Why does Illinois vote Democrat? (Chicago, East St. Louis: to buy, income, store)

[CurlyFries]

If Chicagoland split away from the rest of the state, Illinois would not be a blue state.

[Opin_Yunated]

Originally Posted by CurlyFries

If Chicagoland split away from the rest of the state, Illinois would not be a blue state.

It also would lose... 80% of its population.

[linicx]

There is no Chicagoland there never was. It's a media phrase coined in the 60s.
Chicago is the seat of the second largest county in America -- with half of the state population that call it home. The balance of te population is spread over the other 101 counties.

People who do not live in Illinois do not understand it very well. It is a union state where most members are democratic by their very nature.

Originally Posted by CurlyFries

If Chicagoland split away from the rest of the state, Illinois would not be a blue state.

[Swampmonster]

Originally Posted by Opin_Yunated

It also would lose... 80% of its population.

I think the rest of the state would be ok with that

[linicx]

If we lost Cook County we could close the puppet offices, sever ties with Chicago unions, and sell the white elephant (mansion) that has not been used by a governor for decades. We would have a smaller, leaner legislature that actually represent rural Illinois interests.

Speaking of rural interests, mule, a company that is providing inferior services to seniors by their untrained, and unsupervised employees, recently moved to Chicago. I don't know what they are up to, but they are trying to threaten seniors into silence bu using the courts. We don't want anything more exceptional than a clean, safe environment devoid of thieves and other bad actors.

[Opin_Yunated]

Originally Posted by Swampmonster

I think the rest of the state would be ok with that

Then it wouldn't be much of a state.

We share the same displeasure in New York... but at least New York has other significant Metro Areas (>500,000 people). By the way, they also... go Democratic.

Cities = Democrat
Rural = Republican

[ToriaT]

A confluence of "old ethnics" (Irish, Polish, Italian, Czech, etc), Catholics, Jews, Hispanics and African Americans as well as labor made Chicago democratic. These are the populations that traditionally voted for Democrats, although that is changing now.

[Opin_Yunated]

Originally Posted by ToriaT

A confluence of "old ethnics" (Irish, Polish, Italian, Czech, etc), Catholics, Jews, Hispanics and African Americans as well as labor made Chicago democratic. These are the populations that traditionally voted for Democrats, although that is changing now.

It isn't that complicated;

Two thirds of Illinois is Chicagoland. Metro Areas vote Democratic.

[doodlemagic]

If Chicago wasn't a factor Illinois would be much more conservative as downstate is much more conservative, even if people are dems they aren't liberal dems and I would wager a bet that most are rpublican.

As for why Illinois is so democrat, because they have been in power so long, have a machine, there is corruption, dead people voting, bringing homeless people to vote with ciggarettes and booze, etc. Also once it becomes one party they slant rules and districts to favor their party which makes it even harder to get the other party in.

Whether your republican or democrat I think there's no denying illinois is a craphole even if you hate republicans give somene else a try, we'll probably wind up with same result but heck at least shake things up and give another party a try.

[linicx]

IL and NY are completely different. IL has 80,000 farming families that are the #1 and #2 producers of beans and corn. IL is also a top exporter of livestock, and other crop. And it has the largest coal field in the Midwest. None are in Chicago.

We have metro areas of 500,000, too. It will get you Costco; it won't get Trader Joe's, Apple store, or Whole Foods. Not all rural areas are red.

Downstate there is no benefit from Chicago. Cook County real estate tax money stays in Cook County to support its schools, hospitals, libraries, county police and fire and parks. Ditto Chicago and the rest of the state. Resale tax supports the poorest schools, etc.. The vast majority of poverty in Illinois is in Chicago. The legislature is seeded with folks from Cook County that have no idea that rural Illinois is less than 15 miles from the Capital building - which is also one of the safest counties in the state. . . .

Originally Posted by Opin_Yunated

Then it wouldn't be much of a state.

We share the same displeasure in New York... but at least New York has other significant Metro Areas (>500,000 people). By the way, they also... go Democratic.

Cities = Democrat
Rural = Republican