WHITE HOUSE
— RESTORING EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND MERITOCRACY
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/restoring-equality-of-opportunity-and-meritocracy/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— US Sen. Dick Durbin says he won’t run for sixth term. I remember, as a Republican Precinct Committeeman, distributing campaign literature and getting sign locations in my precinct for Durbin’s Republican opponents Curran in 2020, Oberweis in 2014, Sauerberg in 2008, and Durkin in 2002. Further, I remember, as a Republican Precinct Committeeman, doing that for Duckworth’s opponent Salvi in 2022, for Kirk in 2016 and 2010, and Keyes in 2004. Because they all were statewide races, my critics/opponents had a harder time blaming me and blaming my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for Republican defeats.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/23/us-sen-dick-durbin-says-he-wont-run-for-sixth-term/
— Democrat leaders say that orders to leave the country — some for US citizen — sow confusion among immigrants
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/23/orders-to-leave-the-country-some-for-us-citizen-sow-confusion-among-immigrants/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Senate race to replace Durbin boasts ‘at least a dozen’ serious contenders
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/04/23/dick-durbin-senate-reelection-decision-krishnamoorthi-underwood-stratton
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Durbin’s retirement sets off a stampede — and a massive generational shift in Illinois politics
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/dick-durbin-retirement-sets-race-open-seats-illinois
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The GOP appears less poised to field a competitive Senate candidate in what is now a heavily Democratic state, but there has been some discussion about Richard Porter, an attorney who serves as the state’s Republican national committeeman. Also being touted by some Republicans is Rep. Ray LaHood, who represents Peoria and other downstate areas.)
— Durbin makes it official: He won’t seek re-election
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/dick-durbin-will-not-seek-re-election-senate
ABC7
— Illinois among 12 states suing Trump administration to stop tariff policy
https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-among-12-states-suing-president-donald-trumps-administration-stop-tariff-policy/16232793/
— Trump administration looking at $5K ‘baby bonus’ to incentivize public to have more children
https://abc7chicago.com/post/trump-administration-looking-baby-bonus-incentivize-public-have-more-children/16231863/
FOX32
— Trump says he’ll reduce tariffs against China ‘substantially’
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1629873
WTTW
— Long-Stalled Push for Reparations in Chicago Moving Forward
https://news.wttw.com/2025/04/23/slow-moving-push-reparations-chicago-moving-forward-johnson-says
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Under the Democrats, sooner or later, everyone will be on Medicaid.
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/state/2025/04/23/illinois-families-brace-for-possible-medicaid-cuts/82673254007/
STATELINE & CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Kilmar Abrego Garcia to promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illinois-deportation-el-salvador/
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/ap-trump-administration-is-still-resisting-the-judges-orders-in-abrego-garcia-deportation-case/
CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— The 10 Pols Who Could Replace Dick Durbin
https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/february-2024/the-10-pols-who-could-replace-dick-durbin/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: When U.S. senator Peter Fitzgerald announced his retirement in 2004, 16 candidates ran to succeed him. “Don’t you think it would be cool to be a senator?” one remarked. (Barack Obama, a state senator at the time, won — you might have heard of him.) . . . 5. Darin LaHood
The GOP will run a candidate, too, and LaHood is likely to be it. The last two times an Illinois Republican won a Senate race were 1998 and 2010 — nonpresidential years when a Democrat was in the White House, which seems to indicate that a Joe Biden reelection would help LaHood. (The Democrats also ran weak candidates those years.) Of the three Illinois Republicans in Congress, LaHood, elected to the House in 2015, is the most moderate. He’s from Peoria, which is Middle America personified. “He’s a guy who is politically disciplined and has not alienated the base,” says a conservative activist. “He can appeal to independents, too. He’s not a crazy MAGA.” Democrats would attack LaHood on abortion (he opposes) and voting with Trump on issues such as repealing Obamacare. He needs “to keep the race on economics and the lack of federal leadership, particularly with the border crisis,” the activist says.)
ILLINOIS TIMES
— Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.illinoistimes.com/arts-culture/trump-immigration-actions-are-only-latest-in-white-supremacy-tradition-20072014
PRITIZKER
— Pritzker ever-increasingly promotes more hatred.
https://gov.illinois.gov/news/press-release.31180.html
CAPITOL FAX
— Question of the day: If LaHood does run for US Senate, what do you believe are his chances in both the primary and the general?
