Democrats need to do a better job on messaging and turning out voters, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson said during a wide-ranging interview about her first year as chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Thursday marked the anniversary of when state central committee members narrowly elected Kelly to replace longtime party boss and Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
“The evening I won I said I wanted a more active, transparent, present, diverse and inclusive party and we have definitely been working to be all of that,” Kelly said.
We spoke for 30 minutes Wednesday afternoon, shortly before federal authorities announced Madigan’s indictment on corruption allegations. A party official later said Kelly had no idea the indictment was forthcoming when we spoke.
“Today’s announcement is a stark reminder that elected leaders must hold themselves to the highest ethical standards,” Kelly said in a statement after the indictment.
“While he stepped down as party chair more than a year ago, Michael J. Madigan remains a state central committeeman from the 3rd Congressional District,” Kelly said in the statement. “He should resign from that position as well.”
I had asked Kelly several questions about Madigan during our conversation. I wanted to know what it was like to fill the shoes of someone who loomed so large in political lore.
“I always tell people I brought my own heels to the dance,” she said. “I’m not trying to fill his shoes. I wear my own.”
I asked about integrity. Kelly began representing the 2nd Congressional District in 2013. Her predecessor, Jesse Jackson Jr., went to prison for corruption. I wondered whether she viewed herself as a new sheriff in town, like how Pat Quinn’s impeccable character was a refreshing response as governor after Rod Blagojevich was impeached for corruption.
“I have a picture on my office wall in (Washington,) D.C.,” she said. “It’s of Abraham Lincoln and under it is written, ‘Integrity is doing the right thing even if no one is watching.’ I pride myself on my integrity.”
Chicago aldermen, state lawmakers, members of Congress, mayors and others have been convicted of crimes and tainted Illinois with a reputation as a corrupt state. At the same time, however, a well-funded Republican organization has attacked Madigan, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and others at every opportunity.
I asked how much of the Democratic Party of Illinois’ reputation for corruption was deserved, and how much has been exaggerated by political opponents. Sometimes good people do bad things, she said.
“There’s good and bad in every profession,” Kelly said. “No profession is perfect. Sometimes I think people get involved and they get a little bit over their skis as they say. For the most part I think people really care. Sometimes things happen. Wrong decisions are made.”
I asked about the significance of Black women replacing white males in positions of political leadership. Lori Lightfoot is mayor of Chicago. Toni Preckwinkle is Cook County Board president.
Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first Black woman nominated to become a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Since our conversation Wednesday, Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard was chosen to replace the late Frank Zuccarelli in the politically powerful position as Thornton Township supervisor.
“Black women have always been leaders,” she said. “We’ve led our homes, we’ve been entrepreneurs, we’ve done many things for many years. We’re finally getting recognition and appreciation that we can lead any organization if given the chance.”
Before serving in Congress, Kelly, 65, worked for the village of Matteson, for the state treasurer’s office and for Cook County government. She was a state representative for four years.
I asked what kind of party boss she was, and she laughed at the use of the phrase to describe her management style.
“I’m an inclusive, approachable, thoughtful, considerate party boss,” she said. “It’s not a one-woman show. I look at it as all of us are in this together. All of us will benefit when we get more Democrats registered and to the polls.”
That’s her job, ultimately, as party chair, though she also plays a key role in fundraising. There was controversy when she was selected a year ago over Federal Election Commission rules on members of Congress raising funds for other political figures.
“I can raise federal dollars and that’s what I’ve been doing,” Kelly said. “There was a special committee created by the state central committee to raise state funds. I’m not the first or only one in these shoes. There are other members of Congress that have led and are leading state or county parties.”
I asked about her role representing Illinois to other Democratic organizations and officials across the country. The political divide is sharpening differences between red and blue states. On the issue of abortion, for example, Illinois has expanded access while neighboring states have adopted more restrictions.
“Illinois is like an oasis in terms of women’s rights,” Kelly said. “Women have to come from other states to even have the choice of what they want to do.”
I shared my belief that gerrymandering has created more extremist political figures. Depending on the state, both Democrats and Republicans have leveraged slim electoral margins into 2-1 political majorities through redistricting, I said.
“I see what you’re saying, but also if more people exercise their right to vote maybe things would be different,” Kelly said.
I agreed, and noted how turnout among 18- to 27-year-olds remains historically low compared to other age groups. Kelly said she takes advantage of every opportunity to speak to young adults about voting.
“We just have to stay at it and pound the pavement and get young people involved so they see themselves as stakeholders,” she said.
High percentages of Blacks vote, I said. That helps the Southland punch above its weight class in terms of political representation.
“People died for the right to vote,” she said. “In the Southland we feel we’ve been forgotten about so we have to band together.”
As we neared the end of the 30 minutes set aside for our conversation, I asked again about Madigan. As I said, this was a mere hour or two before authorities announced a news conference was scheduled and word leaked that it involved Madigan. I asked Kelly how often she talked with her party chair predecessor.
“We haven’t spoken for a while,” she said. “I think we spoke to each other maybe three months ago. It’s not that he’s mad at me or I’m mad at him, we just don’t talk.”
Finally, I asked about this year’s gubernatorial race and how Democrats and Republicans were spending huge sums on political messaging. Republican messages tend to distort the truth, she said.
“As the Democratic Party of Illinois we’re pointing out the truth,” Kelly said. “Not one Republican in Congress voted for the American Rescue Plan, which helped the state, the county and different cities.”
Nearly all Republicans in Congress voted against the infrastructure bill, she said.
“How could you vote against an infrastructure bill?” Kelly said. “We’re taking care of lead pipes, we’re taking care of broadband so people can e-learn, have telemedicine, apply for job online. My Republican colleagues voted against that bill. We’re into governing, and delivering for the people.”
Ted Slowik is a columnist with the Daily Southtown.