, another is building.  The results for public policy gains were great nationally and good in Illinois, but we must do better next time.  The preparation begins today.