November 4, 2026 Evening Edition

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Democrats celebrate gains in McHenry County as Republicans assess losses across Illinois.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/2026-elections-democrats-celebrate-gains-mchenry-county-illinois-republicans-assess-losses-midterms/20016039/
— Illinois to become 1st state to have 2 women of color in US Senate at same time after Stratton’s win.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-election-results-2026-become-1st-state-have-2-women-color-us-senate-juliana-strattons-win/20015338/

FOX32
— Illinois GOP chair on midterm results, the party’s path forward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73c0ksXkJXU
— Former FBI Chicago chief Douglas DePodesta sues over ‘forced’ resignation. DD: My Democrat Park Forest Post Office superiors forced me to resign when I was 20 in 1969. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/depodesta-lawsuit-fbi-chicago-broadview-six

WTTW
— Republicans Confront a Game-Changing Possibility: They Can No Longer Count on Texas.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/11/04/republicans-confront-game-changing-possibility-they-can-no-longer-count-texas
— Young Voters Led a Sharp Shift Toward Democrats in the 2026 Midterms.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/11/04/young-voters-led-sharp-shift-toward-democrats-2026-midterms-ap-voter-poll-finds

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— The repudiation of Trumpism.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/11/04/editorial-the-repudiation-of-trumpism/
— After third win, Pritzker calls on Dems in Congress to adopt ‘bold agenda.’
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/11/03/illinois-election-governor-results/
— Joe Keim, prolific homebuilder in Wheaton, Lisle, Geneva and St. Charles, dies at 94.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/11/04/joe-keim-homebuilder/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Blue tsunami raises Democrats’ already massive advantages in the Illinois General Assembly. The Illinois House and state Senate are both poised for further domination by Democrats after Tuesday’s Republican bloodbath.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/11/04/blue-tsunami-democrats-massive-advantage-illinois-general-assembly

DAILY HERALD
— How the Trump effect grew Dems suburban footprint, devastated GOP.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261104/illinois-state-politics/last-republicans-standing-how-the-trump-effect-grew-dems-suburban-footprint-devastated-gop/
— Joe Keim, prolific homebuilder in Wheaton, Lisle, Geneva and St. Charles, dies at 94.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261104/obituaries/joe-keim-prolific-homebuilder-in-wheaton-lisle-geneva-and-st-charles-dies-at-94/

WBEZ
— Pritzker takes personal pride in Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s defeat. Pritzker, the billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, responded to all the Abbott ire with his dollars. Every Texas candidate he supported won Tuesday night.
https://www.wbez.org/government-politics/elections/2026/11/04/gov-jb-pritzker-role-texas-gov-greg-abbotts-defeat-gina-hinojosa-james-talarico

ILLINOIS PATCH
— Stratton’s Senate Win Makes History In Illinois. She joins Duckworth, who has already achieved a long line of “firsts” in her time in office.
https://patch.com/illinois/across-il/strattons-win-makes-il-first-state-have-2-women-color-senate-same-time

WHEATON PATCH
— More Than Half Of DuPage County Voters Cast Ballots In General Election. Some 334,000 DuPage County voters cast ballots in the election, which featured races for sheriff, county clerk and county board chair. DD: In my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 59 in Wheaton, the following Republican candidates got the following votes: Tracy-278, Bailey/Del Mar-259, Fioretti-292, Harris-258, Drew-302, Soloman-288, Oakley-294, Lewis-311, Vrankovich-290, Grasso-298, Noonan-319, Schiappa-298, Henry-345, Eckhoff-327, Michaud-308, Schultz-296, Quirk-315, and Helland-291. Henry, who lives in my precinct, was the only Republican candidate who got more votes than their Democrat opponent.
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/more-half-dupage-county-voters-cast-ballots-general-election

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/11/04/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-629/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/11/04/tr

CHICAGO CONTRARIAN
— The Makings of a Civil War in Chicago.
https://www.chicagocontrarian.com/blog/the-makings-of-a-civil-war-in-chicago

