We’re Headed Over a Cliff. Should We Do Something About It?—Smoke-Filled Room—Episode 116

Wait. Is Chris Jackowiak really running for Comptroller?! Watch and find out.

Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak join State Senator Li Arellano, Make Illinois Great Again PAC Chairman Matthew Rauschert, and host Collin Corbett for an explosive episode. 

They begin by diving into the latest issue that JB Pritzker is latching onto in his desperation to get national media exposure, yet he picked an issue that even his most ardent defenders can’t defend. As Texas Democrats fled to Illinois over gerrymandering, even Brandon Johnson said it’d be nice to see Pritzker put this much effort into Chicago and Illinois. 

Pritzker’s favorables have dipped into the negative for the first time, and his failures are all starting to catch up to him. Yet Republicans don’t have anyone running who can call him out on any of it. Worse, there are 7 statewide offices on the ballot next election, and right now we have, at most, 1 semi-serious candidate.

This spurs an impromptu discussion about how Republicans don’t have leaders willing to sacrifice to turn this ship around. Even the Republicans who aren’t seeking re-election are simply getting out of the game. But Republicans have to prove to donors and voters in 2026 that we are worthy of investment so we can take advantage of likely better years in 2028 and 2030. Wins don’t just happen, you earn them—and right now we’re not worthy of victory.

We then get into the latest political developments across the state as petitions are officially being passed. We have good news in HD52 with Martin McLaughlin announcing he’s running for re-election, but that’s followed by bad news as Amy Grant decided she wouldn’t be running for re-election in HD47. We talk through other announcements in both the House and Senate, and then have an important conversation about the need for candidates to have tailored and strategic messaging that is right for them and their district. We give constructive advice to candidates on how to have good messaging that resonates with voters.

We close down this week’s Smoke-Filled Room with news you can use and our OGs and clowns of the week.

00:00: Introductions
05:13: Texas Democrats Flee to the Most Gerrymandered State in America to Protest Gerrymandering
20:09: Pritzker's Favorability Underwater for the First Time, Yet Still No Serious Statewide GOP Challengers
39:12: Why Are Republicans In Illinois So Scared?
57:52: Marty McLaughlin to Run for Re-Election and Fight to Defend HD52
01:00:53: Amy Grant Not Running for Re-Election in HD47
01:03:10: Liz Bishop Wants a Rematch in HD76
01:06:38: Jessica Breugelmans Appears to Be the GOP Choice to Replace DeWitte in SD33
01:08:39: Senate Republicans Pushing Daniel Rhyne in SD57
01:12:19: Tosi Ufodike Running Again for Now-Open HD51
01:16:22: Kathy Easton Steps Up to Challenge Dave Vella in HD68
01:23:58: Craig Wilcox Draws Democrat Challenger in SD32
01:25:23: Republicans: Stop Burying Voters in Issues
01:31:08: Grundy-Kendall-Will Regional Office of Education Caught Using Tax Dollars for Private Benefit
01:33:30: Illinois' Anti-Business Environment Hurting Our Schools
01:35:12: OG & Clown of the Week 
01:44:25: Closing Thoughts