“Mission Accomplished” for IL Republicans on Election Night?—Smoke-Filled Room—Episode 81

You want drama? We got drama. Between what drove voters to support Trump to the spin around whether this election was really a “victory” for Illinois Republicans, things got contentious!

For our official post-election Smoke-Filled Room, we’re joined by former House Republican Floor Leader Mark Batinick, education policy and advocacy expert Nathan Hoffman, The Illinoize’s Patrick Pfingsten, along with Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak, and host Collin Corbett. 

Nationally, Republicans won big and Trump overperformed, including in Illinois, yet Illinois Republicans gained 0 seats in the House or Senate. We should have done better and Collin questions why people are touting this election already as a victory. Patrick Pfingsten said in his The Illinoize newsletter that there would be fireworks when he joined this episode and that promise delivered.

Plus, as Illinois Democrats knocked on 60,000 doors in Wisconsin and Michigan, we discuss if they will regret not taking Illinois elections more seriously when you look at how close races like HD47, HD52, and HD104 are. And while we didn’t make the strides we were hoping for in state and federal races, we did see gains—small gains but gains—in county and judicial races throughout the state. 

We get into Brandon Johnson’s and CTU’s bad election night with Chicago School Board election, the possibility of Pritzker trying the progressive tax again, and the massive budget deficit facing our state after the Pritzker administration gaslit us for years.

00:00: Introductions
02:05: Trump and National Republicans Win Yuuuuuuge
27:26: In Illinois, Republicans Gain 0 Seats But May Not Lose Seats Either
40:53: Should Democrats Regret Not Taking Illinois Elections More Seriously?
51:27: Was This Election Really a "Victory" for Tony McCombie and HRO?
01:07:02: CTU and Brandon Johnson Have Another Bad Night with Chicago School Board Elections
01:17:22: Republicans Make Small Gains in County and Judicial Races
01:19:57: After Gaslighting Illinois, Pritzker's Administration Finally Admits to Massive Budget Deficit
01:28:14: CTU Pushing Pritzker to Try Progressive Tax Again
01:32:58: No Rest for the Weary: 2025 Elections Already Underway
01:34:58: OG & Clown of the Week
01:42:53: Closing Thoughts