Illinois officials, organizations react to projected Joe Biden win

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, issued the following statement:

“Many Illinoisans and Americans have been clear-eyed about dumping Donald Trump since he was elected in 2016. Trump never intended to be a president for all Americans or help anyone but himself. We’ve all suffered the consequences, especially the millions of Americans who have felt the brunt of the pandemic through tragedy and financial uncertainty. We’re ready for this nightmare to be over, and we’ve made our voices heard in record numbers. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will bring us back from the disastrous chapter we’ve all endured.”

Senator Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, released the following statement:

“President-elect Joe Biden is a public servant in the best sense of the term. He has taken the strength and wisdom he learned from his family, and his own experiences with loss and hardship, and he has used those lessons to give millions of Americans reasons to hope and ways to heal. And by his side is an outstanding Vice President-elect in my colleague, Kamala Harris. Her historic election shows girls, women, and people of color across this country that your future is limitless. I look forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration to tackle this coronavirus pandemic head-on, get our economy back on track, and move our country forward.

“The last four years did not break America, but revealed what was already broken. Now we must come together to heal some of the terrible wounds of our past, and together, create a better, more just, more prosperous America – not just for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren.”

Statement attributed to Jennifer Welch, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA):

"Congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their historic victory. Illinois voters’ voices were heard loud and clear, and together, we elected a new president who is fully committed to protecting access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion. We are grateful to see these leaders elected to the two highest offices in this country.

We are also grateful to all of our Illinois supporters who voted. You helped make these wins possible.

I am especially proud of all of the reproductive health care champions who won seats in the Illinois Senate this week, including Rep. Karina Villa (D-25), who flipped the 25th district, and Senator Dave Koehler (D-46) who successfully defended his seat.

In the Illinois State House, we celebrate Maura Hirschauer (D-49), Joyce Mason (D-61), Dagmara "Dee" Avelar (D-85), and Katie Stuart (D-112). We especially want to congratulate Janet Yang Rohr (D-41), who defeated an incumbent, Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-48), who saw a resounding victory, and Suzanne Ness (D-66), who flipped the district. We also want to congratulate Kim Foxx, the former Planned Parenthood of Illinois board chair, who was re-elected as Cook County State’s Attorney.

With these wins up and down the ballot, now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

While Illinois passed the Reproductive Health Act in 2019—which recognizes the fundamental right to abortion in Illinois in the event of Roe v. Wade being overturned—we are not completely safe from the continued attacks on our reproductive freedom. These election victories do not change the facts; there are more than a dozen cases waiting to be heard by the Supreme Court, which is poised to restrict or ban abortion at the federal level, and Illinois is not immune to attack as states nationwide continue to chip away at reproductive rights.

To that end, PPIA will work closely with elected officials at both the state and federal levels to build a more equitable future for all people. A country where workers are treated as essential every day. Where we answer young people's call for progress. Where Black people and other people of color finally realize the revolutionary change they've been demanding. And women are recognized for the transformational impact that they make every day, including the power to determine elections.

It’s time for the Biden administration to begin delivering on its promises, and Planned Parenthood Illinois Action will be there every step of the way."

The following statement on Biden/Harris win in race for the White House was released by SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana Missouri & Kansas President Greg Kelley:

After four days of waiting for a decision in the presidential election, the democratic process has been successfully completed.

The proud essential healthcare and child care workers of SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana Missouri & Kansas congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their victory in the race for the White House as president- and vice president-elect. We additionally applaud Sen. Harris for her history making accomplishment of being the first Black woman of Indian heritage elected vice president of the United States.

The unprecedented contest revealed potential weaknesses as President Trump launched attempts to unravel the electoral process with numerous challenges and unsubstantiated fraud and other charges. Now, the incoming Biden/Harris administration must address issues important to the voters who put them in the White House.

Our members – workers of every race and background – stood up against Trump’s agenda of division and racist dog whistles. We demanded leadership who would stand for the most vulnerable in our society – seniors, people with disabilities, our children -- who feared they would no longer have affordable and accessible healthcare or dependable child care.

We voted to stop needless deaths and to protect frontline workers with protective gear, paid sick leave, and a clear, rational plan to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. We voted for a $15 minimum wage and good union jobs to provide for our families. We voted for healthcare and long-term care that everyone can afford.

Our members joined Americans who voted to end police violence in Black communities and for investments in proven solutions to reimagine public safety. We voted for sane immigration policies that include a pathway to citizenship.

We will continue to mobilize and demand that Biden take action bold enough to meet this moment of unprecedented crisis. Together we will overcome the coronavirus pandemic and the long-standing economic and racial inequality that it has exacerbated. We will keep fighting until every essential worker is respected, protected, and paid what we deserve.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following statement:

“This election was a testament to the strength and integrity of our nation’s democratic process, and now is the moment for true leaders in the Republican Party to condemn any and all efforts to undermine confidence in the legitimacy of these results. More than 140 million people—including servicemembers stationed overseas whose votes are still being counted in many states—made their voices heard during this historic election.

“Donald Trump’s meritless, contradictory statements and legal filings will not succeed and they will not change the facts: when all the ballots are counted, Joe Biden will have won more votes than any Presidential candidate in history, he won by a historic margin and he won states long believed to be Republican strongholds that Donald Trump would easily win.

“The American people have spoken and, on January 20th, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. With new leadership in the White House, we will roll up our sleeves not just for the people dancing in the streets today, but for all Americans—including our friends and neighbors who believed Donald Trump would make their lives better. Now is the time to bring our nation together, reach out to those we’ve disagreed with and work together to solve our nation’s problems, get us out of this pandemic and rebuild an economy that works for everyone. Let’s get to work.”