(The Center Square) – Illinois Democrats are hoping to extend their influence to surrounding swing states in the presidential election this fall.
Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin spoke at the state Democratic Party Press Breakfast at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Thursday. Durbin said Democrats need to build up the party at home first.
“Then, we’ve got to reach out to our neighbors, particularly in Wisconsin. We should adopt that state, and we have in many respects,” Durbin said.
Wisconsin is a key swing state in the upcoming presidential election.
Honest Elections Project Vice President Chad Ennis said Wisconsin has good election laws, but the state Supreme Court is not good.
“That Supreme Court has been very activist. And going into this election, you’re not quite sure what the rules are going to be, because they keep changing them at the courts,” Ennis said.
Ennis said the system works best when there is a Republican and Democrat poll watcher in every location.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias told the crowd at the press breakfast that Illinois Democrats are some of the best campaigners he’s ever seen.
“We need people to go to Michigan, to go to Wisconsin, to go to Ohio, to go to Pennsylvania. Help everywhere you can,” Giannoulias said, referring to other Midwest swing states.
Illinois Democratic Party Chair Lisa Hernandez said volunteers from Illinois are already working in other states.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Illinois Democrats need to work with their neighbors in Michigan and Wisconsin to deliver those swing states.
Ennis was asked if people should be concerned about Chicagoans taking their election tactics to other states.
“Well, there’s always concern. I think the lawsuits, the lawfare that the left employs, is the big concern in those next states,” Ennis said.
Ennis suggested that if Democrats are going to other states, Republicans should do the same.