It was a travesty that would make any marriage equality activist seethe in anger. Following the Illinois Senate's 34-21 vote to legalize gay marriage and the Illinois House Executive Committee's 6-5 affirmative vote, things had been looking good for gay marriage in the state. The bill's main sponsor, Rep. Greg Harris (D), promised that the bill would pass before the end of the session in May. Gay marriage advocates claimed that the votes were there, and Rep. La Shawn Ford (D) predicted that there were 64 "yes" votes, four more than needed for passage.
Yet, on May 31st, the House adjourned without voting on the bill.
What happened? How could a legislative chamber with a healthy Democratic majority not be able to pass gay marriage?
Follow me past the flip...
(EDIT June 11: List updated in accordance with new Windy City Times article. Updates are in bold.
As you can see from this list, courtesy of the Windy City Times, the number of representatives who have actually publicly committed to voting for marriage equality is far short of the magic number. That list was published nearly two months ago and is slightly outdated; for instance, since its publication, Reps. Ken Dunkin and La Shawn Ford, both Democrats, have publicly committed to voting "Yes" on the bill.
Why is it so important that Democrats publicly commit? Because if they simply give their word privately, it's easy for them to just stab activists in the back and claim that never promised anything. They also need to know that if they are against equality, it will hurt them in the primary (note that many Democrats are in safely blue districts). While this diary includes all Democrats who are either against marriage equality or uncommitted for the sake of comprehensiveness, it only advocates primary challenges in districts where such challenges would not threaten Democratic control of the seat.
(NOTE: If I am mistaken and one of the Democrats on this list has publicly committed to marriage equality, please provide a link and I will strike them from the list.)
Without further ado, here is the list of Democrats, sorted by district number, who need to be targeted for primary challenges unless they get on board now. Phone numbers for each representative can be found within the aforementioned Windy City Times list.
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(WARNING: District maps included are PDFs.)
Rep. Edward Acevedo (02)
DISTRICT: SW Side of Chicago, includes Pilsen, Bridgeport, and Little Village. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Was endorsed by Equality Illinois in 2012 and voted for civil unions. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Luis Arroyo (03)
DISTRICT: NW Side of Chicago, Logan Square/Humboldt Park. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Voted for the bill in committee, but has said he will vote no on the floor.
Rep. Esther Golar (06)
DISTRICT: South Side of Chicago, reaches up from Englewood all the way to the West Loop. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Was endorsed by Equality Illinois in 2012 and voted for civil unions. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch (07)
DISTRICT: Close-in western suburbs of Chicago, reaching from the city's western border to the Cook County/DuPage County line. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Leaning yes, but won't commit. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Arthur Turner (09)
DISTRICT: Near South Side of Chicago, including the University of Illinois at Chicago and Greektown. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Voted for civil unions but not endorsed by Equality Illinois. Has committed to voting Yes.
Rep. Derrick Smith (10)
DISTRICT: West Side of Chicago, including West Garfield Park. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Voted for civil unions but not endorsed by Equality Illinois. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. John D'Amico (15)
DISTRICT: Close-in NW suburbs of Chicago, including Niles and Morton Grove, reaching down into the extreme northern part of the city. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Voted against civil unions and not endorsed by Equality Illinois. Considered a Likely No vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Silvana Tabares (21)
DISTRICT: Close-in SW suburbs of Chicago, including Forest View and Stickney, reaching into the South Lawndale neighborhood of the city. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: When asked her view on gay marriage, responded by endorsing civil unions. Not endorsed by Equality Illinois. Considered a Toss-up vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Michael Zalewski (23)
DISTRICT: Odd serpentine shape that winds through the SW suburbs of Chicago. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Was endorsed by Equality Illinois in 2012 and voted for civil unions. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (24)
DISTRICT: Based in Berwyn, a SW suburb of Chicago. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Was endorsed by Equality Illinois in 2012 and voted for civil unions. Considered a Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Monique Davis (27)
DISTRICT: Based in Alsip, a southern suburb of Chicago. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Was endorsed by Equality Illinois in 2012 and voted for civil unions. Opposes equality - see link posted in top edit.
