SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Elected officials, county chairs and grassroots Democrats took to the Illinois State Fair Wednesday, marking the kickoff to the November election cycle.
It was a pregame of sorts for next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago — A brunch and rally in Springfield centered around the state fair.
The starring role belonged to Governor JB Pritzker, whose electoral success and money have led to six years of Democratic dominance in Illinois.
“When they come here next week from every state and from all over the world, you know what they’re gonna see?” Pritzker said. “They’re gonna see a state where Democrats deliver.”
For some leaders, supermajorities in the House and Senate aren’t enough. They said they want to pick up more seats come November.
“Right now there’s a lot of excitement, there’s a lot of energy,” said Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs. “What we want to do is bring more people on who want to move this state forward.”
The big focus for the Democratic Party this year is at the top of the ticket, with a chance at history in electing Vice President Kamala Harris to the Oval Office.
“As a sitting attorney general, I’m proud of the fact that we have somebody who’s served as attorney general as our nominee,” said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
“I want to make it clear, this is not just about Kamala Harris being a woman, or a Black woman, or a South Asian woman,” said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. “This is about her being the most qualified person to be president of the United States.”
Saving their stars for next week in the Windy City, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval delivered a brunch keynote speech.
“I love all of my citizens, I love all Americans, but Midwest Asians are where it’s at,” exclaimed Pureval. “We could have gone anywhere but we decided to go to Illinois, we decided to go to Minnesota, to Michigan, to Wisconsin and thank God we did because that is the path to victory for Vice President Harris.”