WASHINGTON — Lots of politics in this column as House hopeful Marie Newman picked up backing from Elizabeth Warren on Monday and millionaire perennial candidate Willie Wilson, who is self-funding an independent Senate bid, is undecided if he would side with Democrats once in the chamber if his long shot bid to beat Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. succeeds.
The party Wilson would back to control the Senate is a crucial foundational question.
Wilson poured more than $3.6 million of his own money in bids for mayor of Chicago in 2015 and 2019 and for a Democratic presidential bid in 2016.
At present, the Senate has 51 Republicans, 47 Democrats and 2 Independents — Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine. When it comes to determining the party in control of the Senate, Sanders and King both caucus, or side with the Democrats.
The Senate, under Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., won’t take up most of the legislation sent over by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. The Senate right now is just about at a standstill, except for judicial confirmations.
Wilson spokesman Scott Winslow, asked the caucus question, told the Chicago Sun-Times that Wilson “has not decided. He needs to see how the race unfolds and who the leaders of the Democratic Party will be.”
It’s not too much to ask Wilson, when it come to control of the Senate chamber, which side are you on?
WILSON’S POLL
It’s a little head-scratching on why Wilson sees the Ogden & Fry poll he commissioned and released encouraging. The poll had Durbin at 44.1% with a generic Republican at 33.6%, Wilson at 4% and undecided 18.3% The margin of error is plus or minus 4.3% so Wilson could be at zero.
In the impossible-in-real-life scenario of a head-to-head, Durbin was at 44.3% to 25% for Wilson with 30.7% undecided. Wilson, at a press conference in Chicago, said that result showed him “we are pretty much in a dead heat, when you look at the undecided vote.”
It’s clear why Wilson won’t confront Durbin in the March Democratic primary: Durbin beats him 72% to 8% among Democrats.
2020 PRESIDENTIAL DEMOCRATS LOOK FOR ILLINOIS SUPPORT
Democrat Newman, in a primary rematch against Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., landed the backing of presidential contender Sanders in June and, on Monday, Sanders’ chief rival, Warren, also endorsed Newman.
Before they dropped 2020 bids, Newman was endorsed by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and former Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee.
With Sanders and Warren progressive champions — and with Gillibrand and Inslee also to the left of Lipinski — it’s an easy call for them to be with the like-minded Newman in the safe Democratic 3rd District. They are not bound by the House Democratic political operation — the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — commitment to back incumbents, which has progressives seething.
Abortion is an issue in this primary with Newman backing and Lipinski against abortion rights. In 2018 Newman, from LaGrange, lost to Lipinski, who lives in Western Springs, by 2,145 votes.
Warren said in a statement, “At a time when women’s reproductive rights are under attack daily from Republican lawmakers across America, Illinoisans deserve a leader with an unwavering commitment to fighting for women’s access to reproductive health care. Marie Newman is that leader.
“She understands that this isn’t a moment to back down — it’s time to fight back. Marie will be a champion for working families and women across Illinois’ third district, making sure their voices are heard in Washington. Marie knows that when women fight, women win. That’s why I’m proud to support Marie.”
Lipinski said in a statement, “This announcement, which came from so-called “Justice Dems,” lamentably proves the point of Washington pundits that Warren has moved from independent fact-based thinking to ideological orthodoxy.
“My opponent has always been an ideologue. She has never focused on how she might serve the people of IL3, but has only parroted the talking points of radicals who would take away everyone’s private health care, eliminate Medicare, and raise the taxes of hard working middle-class families by tens of thousands of dollars.
“I have a proven record of helping my constituents as well as hard working Americans across our country through commonsense, problem-solving leadership that has brought results.”
Newman is neutral in the presidential race.
KAMALA BACK IN CHICAGO
Presidential contender Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., hits Chicago again for fundraising on Friday evening.
When Harris was in Chicago in July, she had dinner with Mayor Lori Lightfoot at Chicago Cut, the steak place at 300 N. LaSalle.
I’m told Harris and Lightfoot hit it off and, if schedules permit, they may get together again this week. Lightfoot remains a 2020 free agent and will likely stay that way for awhile.
The third Democratic debate is Thursday, in Houston.