Rep. Will Davis (30)
DISTRICT: Southern suburbs of Chicago, including Harvey and Homewood. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Undecided. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Mary Flowers (31)
DISTRICT: Winds from SW suburbs to South Side of Chicago. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Reported to be undecided. Opposes equality - see link posted in top edit.
Rep. Andre Thapedi (32)
DISTRICT: Winds from SW suburbs to South Side of Chicago. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Reported to be undecided. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Marcus Evans (33)
DISTRICT: South Side of Chicago, hugging the Indiana border. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Not endorsed by Equality Illinois. Considered a Toss-up vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Frances Ann Hurley (35)
DISTRICT: SW suburbs of Chicago, reaching from the Cook County/Will County border near Orland Park to the SW tip of the city. Not overwhelmingly D, but Hurley won more than two-to-one in 2012.
NOTES: Leaning yes.
Rep. Kelly Burke (36)
DISTRICT: SW suburbs of Chicago. Not overwhelmingly D, but Burke won more than two-to-one in 2012.
NOTES: Undecided. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Al Riley (38)
DISTRICT: Southern suburbs of Chicago, extending down to the Will County line. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Was endorsed by Equality Illinois in 2012 and voted for civil unions. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Fred Crespo (44)
DISTRICT: NW suburbs of Chicago, including Hoffman Estates and Streamwood. District is not Safe D, but Crespo won 64-36 in 2012, and this is a wealthy (read: probably socially liberal) area.
NOTES: According to the Windy City Times list, dodged the question of gay marriage but claimed he supported civil rights for all. Considered a Toss-up vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Deb Conroy (46)
DISTRICT: Western suburbs in DuPage County, including Villa Park and Carol Stream. District is not Safe D, but Conroy won 58-42 in 2012, and this is a wealthy (read: probably socially liberal) area.
NOTES: Believes in equal "legal rights" for gay couples. Considered a Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Martin Moylan (55)
DISTRICT: NW suburbs of Chicago, including Des Plaines and Elk Grove Village. District is not Safe D, and Moylan only won 53-47 in 2012, but this is a wealthy (read: probably socially liberal) area.
NOTES: Endorsed by Equality Illinois. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Michelle Mussman (56)
DISTRICT: NW suburbs of Chicago, including Schaumburg. District is not Safe D, but Mussman won 60-40 in 2012, and this is a wealthy (read: probably socially liberal) area.
NOTES: Previously said she was a no, but a Windy City Times reader in her district said she believes she has since switched. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Elaine Nekritz (57)
DISTRICT: NW suburbs of Chicago, including Arlington Heights and Buffalo Grove. District is not Safe D, and Nekritz won 56-44 in 2012. However, this is a wealthy (read: probably socially liberal) area.
NOTES: Was endorsed by Equality Illinois in 2012 and voted for civil unions. May be on our side after all - see link in top edit. Considered a Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Carol Sente (59)
DISTRICT: Far NW suburbs of Chicago, including Wheeling and Vernon Hills. District is not Safe D, and Sente won 56-44 in 2012. However, this is a wealthy (read: probably socially liberal) area.
NOTES: Believes in "same rights under the law." Considered a Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Rita Mayfield (60)
DISTRICT: Based in Waukegan and North Chicago in Lake County. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Has taken quite a few positions on this, but either way she probably won't be voting yes.
Rep. Jack Franks (63)
DISTRICT: Far NW exurbs in McHenry County. Franks was unopposed in 2012, but it would likely be very difficult to keep the seat without him.
NOTES: Undecided. Considered a Toss-up vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Charles Jefferson (67)
DISTRICT: Based in central Rockford. Seems to be Safe D.
