New Poll Shows a Record Number of IL Voters Concerned About Pocketbook Issues—Smoke-Filled Room—Episode 97

Between baseball’s Opening Day, the Sweet 16, the Consolidated Elections in 4 days, and the latest out of Springfield, there’s a lot to keep track of, but we have you covered in the Smoke-Filled Room.

Joining host Collin Corbett is State Senator Erica Harriss, Chairman of the Will County Republican Central Committee Christina Clausen, Chairman for Make Illinois Great Again PAC Matthew Rauschert, Executive Director of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse Illinois Philippe Melin, along with Cor’s political expert Michael Butler (Chris got the afternoon off for Opening Day).

We begin discussing the looming elections—both on Tuesday and in 2026. We start highlighting races to watch throughout Illinois and talk about the Democrats’ continued involvement in the local elections. Then looking ahead to 2026, we break down the Civil War brewing within the Democrat Party as somehow, Jan Schakowsky isn’t progressive enough anymore as she faces a primary challenger. Will we see the same in districts like IL-10?

While some Republicans may be pessimistic about our chances in 2026, as Democrats move even further to the left, there will be opportunities. Between now and when petitions begin circulating in August, we need to find candidates who can speak effectively on the issues impacting the working families of this state.

Then we release results from EmpowerToWin’s Q1 Tracking Poll and give our viewers exclusive insights on where Illinoisans stand right now. The key takeways:
-Half of voters, a record, are most concerned about pocketbook issues.
-Illinois voters believe our state is headed in the wrong direction.
-Only 20% of Illinoisans say it’s affordable to live here.
-More residents want to leave Illinois than stay—something we’ve rarely seen in our polling across the country.

Later Erica gives insight into the Illinois Senate and the bills she and other Republicans have introduced that aren’t getting the attention they deserve; Philippe highlights how trial lawyers have donated over $1 million to Democrats; and Christina talks about a crazy story out of Will County where a Democrat board member was involved in a hit and run…with a kid (and is trying to cover it up).

00:00: Introductions
03:11: Illinois' 2025 Local Elections End on Tuesday
10:09: Schakowsky Draws Primary Challenger from Her Left as Democrat Civil War Intensifies
21:35: Are Illinois Republicans “Screwed” in 2026 as Some Claim?
37:27: Latest Illinois Tracking Poll Shows Voters' Moods Souring as State Becomes Even More Expensive
54:59: Springfield Democrats Silencing Republicans By Cutting Off Their Mic and Burying Their Bills
01:00:53: Trial Lawyers Spending Big in Illinois to Continue Lawsuit Abuse
01:08:52: Democrat Will County Board Member Hit Kid on Bicycle and Fled the Scene
01:11:27: Illinois and Other Blue States Raised Tax Rates Since 2000 While Red States Lowered Taxes 
01:13:24: SAFE-T Act Increased Costs for Kane County, Leading to Potential Sales Tax Increase
01:15:02: Careful, Republicans: TMA Survey of Manufacturers Shows Frustration Over Tariff Uncertainty
01:19:08: OG & Clown of the Week 
01:33:13: Closing Thoughts