11/02/2026
Takeaways from today's exciting push for Democrats one day from the mid-term election. The Downstate Illinois Laborers' District Council was generous enough to offer their space in Collinsville and Democratic supporters certainly filled the entire space with energy and positive messaging.
Take aways:
Governor JB Pritzker
"We passed a historic infrastructure bill that made sure that people go to work that we put people to work. We increased money for education. We make sure that people have health care. We ensure that we treat people humanely, and we don't do what they're doing in Washington.
Mail-in balloting is important. Trump wanted to take it away. What did we do in the state of Illinois? We took him to court and we won.
I'm so pleased to be here with all of you. I feel like this is home because we've worked so hard on so many things over the last few years, and this team behind me and I include Jay and and really, Katie, and all the folks here, because some of the things that you wanted to have happen in this region.
I'm so proud to be partnered with all of you and organized labor and we work together and we worked hard to pass the only in the entire nation workers rights Amendment.
State Rep. Jay Hoffman:
"We have less than two days the end, the national nightmare that we have been facing. Rep Jay Hoffman D - IL 113th
“How about the about the new Collinsville Vocational Center Democrats brought to the community? The advanced manufacturing training center at the Belleville Southwest Illinois Community College and the $306 million Illinois invested in the new Chain of Rocks Bridge. Large "Rebuild Illinois" bill projects are being witnessed accross the state. We also passed the Worker’s Rights constitutional amendment banning right-to-work non-union efforts.
We've gotten credit rating upgrades in Illinois since JB has been governor. A topic that isn’t exactly exciting for people across the country but it’s very important progress.
Christian Mitchell for Illinois Lt Governor:
I believe I'm the rookie in this lineup of All-Stars here today, but it's so great to be back in the Metro East. I want to thank organized labor. I'm the proud grandson of a union steel worker. That job allowed my grandfather to buy his house in cash and as a black man in the 1960s and 1970s he had a good paying job that became the foundation of my family's future. So, thank you, members of organized labor for all that you do.
I actively reject a thing that has been played for years? The idea that somehow for us to get ahead, while Chicago versus down state and Chicago wins the downstate loses and vice versa. We have always rejected that myth and we were able to pass an amazing 45 billion dollar Capital bill that I got to work on as State Rep. because we pulled together to build all of Illinois.
Clearly, you know what is on the line. Our democracy is at stake.
“We need to keep fighting for us to keep this state a blue wall that protects its people, we need the team to do that.”
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth
“We're tired of the chaos, the corruption that's coming out of the White House right now. The draft dodging coward, President bone spurs. How's he doing?
The Republicans who've enabled them to do things like divert 500 million dollars in infrastructure funding away from the State of Illinois. Money that was already appropriated to help fix our infrastructure. We can't do those projects at home if the money that we appropriated in a bi-partisan way gets diverted by Donald Trump and his cronies. He wanted to make it harder for you to vote. He wanted to take away your right to mail in your ballot.
Those of us who have worn the uniform of this great nation, defended the basic right to vote, Republicans in Congress are trying very hard to pass a bill that Donald Trump wants passed that would take away your right to vote. If you are someone who changed your name when you got married, and 65 percent of the women in this country did, then you cannot vote if your birth certificate, the name of your birth certificate doesn't match the name on your on your, voter registration card or your driver's license. We cannot let that happen. Who's there doing everything they can to take away your right to vote that we fought for, so do the most patriotic thing that you can do.
We are sick and tired of families not being able to afford utility bills, gas bills, child care, groceries. Let’s not forget his statement when he said he doesn't care about affordability.
The first step is tomorrow when we win the election and then in two years when we win the presidency.
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski IL-13th Congressional District:
"I am so proud to be on a ticket as a part of the Blue Wave wall of resistance.
I have a question for all Democrats here today! Are we gonna make sure that enough is enough tomorrow?
Enough with the tax breaks for the super rich on the backs of the working people in this country. Enough with the cuts to the programs that our families need to survive. Enough with the needless wars that are only leading to increased prices. Enough of a president, the most corrupt president in our country's history, that is on the take and rigging the system against each and every one of you.
Tomorrow, we say enough is enough!!!
Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton:
“I am so excited to be here. First of all, I cannot wait to get to Washington, DC, and fight alongside congresswoman Nikki Budzinski. We are also going to make history. Did you know that Illinois will be the first state in the nation, sending two women of color?
When we win. We are going to fight to make sure that everyone who needs to see a doctor can see a doctor. Win! We are going to stand up and defend workers rights. Again, we are gonna fight to protect reproductive freedom. And when we win, we're going to bring the voices of families across this state who have said to me personally, everything is too expensive right now.
But you know what else we're going to do when we win? We're going to stand up and fight back against the most corrupt president in the history of the United States.
State Rep. Katie Stuart IL 112th District:
“What an amazing honor to be here with all of you and with everyone behind me, everybody who believes in the values and the ideals that we are all Illinois Democrats.
Our Governor JB Prtizker has a commitment to public education, which is near and dear to my heart. The general assembly and working together with you and putting more dollars into our Public Schools, putting more dollars into our public institutions of higher education and investing in all of those important things. Because we know that education, whether it's Career Technical education College or focused preschool.
I want to remind people that we have legislators who chose to vote against the workers rights amendment. So when they try to claim that they care about working families, when they try to claim that they are independent voices, which seems to be their new BS line that they keep saying. That’s why I need Marcie Gilbert Murphy in the Senate.
We have county board members on the ballot. We need to elect Rachelle Bauerle for Madison County Clerk. But please remember to vote top to bottom, flip it over top to bottom. Vote Marc Parker for Circuit Judge Finish the whole thing. That's your homework assignment from your former teacher.”
State Senator Christopher Belt IL 57th District:
“When I was in high school I ran track. Our track coaches used to always tell us to run through the tape, run through the tape. What running through the tape means is keeping your top level speed until you break the tape, right? Listen, we have today and tomorrow. We're tired because we've been working. Yeah, but let's run through the tape”
Marsie for Illinois IL Senate 56th District:
Like Christian Mitchell, my family got on the track of having a comfortable life because my grandpa joined the union in 1955. It's the reason that I was able to go to college. It’s the reason that I'm standing here, and I will never forget that.
We need to get everyone else out to vote like they mean it. We need to vote for the mothers who are trying to take care of their families, feed them, and work and pay for gas and pay for utilities.We vote for each other, we vote to take care of each other. We vote to make a better life for everyone in our community. That's what we're about, so get out there and make sure that you vote.”
George McClellan Elect for State Rep IL 114th District:
"Democrats are focused on what's happening at your kitchen table each and every day. Your work, your money, your jobs, keeping all of that and keeping your health care intact because those are the things that we need and that's what Democrats are taking care of."
Madison County (IL) Democratic Party
Democratic Party of Illinois MadCo Blue Madison County Eastern Democrat Organization