NOTES: Reported to be undecided. Has switched to a no vote - see link in top edit.
Rep. Patrick Verschoore (72)
DISTRICT: Based in Rock Island and Moline. Seems to have a strong D tilt.
NOTES: Voted against civil unions and not endorsed by Equality Illinois. Considered a No vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Frank Mautino (76)
DISTRICT: Based in Lasalle and Putnam Counties, on the SW border of Chicagoland. Mautino won 63-37 in 2012, but it would likely be very difficult to keep the seat without him.
NOTES: Voted against civil unions and not endorsed by Equality Illinois. Considered a No vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Kathleen Willis (77)
DISTRICT: NW Chicago, including O'Hare International Airport and the surrounding suburbs. District is not Safe D, and Willis defeated a Republican incumbent 53-47 in 2012.
NOTES: Not endorsed by Equality Illinois. Considered a Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Katherine Cloonen (79)
DISTRICT: City of Kankakee and some surrounding areas. District is not Safe D, and Cloonen won by only 91 votes in 2012.
NOTES: Opposes equality.
Rep. Anthony DeLuca (80)
DISTRICT: Links SW exurbs/farmland with deep-blue south suburban territory. District likely tilts D, and DeLuca was unopposed in 2012.
NOTES: Said he would vote no two years ago, but was endorsed by Equality Illinois. Considered a Toss-up vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (83)
DISTRICT: Based in Aurora. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Undecided (apologies for wingnut source). Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (84)
DISTRICT: Based in the area around Aurora. Likely has a D tilt.
NOTES: Claims she supports civil rights but that civil unions are enough. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Emily McAsey (85)
DISTRICT: Northern Will County, including Bolingbrook, Lockport, and Romeoville. Leans D but probably not safe; however, McAsey was unopposed in 2012.
NOTES: Dodged a question on gay marriage. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Lawrence Walsh (86)
DISTRICT: Based in Joliet. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Said he would not have a problem legalizing it. Considered a Likely Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Jehan Gordon (92)
DISTRICT: Based in Peoria. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Was endorsed by Equality Illinois in 2012 and voted for civil unions. Considered a Toss-up vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Sue Scherer (96)
DISTRICT: Stretches between Decatur and Springfield. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Thinks it's too early for gay marriage. Considered a Toss-up vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Natalie Manley (98)
DISTRICT: Stretches from Joliet up north to the DuPage County line. Should be Safe D (hell, Manley won 62-38 in 2012 after getting arrested for a domestic disturbance).
NOTES: Not endorsed by Equality Illinois. Considered a Yes vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Daniel Beiser (111)
DISTRICT: Based in the St. Louis suburbs in Madison County. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Opposes equality.
Rep. Jay Hoffman (113)
DISTRICT: Stretches from Granite City in Madison County to Belleville in eastern St. Clair County. Most likely tilts D considerably. Hoffman won nearly two-to-one in 2012.
NOTES: Opposes equality.
Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson (114)
DISTRICT: Based in East St. Louis. Should be Safe D.
NOTES: Jackson voted against the bill in committee, but has since been reported to be undecided. Considered a Likely No vote by the Windy City Times.
Rep. Jerry Costello Jr. (116)
DISTRICT: Rural area south of the St. Louis suburbs. Not very Democratic. Costello won 62-38 in 2012, but this is a conservative area and a liberal might struggle here.
NOTES: Opposes equality.
Rep. John Bradley (117)
DISTRICT: Rural region in the "Little Egypt" area of downstate Illinois. Not very Democratic. Bradley won 65-32 in 2012, but this is a conservative area and a liberal might struggle here.
NOTES: Opposes equality.
Rep. Brandon Phelps (118)
DISTRICT: Rural region in the "Little Egypt" area of downstate Illinois, including Cairo, Metropolis, and the southern tip of the state. Not very Democratic. Phelps was unopposed in 2012, but this is a conservative area and a liberal might struggle here.
NOTES: Opposes equality.