Leaked campaign documents highlight stark contrast between leading congressional candidates in Southwest Chicagoland race
U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (left) will face Marie Newman for the 3rd Congressional District seat in the March 17 Democratic primary.
Photos: Facebook
CHICAGO - Leaked private campaign strategy documents from Rep. Dan Lipinksi’s office on Nov. 18 shed light on the most contested Democratic primary in the state.
The documents revealed Lipinski positioned his campaign strategy to target competing demographics. For example, Hispanics were to be flagged about Lipinski’s “pro-dreamer votes” while Republicans would be targeted with “pro border control” messaging. Lipinski, who has represented Illinois’ 3rd District for 15 years, said he wasn’t aware these documents existed.
Marie Newman, his front-running rival ran against him in 2018 and lost by a 2,145 vote margin. Newman hopes to defeat Lipinski and win the Democratic Party nomination on March 17.
Lipinski and Newman represent opposite sides of the Democratic spectrum. Lipinski is a conservative Democrat - he does not support women’s reproductive rights and voted against the Affordable Care Act. Newman on the other hand is a progressive Democrat - she is pro-choice, supports a $15 minimum wage and universal healthcare.
Newman’s platform falls in line with a leftist insurgency that is penetrating the Democratic Party. If elected, Newman aims to be an additional emancipatory voice in an increasingly progressive congress.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D - VT), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D - MA) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D - NY) have all endorsed Newman.
Newman hosts meet and greets, moderates panels and visits local community organizations on a daily basis. She wants to introduce herself to the entire 3rd District, which includes a diverse array of constituents.
The 3rd District is home to the sixth largest Arab American community in the country. Newman’s campaign chair, Shadin Maali, said Newman’s solidarity with the Arab American community during a local racist scandal in 2017 involving Republican congressional candidate, Sharon Brannigan, is what initially drew her to Newman’s campaign. “Newman wasn’t afraid to reach out and speak out about Islamophobia,” said Maali. Maali said Brannigan has ties with ACT America, a notorious hate group known for its anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Maali also said Rep. Lipinski never pragmatically engaged in this conflict while Newman “stood shoulder to shoulder,” with the Arab American community by attending protests and offering to facilitate a resolution with Brannigan.
State Rep. Theresa Mah (D - 2nd) who represents the Bridgeport, McKinley Park, Brighton Park and the Back of the Yards neighborhoods endorsed Newman in 2017 leading up to the 2018 primary and again in 2019 for the 2020 primary. Mah is the first Asian American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly and frequently hosts canvassing events for Newman. The 3rd District is home to a significant Asian American community in Chicago making Asian Americans, like Arab Americans, an essential voting bloc in the primary.
Mah told Politico in 2017, “There are quite a few precincts in the district that are heavily Latino, where immigration issues are of primary concern and [Lipinksi] is just never been anyone who has supported immigrants.”
Abby McEntee, a volunteer for Newman’s campaign and member of Indivisible, a national organization dedicated to electing progressives and fighting the GOP, said she is confident Newman will enact positive change in the 3rd District.
“Marie is fighting the Democratic Machine,” said McEntee in reference to a term used to signal the alleged nepotism and murky behavior surrounding Chicago politicians.
“One thing people don’t understand is the deep tangled web of Machine Politics. The Democratic Party has behind closed door meetings.”
McEntee said Machine Democrats want Lipinski elected because “they can scratch each other's backs,” and that most voters don’t know about this connection.
McEntee said the way Lipinski inherited the house seat from his father is “one thing everyone can agree is not how we want representatives to come to power.” In 2004, Lipinski’s father, the former House Representative in the 3rd District, decided not to run again and replaced his name with his son’s name on the primary ballot.
“Lipinski has had 15 years and nothing to show for it,” said McEntee. “It’s time for someone else.”