Executive Director of Democrats for the Illinois House and Speaker Welch’s Political Spokesperson Released the Following Statement Regarding the Race for Chair of the Democratic Party:
Westchester, IL –Today TaQuoya McConnico, Executive Director of Democrats for the Illinois House and Speaker Welch’s political spokesperson, released the following statement regarding the race for chair of the Democratic Party:
The beauty of the democratic party is that it’s a big tent. It’s a tent, with every color and creed, representing big cities, growing suburbs, and rural communities. What’s important for upholding that tent is that we are able to work together to fight for the people of this great state. As Democrats, we are facing the most difficult midterm election in a generation. We need a chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois who can fundraise and spend on federal and state races without limitation. In addition to federal races, there are more than 70 state legislative races, all executive branch officers, two Supreme Court races, and a constitutional amendment on workers’ rights that threaten everything that we hold dear. The Democratic Party of Illinois has less cash on hand right now going into this difficult election than we did after the last election, and Congresswoman Kelly has major fundraising limitations due to her position as a federal officeholder.
This isn’t about any one person; this is about the people of Illinois, creating a functioning party and doing what we can to ensure justice, equality, diversity, and inclusion for the people of Illinois.
It is unfortunate that efforts to build a strong Illinois have been reduced to race-baiting. I am an African-American woman, the Speaker is the first African-American Speaker of the Illinois House. We appreciate the efforts of Congresswoman Kelly, but it does us a disservice as a people and as a race to have a chair that cannot be 100% engaged with all campaigns and provide support at the level needed to win in November. Congresswoman Kelly’s dedication and leadership to the party is greatly admired and can still be preserved with a Federal Chair appointment, but it is time to put individuals aside and prioritize the people. That is why this change is backed by the AFL-CIO, Personal PAC, and many others from diverse positions and backgrounds.
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About Democrats for the Illinois House: Democrats for the Illinois House is the official political arm of the Illinois House Democratic Caucus. We support Democrats for the Illinois House in fighting for equality, justice, and opportunity for all. Under the leadership of House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Democrats for Illinois House (DIH) is dedicated to promoting the excellent work of the caucus, protecting incumbents, winning competitive races, and serving Illinoisans with integrity. The Illinois House Democratic Caucus is one of the most diverse in the nation representing African American (22), Latinx (10), Asian American (4), Women (39) and LGBTQ+ (4) members. DIH is committed to creating an environment across the state that is inclusive and welcoming to all people.