Annual State Fair Democrat Day rally canceled – The Capitol Fax Blog (blog)
* Mostly true
* Democrat Day itself has not been canceled. Party members will still get their free tickets to the fair just like Republicans will on Governors Day. But the traditional noontime rally has been canceled.
Steve Brown told me part of the problem with Democrat Day over the years was that the same people make pretty much the same speeches at both the county party chairmans brunch and then at the state fairgrounds rally a couple of hours or so later. It gets boring and repetitive and kinda pointless. It can be a real drag sitting in the hot sun listening to the same speech you just heard at brunch.
So, it looks like this could be the end of a very long era. I dont know how far back the tradition goes, but its a very long time. Back in the day, the first Mayor Daley would send trainloads of people to the fair. It used to be a huge deal, but the rally crowds for both parties have seemed to taper off in recent years and I dont think that Speaker Madigan likes doing it, either. Maybe itll restart if the Democrats elect a governor again, whenever that might be, because then Madigan wont have to be in charge.
* From a Crains column I wrote back in 2014
The Illinois State Fairs Directors Lawn is a tree-lined venue far from the corn dogs, grandstand concerts and beer tents.
The lawn spreads out in front of a rather dingy house used by the states director of agriculture, off a road marred by potholes and best accessed via a special gate that often is closed during the fair because theres so little public parking. A million or so people attend the fair each year.
The grass on the lawn is trampled flat. But no events ever are as crowded as the annual Governors Day and the accompanying rally for the party out of power.
Even in this era of high-tech campaigns, the twin events unofficially kick off the governors race, despite the fairgrounds somewhat rundown appearance. Politicians high and low attend. The more important ones give speeches, the less important mill about and try to interest others in shaking their hands. Every major media outlet sends reporters.
There usually are four crowds. Theres the true believers, young men and women who work or volunteer for the candidates. They wear matching T-shirts, carry signs and fire up the crowds by cheering or shouting slogans on command.
Then there are the older believers, folks who arent nearly as youthful or fired up but still strongly support their candidates. They sit in the front section with a clear view of the stage.
The space-fillers mostly are bused in to increase the crowd. They sit where they cant see the speakers, either behind the stands for the news media or off to the side under a canvas tent. They chat among themselves and enjoy the free food.
The fourth group is the hacks in the back. These are the political professionals, high-level campaign operatives, lobbyists and legislators. Theyve heard enough speeches, so they gossip at the rear of the lawn near the free beer.
No more free beer and hot dogs and politicking on the Directors Lawn this year, at least for the Democrats.
Be the first to comment.
Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.
The rest is here:
Annual State Fair Democrat Day rally canceled - The Capitol Fax Blog (blog)
- Democrat Jeffries Sets Record In Speech Delaying House Vote on Trump Bill - Yahoo Finance - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Lucas: Trump should demand the unconditional surrender of the Democrat Party - Boston Herald - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- There will be consequences for GOP in 2026 after passing Trump's bill, says House Democrat - NBC News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Appeals Court Lets Trump Remove Another Democrat From Independent Agency - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrat Warned To 'Avoid Vulgar Speak' After Ripping Trump-Backed Bill - Newsweek - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrat sets record with 8.5-hr speech before vote on Trump bill - Times of India - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Pennsylvania House Democrat on Fetterman: If you dont want to be here, leave - Politico - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Colin Allred announces he will run for U.S. Senate again - Houston Chronicle - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Colin Allred is running again for US Senate in Texas - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Dan Haar: CT's top Democrat on how the party outside of New York should respond to Zohran Mamdani - CT Insider - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Geoff Duncan weighs whether to run for Georgia governor - as a Democrat - AJC.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Rips Fettermans Beach Gripe: If You Dont Want to Be Here, Leave - Yahoo - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- 2nd Democrat announces campaign to unseat GOP congressman - Grand Haven Tribune - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Colin Allred announces campaign for Cornyn's seat, O'Rourke testing the waters - fox4beaumont.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Longtime Pa. Democrat says he wont run for reelection to Congress - PennLive.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat McMorrow to report $2M haul for Senate bid - The Oakland Press - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Pat Williams, Last Montana Democrat to Serve in the House, Dies at 87 - The New York Times - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats fight to exercise their oversight duties - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrat Billie Butler wins special election to represent Somersworth and Rollinsford in NH House - New Hampshire Bulletin - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrat Wyden presses Bessent to commit to US sanctions on Russia - Reuters - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- House Democrat demands VA disclose any spyware, AI installed on agency computers as part of DOGE initiative - Stars and Stripes - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Zohrans Next Challenge: Another Disgraced (Former) Democrat - Mother Jones - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Trump wins over lifelong Democrat with 'big, beautiful bill' and more top headlines - Fox News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Rep. Robert Garcia elected top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee - NBC News - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- Rep. Robert Garcia elected top Democrat on Oversight panel, setting new path for partys opposition - Federal News Network - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- Hear heated exchange between Pam Bondi and Democrat over possible foreign influence on Trump - CNN - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- 88-Year-Old House Democrat's Staff Walks Back Comments on Reelection Bid - Newsweek - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- Top Democrat says Trump strikes on Iran a 'massive, massive gamble' - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- As a Seventy-Two-Year-Old Democrat, Am I Too Young to Run for Congress? - McSweeneys Internet Tendency - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Democrat AGs push to move OB-GYN tests out of Texas - Dallas News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Robert Garcia earns key backing for top Democrat on House Oversight Committee - Washington Examiner - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Top House Intel Democrat warns 'we have no idea' yet whether U.S. strikes were successful - CNN - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Senior Democrat blasts Trump for not seeking congressional authorization for Iran strike - The Times of Israel - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- The Star Democrat's top 10 online stories this week - The Star Democrat - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Robert Garcia is a young Democrat with an old-style approach to moving up the House ladder - Politico - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Party reaches consensus to remain in government coalition - Nation Thailand - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Party affirms continued coalition participation, urges review of ties with Cambodia - Nation Thailand - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth says the GOPs Big Beautiful Bill will negatively affect the healthcare - 25 News Now - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Josh Weil Running for Senate in Bid to Unseat Ashley Moody - FlaglerLive - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Oklahoma Democrat Kalyn Free Pushed for New DNC Elections And She Wants a Seat at the Table - Oklahoma Watch - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- David Jolly, a Trump critic and former GOP congressman, to run for Florida governor as a Democrat - AP News - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Colorado's Jason Crow named ranking Democrat on bipartisan House cartel task force targeting fentanyl - ColoradoPolitics.com - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Democrat announces run against Ernst after her 'We're all going to die' comments - ABC News - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Some federal workers lost health coverage they had paid for. A Democrat wants answers - NPR - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Kentucky Senate Democrat switches parties to GOP in major blow to Dem Gov Andy Beshear - Fox News - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Long-time Kentucky Democrat switching parties - The Hill - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- No, were not doing that: Democrat voter rebukes centrists ahead of primary vote - CNN - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Hannah Pingree exemplifies Democrat rule in Augusta | Letter - The Portland Press Herald - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Meet Anthony Moor, the Greenwich Democrat looking to be the next first selectman - Greenwich Time - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- People know 'they're going to die': Democrat hits GOP senator over viral town hall exchange - USA Today - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Arkies in the Beltway | Week of June 1, 2025 - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Nayib Bukele Went All In on Trump. One Democrat Still Wants to Work With Him. - Politico - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Long-time Kentucky Democrat switching parties - FOX 56 News - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Do we have to play this game? - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Little Rocks high-end home sales for April 28-May 2: Six of the most expensive properties - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Lebanon Democrat finds her footing in Concord - Valley News - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Democrat demands info on Trump plan to shift national parks to states - E&E News by POLITICO - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- House Democrat campaign chair says her party is 'on offense' in the 2026 midterms battle to win back majority from GOP - Fox News - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Maryland Democrat says he was denied access to Abrego Garcia in El Salvador - USA Today - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Meet the former Democrat leading Trumps charge against 10 universities - Politico - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Local democrat to host political Facebook live, What the Heck is Happening in Ohio - WKBN.com - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Neon Raspberry Art House in Occidental wants everyone to feel welcome - The Press Democrat - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Opinion | Poll: Trump Has Higher Approval Rating in New Jersey Than Democrat Governor - WSJ - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- House Democrat withdraws Trump impeachment bill that angered party leaders - ABC News - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Democrat Spanberger: No right-to-work repeal in Virginia, but maybe reform - The Washington Post - May 10th, 2025 [May 10th, 2025]
- Balancing Trump criticism and bipartisanship, Democrat Jon Ossoff walks a fine line in Georgia - WABE - May 10th, 2025 [May 10th, 2025]
- Democrat Jared Golden's only tariff fear: That Trump will back down - Axios - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Trump sued by Democrat he removed from US civil rights agency - Reuters - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Ohio Democrat introduces bill to prevent state money from going to sports teams with 'losing record' - Ohio Capital Journal - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Owners of popular Petaluma beer garden take over former Bear Republic taproom in Rohnert Park - The Press Democrat - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Kornacki: Wisconsin amendment suggests Democrat voters 'aren't with their leaders' on voter ID issue - NBC News - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- House Democrat says he'd vote to protect Trump's tariff plan, worries White House will stand down - Fox News - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- President Trump has a new nickname for this Democrat, and its watermelon head - MassLive - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Whats the Future of the Democrat Party in North Dakota? - The Dakotan - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- This Democrat just nabbed a big progressive endorsement in the race for N.J. governor - NJ.com - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrat Talking As Long as He's 'Physically Able' to Protest Trump - Newsweek - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Pamela Stevenson, the top Democrat in the Kentucky House, launches campaign for the US Senate - AP News - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Who is Cory Booker, the Democrat from New Jersey holding the Senate floor? - WKMG - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- House Democrat: Trump not imagining a democratic election for his third term - The Hill - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Democrat-led states sue Trump administration to block $12 billion cut to health grants - Washington Times - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]