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Illinois Republicans Suffer Election Night Bloodbath as Democrats Expand Legislative Supermajorities to Historic Levels.
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/11/illinois-republicans-suffer-election-night-bloodbath-as-democrats-expand-legislative-supermajorities-to-historic-levels.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ‘Extinction-level event’: Ron DeSantis says GOP will take years to claw back from election losses.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/nov/4/extinction-level-event-ron-desantis-says-gop-take-years-claw-back/
— Hegseth could face impeachment in new Democratic Congress.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/nov/4/pete-hegseth-could-face-impeachment-new-democratic-congress/
— End of MAGA? Midterm ‘meteor strike’ leaves Trump coalition in shambles.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/nov/4/end-maga-midterm-meteor-strike-leaves-trump-coalition-shambles/
— Obama gets his revenge as voters deliver stinging rebuke to Trump.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/nov/4/obama-gets-revenge-voters-deliver-stinging-rebuke-trump/
— DSA boasts 50-plus election wins. DD: To vote for Democrats is to vote for socialism
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/nov/4/socialism-win-us-dsa-boasts-50-plus-election-wins/
— Vance tries to distance himself from Iran war after GOP’s deep losses in midterm elections.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/nov/4/jd-vance-tries-distance-iran-war-gops-deep-losses-midterm-elections/
— A wipeout for Republicans. Trump’s style, weak messaging and generational shifts helped Democrats capitalize across the map.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/nov/4/wipeout-republicans/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The Left isn’t reforming the American ship of state — they’re scuttling it.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4792621/left-scuttling-american-ship-of-state/
— Yes, JD Vance: Losing the midterms was ‘worth it’ to prevent a nuclear Iran.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4792490/jd-vance-iran-war-midterms-nuclear-threat/
— Democrats ran radicals and still won. Don’t blame the candidates — Trump owns this bloodbath.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4792361/why-republicans-lost-midterm-elections-trump-iran/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Far-left tees up AOC for 2028 presidential run after midterm blue wave.
https://nypost.com/2026/11/04/us-news/far-left-tees-up-aoc-for-2028-presidential-run-after-midterm-blue-wave/

CENTER SQUARE
— Defiant Trump blames midterm losses on not being on ballot, threatens vetoes.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_1b70c782-c8f6-474d-ae5c-2ed5cb39fc35.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ROLL CALL
— Trump made midterms about himself, and voters rejected him. President orchestrated a ‘2006-style massacre,’ GOP strategist says.
https://rollcall.com/2026/11/04/trump-made-midterms-about-himself-and-voters-rejected-him/

ABC NEWS
— Women make history in governor, congressional races in 2026 midterms.
https://abcnews.com/GMA/News/women-make-history-governor-congressional-races-2026-midterms/story?id=137841842

CBS NEWS
— Trump asking advisers if Hegseth should stay after midterm losses.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-hegseth-midterm-election-losses/

NBC NEWS
— Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker rolls out a Day One road map for Congress.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-day-one-roadmap-congress-rcna606173

NEW YORK TIMES
— After Midterm Drubbing, Trump and Republicans Start Pointing Fingers. While the president attributed sweeping losses to the fact that he was not on the ballot, others in his party dismissed his explanation and pinned blame squarely on him.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/04/us/politics/trump-republicans-blame-midterms.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump blames losses on GOP candidates, oil prices and his absence from ballot. Though President Donald Trump repeatedly said in recent months to pretend he was “on the ballot,” he and his aides cast midterm results in a different way late Tuesday.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/11/04/trump-reacts-midterm-losses-blames-gop-candidates-oil-prices-vows-vetoes/
— Trump concedes Iran war angered voters, triggered Democratic landslide. After Vice President JD Vance and others in the GOP blamed the war for Tuesday’s rout, the president agreed — but said he would do it again.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/11/04/republicans-wake-up-new-reality-brace-new-washington/

DALLAS NEWS
— Texas Republicans reel after sweeping midterm losses. There’s going to be some ‘soul searching.’
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/article/texas-republicans-reel-sweeping-midterm-losses-22511843.php

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Democrats’ Midterm Victory Shakes Up 2028 Electoral Map.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/democrats-midterm-victory-shakes-up-2028-electoral-map-a7ff9e79
— Elon Musk’s Political Fortunes Run Into a Blue Wave.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/elon-musk-midterms-texas-blue-wave-bff60456?mod=djemwhatsnews

POLITICO
— Vance blames Iran war for GOP’s midterm losses.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/04/jd-vance-iran-war-midterms-01148838
— Mike Johnson will step aside as House GOP leader. He made the announcement on a private call Wednesday after the GOP’s midterm drubbing.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/11/04/congress/mike-johnson-steps-aside-01148698
— DeSantis calls midterm bloodbath an ‘extinction-level event for Republicans.’ Florida Republicans fended off a blue wave yesterday, while Democrats across the country flipped long-held red seats and seized control of Congress.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/04/desantis-calls-midterm-bloodbath-an-extinction-level-event-for-republicans-01148705

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.