Ha! As a downstater, I’m just gonna vote for the candidate who knows the least about Chicagoland. 
As I’ve mentioned, I hate “gotcha” questions such as the CTA question. However, Biss’ response was quite idiotic. I’d think he’d at least be able to ballpark the cost of a single ride at around $2-$2.50, which is about what I’d expect to pay in any big USA city with a transit system. So, someone that rides it daily for work would pay about $4-$5 per day. His $35 for a monthly pass is ridiculous.
However, Biss has already proven that he’s completely clueless on the issues and thus can never earn my vote in the primary.
Heck, I live in the city, and have used the CTA extensively in the past (not so much now, but I have a transit card), and even I have no clue what a monthly pass costs, having never bought one in my life, even when I was commuting by El and bus every day. (That said, I would have guessed around $80, not $35, which is a bit silly. Turns out it’s $105.)
The Ives campaign sent me a literal 40 page book about why Rauner sucks.
Sorry about the first image being sideways, I thought it saved the right way. I’m not a Republican, much less a “faithful” one, but I did vote in the Republican primary against Rauner during his initial run (since the Democratic ballot was mainly unopposed) so I guess they’re using that list.
All the attack ads I’ve seen about Ives are basically just saying “She’s nice to Madigan.”
Yeah, I like the ones that feature milliseconds long out of context audio clips of her speaking Madigan’s name. Rauner has got nothing for her, and I predict she kicks his ass. (After the last Presidential contest I swore off predictions, but there it is.)
No, this is Illinois. It’s more like “She’s a TOOL of the CORRUPT MADIGAN MACHINE and his LABOR UNION FLUNKIES!!! And WHAT ABOUT HILLARY’S EMAILS???” Literally half the ads I get in the mail are politicians accusing their opponents of secretly being agents of the other party. Some of them might even be true, though none seem too convincing to me.
Ives is clearly fucking nuts and I could actually see her being supported by either Democrats wanting an easily beatable opponent or Republicans wanting to make Rauner look normal by comparison. Probably, though, she is a sincere member of the large and influential Fucking Nuts faction of the GOP.
Pritzker is a rich guy and longtime establishment/Madigan crony. Kennedy’s ads, so far as I can tell, consist of reminding people that he is related to people who are fondly remembered from a half century ago. I despise the idea that the Democrats would copy the Republican plan of nominating inexperienced rich guys whose only “qualification” is a willingness to fund their own campaigns. I strongly support Biss, who is an actual experienced politician and strong on the issues. AFAIK there is no reliable polling on the race, but I would guess Pritzker will ride the wave of low information voters to the nomination and the wave of anti-Trump revulsion to the Governorship, where he will be an ineffectual rubber stamp for Madigan until he is indicted and removed from office. (I’m not aware of anything illegal he is alleged to have done, but that’s just the safe bet on how any Illinois Governor’s term will end).
Between the ads for the gubernatorial candidates, congressional candidates, and candidates for attorney general, local TV news here in Chicago is now fundamentally unwatchable – political ads have to be 90+% of the ads now running during the news. 
Try the League of Women Voters Illinois webpage – lwvil.org. (Sorry, the stupid Surface I’m using right now doesn’t want to let me post a link.) Anyway, click on Voter Guide and enter your street address and the party whose primary you are interested in. The first race it displays is for Governor. If you click on the tab for
Stances you’ll get a shopping list of issues. Click on one to see where the candidates stand on that issue.
I live in Elmhurst – Dupage County. I’ve seen several yard signs for Ives, and none for Rauner. Go figure.
I just received my primary ballot in the mail. Interesting that Pritzker is listed first for the governor’s race and Quinn is listed first for Attorney general, the second race on the ballot. Now, I’ve already decided to vote for both Pritzker and Quinn, but I’m wondering if appearing first on the primary ballot coupled with name recognition will help push both of them over the top.
Isn’t it random?
I actually don’t know. I can’t imagine the state printing multiple ballots for those of us who vote by mail early, especially since there are some very local races on the ballot. I haven’t voted in person since 2012, and I believe that was a printed ballot, similar to the one I have by mail. It would be easy to randomly present the candidates on an electronic ballot.
Just saw this useful site on reddit…
It has info on all the candidates on your primary ballot, such as stances on issues and endorsements. Very comprehensive and up-to-date.
I already mailed my ballot out, but I wish I knew about this site a few days ago. Researching every judicial candidate took me almost an hour.
Great link, thanks!
A Facebook friend posted today that a recent poll shows Ives trailing Rauner by only 7%.
It’s clear to me that Ives has a pretty big campaign chest. I received a rather thick booklet from her talking about what a shitty job Rauner has done. The accompanying letter’s salutation was “Dear fellow dedicated Republican.” My fault for voting in the Pub primary in 2016 – a futile attempt to help deny Cadet Bonespurs the nomination.
Also, I’ve received at least 2 robocalls for Ives. As I’ve said previously, I’ve seen lawn signs for Ives but none for Rauner.
I predict it will be a close election. I won’t be surprised if Ives wins.
On the Dem side, it’s up for grabs. I voted early and cast my ballot for Kennedy. I think it will be either him or Biss, but I won’t be shocked if Pritzker wins.
I think Pritzker wins easily on the Democratic side. I’ve been bombarded with direct mail, texts, and emails from them, even though I’ve voted early (for Pritzker)
I hated doing it, but I threw up my hands in disgust with all the judicial races on the ballot. I know there are judges that need to be replaced, but even as a political junkie, I just got frustrated with so many races to vote on. Do I really need to be voting on the water board?
I voted Biss, but I expect Pritzker to take it in a cakewalk. I don’t think it will be the least bit close. Double digits.
The various bar associations evaluate the judicial candidates and put their results (in condensed and full versions) out on the internet for voters to use. The only way it could be handier would be for the Chicago Bar Association to join with the other bar associations, who all put their evaluations on a single website and single printable list. You can pick your favorite bar association (women, gay, Puerto Rican, etc.) and follow its recommendations, or total up how many recommends/not recommends the various associations gave a candidate. I found voting for the judges easier than evaluating who to vote for for governor. 
I also early-voted, and voted for Pritzker. Not that I paid heed to all the junk mail before I voted, but I feel particularly justified in immediately throwing the fliers into my recycling bin since I’ve voted.
Second data point here, my mail in ballot also has Pritzker and Quinn first.
I’m so happy I went for the mail in ballot. There are so many races that it helped to be able to sit down and review each one individually. Also because Illinois ballots are about 3 feet long and the polling places give you a 2 foot long table to work on it.