09/01/2026
Last night was a very special one and it was an honor to have Senator Durbin in attendance as the keynote speaker during the 62nd annual Madison County Democrats JFK dinner.
When Democrats are fed daily doses of negative, oftentimes vitriolic messages that are often calculated to be divisive coming from the POTUS administration, having Senator Dick Durbin in the room offered some hope for positive change if we work hard and get out the vote.
Durbin, who has served since 2005 as the Senate Democratic Whip (the second-highest position in Democratic leadership in the Senate) and since 2025 as the Senate minority whip, we hold him in high regard.
He is the longest-serving Democratic whip since the position was established in 1913. Durbin was born in East St. Louis, Illinois so his time spent last night in Madison County brought him closer to his childhood region. He graduated from Assumption High School in East St. Louis in 1962 and during his high school years he worked at a meatpacking plant in the now forgotten but once thriving nearby hub for cattlemen, National City.
Senator Dick Durbin will be retiring but he currently serves honorably as the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, representing the minority party after previously serving as Chair from 2021 to 2025 and has sponsored too many good bills to mention that those in the room respect and are supportive.
During his presentation, the packed building was reminded by Senator Durbin of all the chaos created by Trump and Republicans who are all complicit when sitting on the sidelines, allowing him to run the country as a wanna-be authoritarian, Democrats have an opportunity to seize the momentum, urge those who have buyers remorse and those who are sitting on the fence and take control of the House.
Durbin also expressed his deep concern for the direction this country is moving and the state of our democracy is at risk.
He said, โThis administration has made tax cuts for the most wealthy people in America but made major cuts to healthcare while people across the country are now paying more in healthcare premiums than ever before. We are not going to let MAGA republicans who have no guardrails take over the country.โ
โIn February, President Trump promised a swift conflict with Iran. Six months later, we are still at war, spending a billion dollars per day, the Strait of Hormuz is still held hostage by Iran, American troops have been killed and wounded, and prices are soaring at home. The President owes us a coherent exit plan out of this mess.โ
A Democratic event would not be complete without State Rep. Katie Stuart rousing the crowd with her important message, โGet out and Vote dammit.โ However, she was moved when Senator Durbin acknowledged and complimented her work in Illinois during his presentation.
Rachelle Bauerle for Madison County Clerk has a platform of heartfelt interest in serving the public. She has gracefully and respectfully expressed the unprofessional actions and the lack of commitment by the current Clerk, Linda Andreas. In keeping with the mantra that an informed electorate builds a stronger and more transparent democracy, Andreas, disappointingly, has recently turned down Bauerleโs invitation to a public forum.
Illinois State Rep Margaret Croke for IL Comptroller for Illinois Comptroller was a valued speaker last night as well. She mentioned the importance of the state receiving eleven credit upgrades during J.B. Pritzker's time as governor.
She said, My generations bringing up ideas that I love seeing. I am raising three kids and I will do everything I can for every single child to be able to get a good paying job in the state, get the best education in the state, be able to raise their own families here and that is my core mission.
A year after Trump's $1 trillion cut to Medicaid, as Illinois comptroller, I will be the one signing the checks to hospitals across the state that will be feeling the impact of the administrationโs big and not-so-beautiful bill as community hospitals will begin to feel the pain.
But, she said, โWe must get out and fight, get out the voters, knock on doors but please less text messages! Letโs paint our ballots blue!!"
Jennifer Todd Democrat for Congress for the 15th Congressional District, if elected, would be a welcome change from the current craziness from Mary Miller. As a nurse, Todd expressed her focus on healthcare.
โPatients nurse ratios need to become a national standard. Come January 27, right after the midterms Medicaid is going to get cut. You think that was on purpose? This will be affecting us here in Central Illinois, because all of our hospitals are mostly rural hospitals.
Special recognition honors were awarded by Madison County Board Chairman, Andy Asadorian and Tri-Cities Democratic Chairman, Nick Kessler to Madison County Board member Michael โDocโ Holiday and Dawanda Crochrell received the new โDick Durbinโ award for their community service. Also awarded was Amy Monroe, Democratic Chair for Alton for her organizing and Byron Hotson for all of his voluntary work for Madison County Democrats.
A special note: Amyโs Alton Township Democrats is now served by an all-women P*P committee.
Madison County (IL) Democratic Party