https://capitolfax.com/2025/04/23/question-of-the-day-3727/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2025/04/23/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-291/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CHICAGOLAND JOURNAL
— Aaron Del Mar Returns as Cook County GOP Chairman After Overwhelming Vote
https://thechicagolandjournal.com/aaron-del-mar-returns-as-cook-county-gop-chairman-after-overwhelming-vote/
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— LaHood Campaign Says Durbin Retirement “Long Overdue”
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/23/lahood-campaign-says-durbin-retirement-long-overdue/
— Durbin Retiring, Second Tier Dems Ready for Fight
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/23/durbin-retiring-second-tier-dems-ready-for-fight/
— Second Old Illinois Member of Congress–Jan Schakowsky–Says Bye-Bye, People Lining Up
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/23/second-old-illinois-member-of-congress-jan-schakowsky-says-bye-bye/
— Month after Characterizing Trump to Nazis Pritzker Calls for End to Hate Crimes, Reports Big Hike Since Biden Took Office
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/23/month-after-characterizing-trump-to-nazis-pritzker-calls-for-end-hate-crimes-big-hike-since-biden-took-office/
— Passenger Pot Citation in Cary after Car Stopped for Missing Headlight, Bill To End Smell Test Passes Illinois Senate (with Roll Call)
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/23/passenger-pot-citation-in-cary/
— McHenry Awarded $771,000 to Revitalize Riverside Drive, Woodstock Gets $1 Million for Opera House Block
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/23/mchenry-awarded-771000-to-revitalize-riverside-drive-woodstock-gets-1-million-for-opera-house-block/
— State Claims 6 to 1 Benefit from Subsidizing Filming
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/22/state-claims-6-to-1-benefit-from-subsidizing-filming/
— Randi Freese Reports McHenry County Share of Most Recent Opioid Settlement Unknown at This Point
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/22/randi-freese-reports-mchenry-county-share-of-most-recent-opioid-settlement-unknown-at-this-point/
— Illinois Pot Taxes Drive Pot Shop Growth in SW Michigan
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/22/illinois-pot-taxes-drive-growth-in-sw-michigan/
— Trump-Endorsed Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Bryon Donalds Speaking to State GOP Fundraiser Friday
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/21/trump-endorsed-florida-gubernatorial-candidate-bryon-donalds-speaking-to-state-gop-fundraiser-friday/
— Details on Walgreen’s Whistleblower Opioid Settlement
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/23/details-on-walgrens-whistleblower-opioid-settlement/
— Congressional Dems Vote to Keep Taxing Tips
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/23/congressional-dems-vote-to-keep-taxing-tips/
— Court Shuts Down Rockford Abortion Clinic
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/04/23/court-shuts-down-rockford-abortion-clinic/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— An abortion clinic operating in a residential neighborhood in Illinois lost its legal fight with neighbors after a state court reversed the facility’s zoning approval.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/apr/23/neighbors-win-court-battle-home-based-abortion-clinic/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Britain bans French philosopher who conceptualized the ‘great replacement’ theory, from entering country
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/04/britain_bans_french_philosopher_who_conceptualized_the_great_replacement_theory_from_entering_country.html
BREITBART
— Americans Overwhelmingly Side with Trump on Deportations
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/04/23/poll-americans-overwhelmingly-side-with-trump-on-deportations/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Durbin Announces Retirement, Leaving a Power Vacuum
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/23/prospect-durbins-retirement-shakes-up-illinois-democrats/
FOX NEWS
— If we can’t deport illegals, here’s how we can make it impossible to stay
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/david-marcus-we-cant-deport-illegals-heres-how-we-can-make-impossible-stay
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
THE HILL
— Durbin retirement tees up competitive Senate primary in Illinois
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5263818-dick-durbin-retirement-senate/
NEWSWEEK
— Who Might Run for Dick Durbin’s Soon-to-Be Vacant Senate Seat?
https://www.newsweek.com/dick-durbin-retirement-potential-candidates-illinois-senate-2063156
(FROM THE ARTICLE: On the Republican side, Representative Darin LaHood also told NOTUS he would not “close the door” on a Senate run. “I’ve had a lot of people encourage me to think about doing it,” he told the publication.)
CNN
— Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in Senate, announces he won’t seek reelection.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/23/politics/dick-durbin-senate-retirement
CBS NEWS
— Trump signs executive order to influence college accreditation process
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-signs-executive-order-to-eliminate-woke-ideology-in-college-accreditation-process/
NEW YORK TIMES
— Durbin, No. 2 Senate Democrat, to Retire After 44 Years in Congress
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/us/dick-durbin-retires-senate.html
— Democrat leaders crow about their success in driving Trump’s approval rating down
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/us/politics/trump-approval-rating.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Democrat leaders crow about their success in manipulating/dominating young people
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/23/trump-presidency-news/
POLITICO
— Durbin was first elected to the Senate in 1996, succeeding Democratic Sen. Paul Simon. In the primary that year, Durbin defeated Pat Quinn, who would later become governor of Illinois. In the general election that year, Durbin defeated Al Salvi, the husband of Kathy Salvi, who now chairs the Illinois Republican Party.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/23/dick-durbin-retiring-from-senate-illinois-00305833
WIKIPEDIA
— 2026 United States Senate election in Illinois
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_election_in_Illinois
(FROM THE POSTING: Republican primary: Declared: John Goodman, former police officer ( https://goodmanforillinois.com/meet-john/ ). Publicly expressed interest: Darin LaHood, U.S. Representative from Illinois’s 16th congressional district (2015–present) Potential: Jim Durkin, former minority leader of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–2023) from the 82nd district (2006–2023) and 44th district (1995–2003), Mary Miller, U.S. Representative from Illinois’s 15th congressional district (2021–present). Declined: Mike Bost, U.S. Representative from Illinois’s 12th congressional district (2015–present))
