Why does Illinois vote Democrat? (Chicago, East St. Louis: lawyers, neighborhoods, property taxes)

[LeotheOrangeCat]

The Illinois Republican Party was quiet strong until relatively recently. The state had a Republican governor from 1977 to 2003 - 26 straight years.

Two things explain the change:

1. The Chicago metropolitan area's share of Illinois population has increased. The growth has been primarily in the suburbs.

2. The Republican party has become too conservative for many Chicago suburbanites - particularly on social issues.

So a moderate on social issues like Kirk or Rauner can still win in Illinois. But a candidate that is conservative enough to win the Republican presidential primary is doomed in Illinois.

[studedude]

there are more dead democrats voting in Chicago than live republicans in the rest of the state

[mapmd]

Originally Posted by LexusNexus

Illinois is a state of quiet quality, full of people who are among the most enlightened in this country. Naturally, they oppose the party of Dixie, the Republican party. They tend not to favor the supreme ignorance and bigotry that supports the right-wing causes. Thank God the state still has far more of these fine people than it does the other side.

That's why...and don't you forget it either.

So that's why Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Cincinatti, Cleveland, parts of Philly, most of D.C. aside from downtown, St. Louis, Oakland California, etc. etc. are such wonderful places to live, free of crime, clean streets and blessed with the occasional sightings of a unicorn farting a rainbow?

And have you seen Gary right next door to you? Holy smokes!!! Talk about a bastion of beauty there. You liberals sure have created some wonderful places to live. Those "idiots" in Dixie you speak of with their well constructed modernized 3k sq.ft. homes for under a quarter million on large lots who work honest jobs or run their own honest businesses don't have it nearly as good as you guys do. Besides, who needs friendly neighbors and a community that looks out for one another?

[Army_Guy]

I bet if you stripped away the titles of (R) and (D) and had people vote on the actual issues instead of a party, more of the (R) would win.

What I see is people voting down party lines.

Even though IL may have had (R) governors, let's not kid ourselves into thinking they were really conservative. They were RINOs.

The way that (D) politicians win is by playing the inequality, race and fear card.

You also have those who play the gun control card by saying guns are the reason for violence in areas and not the people. You know why? Because the politicians don't want to offend voters by saying they're the reason for the violence. I've never seen a gun shoot anyone by itself.

The (D) politicians say the (R) politicians are going to take away your government assistance.

The War on Poverty was more concerned about ensuring the black vote to Democrats more than about caring for the lives and well being of blacks. You can Google it but LBJ did say "I'll have those negroes voting democrat for the next 200 years" and he didn't use the word negro, either.

Look at Daley, one of the most powerful Dems in the state. Sold tollway and parking meter revenues. Mortgaged the future income for our children. What have the Madigans done? Look at the awful nepotism and cronyism.

Rauner comes along and wants to cut spending. Why? Because there sure isn't any more money coming in so something has to give.

[wickedripeplum]

Originally Posted by studedude

there are more dead democrats voting in Chicago than live republicans in the rest of the state

I know Republicans have a bizarre fetish about nonexistant voter fraud and downstaters of a certain type like to imagine Chicago is a fiery hellscape or whatever, but seriously when you're (at best) 50 years behind the times it's time to give it up.

[Maintainschaos]

Originally Posted by wickedripeplum

I know Republicans have a bizarre fetish about nonexistant voter fraud and downstaters of a certain type like to imagine Chicago is a fiery hellscape or whatever, but seriously when you're (at best) 50 years behind the times it's time to give it up.

Agreed.

[studedude]

Originally Posted by wickedripeplum

I know Republicans have a bizarre fetish about nonexistant voter fraud and downstaters of a certain type like to imagine Chicago is a fiery hellscape or whatever, but seriously when you're (at best) 50 years behind the times it's time to give it up.

OK it's because Democrats don't have a sense of humor

[Houston parent]

Originally Posted by Opin_Yunated

Texas would be a bottom feeder state if oil wasn't so hot. Policy didn't make Texas what it is.

You are correct that oil has driven the prosperity in Texas. Where public policy comes into play is that Texas has not killed the proverbial golden goose with the kinds of taxes, job-killing regulations and corruption that prevails in much of the Midwest. Add to that the fact that Texas is a right to work state and you can see why places like Mont Belvieu or Lake Jackson outside of Houston are doing so much better than a place like Wood River, even though all three are small refinery towns.

[TGPII]

Originally Posted by TruthBeautyGoodness

When I think of Midwest states that usually vote Democrat, I think about the progressives in Minnesota and Iowa, and the Unions of Wisconsin. But when I stop to think about Illinois, I don't understand why they like in the Democratic party. They certainly are not progressive, at least compared to Minneapolis. And unions don't seem to be as prevalent in Illinois as they are in Wisconsin.
Could someone help me about? Thanks!

Illinois Green Party

[pvande55]

About 20 years ago the collar counties, possibly except McHenry, were reliably GOP. Today it's about balanced. Part of it is migration from Cook, part reaction to W Bush.