'Tis the Season to Pass Petitions

by Shawn P. Healy, PhD, Democracy Program Director

Attention holiday shoppers: Only one week remains for federal, state, and county candidates representing established political parties in Illinois to file petitions for the March 20, 2018 primary. The December 4th deadline (today is the first day candidates may file) requires legislative and congressional candidates from the Democratic and Republican Parties to furnish valid signatures equal or greater than half a percent of total votes cast for the office they are seeking in the previous election.

As detailed in this Illinois Issues article, third party candidates must clear a higher five percent threshold, making Illinois one of the most restrictive states challengers to the two-party system. This requirement survived a recent court challenge, but another is in the works taking on the standard that third parties must field a full slate of candidates for constitutional offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, and Comptroller).

The race for Illinois Governor is in full swing, with hotel heir J.B. Pritzker leading a crowded field of Democrats seeking to take the (renovated) mansion back from Bruce Rauner. The incumbent Governor has attracted a challenger of his own in State Representative Jeanie Ives. The Wheaton Republican threw her hat in the ring shortly after Rauner signed legislation that increased access to abortion through the state’s health care system.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s surprise announcement that she would not seek a fifth term unleashed a wide open primary among Democrats. State Senator Kwame Raoul, Chicago Park District President Jesse Ruiz, and former Governor Pat Quinn are among the favorites for a position that would place them on the frontlines in battles over federalism with President Trump’s Homeland Security and Justice Departments. Former Miss America winner and Champaign attorney Erica Harold will likely be the Republican challenger come November 2018.

Illinois Democracy Schools are leading the way by engaging students in the petitioning process and parallel primary debates. Stevenson High School Social Studies Teacher Andrew Conneen, the suburban coordinator for Mikva Challenge's Elections in Action programs, recently organized a Petition Palooza for Lake County high schools that are part of the Mikva Challenge network.

This is the first opportunity for Illinois students to take advantage of a change in Illinois election law that allows any registered voter (including 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the general election in November) to sign and distribute candidate nominating petitions.

Students invited candidates from both parties who are seeking election to offices ranging from Governor to Lake County board.

With competitive primaries expected in the 6th and 10th congressional districts as well as the 59th state representative district (including a current college student and Stevenson graduate), more than 30 campaigns were represented at the Petition Palooza. Most impressive was the 130-plus students that showed up to sign petitions as their first civic action as newly registered voters.

Finally, Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream is hosting a candidate forum for the eight challengers seeking the Democratic nomination in the 6th Congressional District. The forum will begin at 7pm on Tuesday, December 12, and be moderated by Mary Ann Ahern of NBC-5 Chicago.

This seat held by incumbent Peter Roskam, also of Wheaton, is one of 23 districts won by Hillary Clinton and a Republican congressional candidate, making it among the prime pickup targets for Democrats dreaming of winning back the House.