Voices In The News 2018
By Brian Mackey
Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker, left, and Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Brian Mackey/NPR Illinois
As we get ready to welcome 2019, we thought we'd take a few minutes to listen back to the past year in Illinois government and politics.
We heard the most expensive campaign for governor in American history, a leading politician pulling the plug on his career, and a range of accusations from hacking to harassment.
Here now are some of the voices that made news in 2018.
GOV. BRUCE RAUNER: "To those of you around the state of Illinois who wanted to send me a message, let me be clear: I have heard you."
STATE REP. JEANNE IVES, R-Wheaton: "You know as I know that Bruce Rauner had to be challenged in this election. You knew that. … But today the popular revolt against the political ruling class fell just a bit short."
CHRIS KENNEDY: "The voters of Illinois have spoken and now we must follow their lead and give Mr. Pritzker the support that he has earned."
GOV.-ELECT J.B. PRITZKER: "I'm J.B. Pritzker and I'm going to beat Bruce Rauner."
RAUNER: "Four of my nine predecessors as governor went to jail. Mr. Pritzker has a very good chance of being number five."
PRITZKER: "This is, first of all, you've just heard a desperate rant by a failed governor who is in the final hours of his campaign and his governorship."
RAUNER: "This person does not deserve to hold the highest office in the state of Illinois or any elected office."
NEWS ANCHOR: "A lot of feedback today over Gov. Rauner's new ad."
POLITICAL AD: "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce Illinois f-----."
REPORTER: "Equality Illinois issued a statement saying 'The governor should be ashamed of using the LGBTQ community for comedic value to make a political hit.'"
KASH JACKSON: "They're pretending as though we do not exist. I spent $25,000 — you two gentlemen spent, what, $200 million to get on this stage? Who's the fiscally minded guy? I'm spending less than a thousand dollars fora percent in the poll — you guys are spending $400,000."
LT. GOV.-ELECT JULIANA STRATTON: "Please join me in welcoming my friend: Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker!"
PRITZKER: "Join me in beginning our third century in Illinois with hope and optimism and living every day better."
RAUNER: "I'll say this about the election: I'm very scared for the people of Illinois. The things that have gotten us in a mess are now going to be dominant, with it with no voice pushing back. One-party rule? It's very scary."
STATE REP. EMANUEL CHRIS WELCH, D-Hillside: "We have a president in the White House right now — if he could gut the Civil Rights Act of 1965, he would do it and he'd do it now. I would rather rely on the U.S. Constitution than a statute that can be changed by Donald Trump. Let's vote 'yes' and pass the ERA now."
STATE REP. TERRI BRYANT, R-Murphysboro: "My daughter doesn't need an equal rights amendment. My granddaughters don't need it. We don't need something on a piece of paper that says it. We're at a place today, ladies, where we are equal."
ALAINA HAMPTON: "My name is Alaina Hampton. During my time of employment with the Democratic Party in 2016 and 2017, my supervisor was harassing me for a span of five months."
HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN: "I received a letter in my home from Miss Hampton. I turned it over to Heather (Wier Vaught) and within days she opened an investigation, at my request, and met with Miss Hampton and proceeded with her investigation."
NEWS ANCHOR: "A second high-ranking operative of Speaker Mike Madigan has been removed from his role with Democratic campaigns."
NEWS ANCHOR: "An Illinois state representative is resigning after an ex-girlfriend filed a revenge-porn complaint against him."
MARYANN LONCAR: "I was asked to come forward today by the people who knew about the abuse that I've suffered."
STATE REP. LOU LANG, D-Skokie: "I'm going to say this just once: From beginning to end the allegations are absurd."
NEWS ANCHORS: "Twelve Russian intelligence officers are charged with hacking into the email servers of the Democratic Party ... and based on a reference in the indictment, state officials say it's also likely they stole voter data from Illinois.
MATT DIETRICH: "Count number 72 references not the Illinois State Board of Elections specifically, but a generic SBOE 1. … And we think it's pretty likely that that's us.
NEWS ANCHOR: "It is a political shocker: Mayor Rahm Emanuel announces that he will not run for re-election."
CHICAGO MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL: "As much as I love this job and will always love this city and its residents ... this has been the job of a lifetime, but it is not a job for a lifetime."
Story source: Illinois Public Radio
voices in the news
bruce rauner
jeanne ives
jb pritzker
equality illinois
kash jackson
juliana stratton
emanuel chris welch
terri bryant
alaina hampton
maryann loncar
lou lang
illinois state board of elections
matt dietrich
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