WHAT A BIG DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Recap of the 2019 County Chairs’ Brunch
by Dan Kovats, IDCCA Executive Director
@ILDCCA @dankovats
On Wednesday, August 14, scores of Illinois Democrats descended on Springfield to celebrate Getting Big Things Done. We celebrated Governor JB Pritzker’s leadership and the enormous successes of Democrats that have occurred in such a short period of time.
Well over 2,000 enthusiastic attendees proudly cheered our state’s slate of statewide officials – held exclusively by Democrats. Illinois’ legislative leaders also shared in the 2019 victory lap, shepherding a progressive Democratic agenda through the super-majorities of the House and the Senate.
How quickly times have changed.
Rank-and-file Democrats worked tirelessly in 2018 to end the failed governorship of Republican Bruce Rauner and his constant drumbeat to disparage and degrade Illinois. In less than eight months, JB Pritzker has successfully turned the page, restoring faith in state government and a collective self-respect that realizes our future is bright – if we’re willing to come together to get BIG THINGS DONE.
The 2019 IDCCA Chairs’ Brunch special guest, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, expressed her pride in the achievements of Illinois and the Democrats who are leading the era of bold, progressive change. It’s the same kind of chance, she noted, that is critical in Washington, DC – at the White House and the Senate.
Speaker Pelosi shared with us how important Illinois is in Congress. Thanks to the selfless determination of thousands of party activists, our state added two members to the Democratic caucus in 2018. Re-electing Rep. Sean Casten and Rep. Lauren Underwood is critical in 2020. So too is adding Betsy Dirksen-Londrigan who, in 2018, lost her aggressive central Illinois campaign by less than two votes per precinct. Indeed, every vote matters.
Throughout the day of the 2019 Brunch, Democrats from every corner of the state expressed enthusiastic pride for our leaders. And while I’m deeply grateful to our podium guests and our elected officials, the program only succeeds through the attendees who faithfully join us each year. As they come, nearly 150 volunteers are at the ready to help them get settled to enjoy the event.
For the IDCCA, the Chairs’ Brunch is a BIG deal that relies on a BIG group of people to be successful. Our members, leaders, staff, sponsors, guests and volunteers are what made the 2019 Brunch the greatest annual event in Illinois politics.
It’s truly an honor to have a part in brining all of us together.
