Chicago, IL – During last week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois Democrats underscored their readiness to secure victories up and down the ballot on November 5th. As the state’s Democratic delegation charges full steam ahead into Election Day, here’s a look at key moments you may have missed from Illinois’ DNC breakfasts:

Standing Strong with Labor

Capitol News Illinois: Amid a ‘really, really big week for labor,’ Illinois unions, Democrats held up as model:

“Organized labor has been everywhere at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week, from the main stage to the Illinois delegation’s morning breakfast gatherings.”

“‘This has been a really, really big week for labor and very, very much appreciated, and it’s heartwarming,’ Illinois labor mainstay and state AFL-CIO President Tim Drea told attendees to the Illinois breakfast on Wednesday.”

“Drea spoke to the Illinois delegation about how unions – and Democrats, he said – ‘get s— done.’”

WTTW: Labor Leaders Slam Trump, Tout Democratic Priorities in 2024 Election: ‘It’s All on the Line’:

“‘The American labor movement is going to move heaven and earth to elect every pro-worker Democrat up and down the ballot,” [AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred] Redmond said. “During this election cycle, we will be putting out the largest ground game in the history of the American labor movement. It’s all on the line.’”

DPI’s Statewide Presence

The Bloomington Pantagraph: How can Democrats reach voters in downstate Illinois? Listen better, congresswoman says:

“Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez said that the state party is devoting training, staff and financial resources to build back its presence outside of the Chicago region and urban areas.”

“Last month, the state party hosted an “organizing summit” in Mount Vernon that was attended by more than 300 people. The goal, party officials said, was to equip Democrats in the region with the tools to effectively campaign and run local political organizations.”

Defending Reproductive Rights

Capitol News Illinois: Illinois Democrats look to invest resources in swing states:

“‘The Republicans made a huge mistake when they took down Roe v Wade’ Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza told reporters. ‘Because all of a sudden, they woke up a sleeping giant, which actually –  believe it or not – are Republican women or independent women who always assumed that, ‘even though we don’t talk about this out loud, boy are we thankful that we can make our own decisions about our own bodies.’ So now they can’t.’”

Capitol News Illinois: Illinois Democrats see abortion rights as ‘fundamental’ issue in 2024:

“Stratton said she believes that decision made reproductive rights equal to the economy as a national political issue.”

“‘The focus on reproductive rights is the economy,’ she said. ‘For women to be able to work, for women to be able to take care of our children, for us to be able to put food on the table, reproductive rights and the ability to decide what’s best for our bodies is an economic issue.’”

Capitol News Illinois: As DNC opens in Chicago, state leaders tout Illinois as a ‘model of Democratic success’:

“On the heels of Trump nominating his first U.S. Supreme Court justice weeks into his first term in early 2017, Democrats in the General Assembly began pushing for abortion protections in the event that a conservative majority on the court might someday overturn Roe v. Wade.”

“By the time that happened five years later, Illinois Democrats had approved a series of laws shoring up reproductive rights just as surrounding states began banning or severely restricting abortion access.”

“Later this week, Pritzker will highlight Illinois’ position as a sanctuary for abortion seekers and providers in an event hosted by Think Big America, the progressive advocacy organization he founded last fall. The group, staffed by the governor’s political team, has so far been involved with abortion rights ballot measures in Ohio, Nevada, Arizona and Montana.”

WANDTV: DNC Day 2: Illinois Democrats rally for unity, reproductive healthcare, gun control:

“Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs frequently talks about his twins who were born through IVF. However, the Champaign native said he struggled to have a child with his first wife and they were told they needed to terminate the pregnancy. At that time, Champaign hospitals wouldn’t allow abortions. Frerichs said he was grateful for Planned Parenthood.”

“’What those hospitals and the boards of directors who made this policy are saying is my wife knew her child, our child, could not survive outside the womb, but they would force her to carry it to term for 9 months dealing with all these risks of pregnancy, dealing with the pain of knowing I’m going through all of this and it will be to bear a stillborn child or one that dies soon afterwards,’ Frerichs said. ‘That is cruel. And that’s what the Republicans are offering.’”

Sustaining Our Momentum

WTTW: What Illinois Delegates Are Expecting From Harris’ Candidacy: ‘She’s Going to Fire Us Up’:

‘“She’s going to fire us up,’ said state Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero), chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. ‘She is going to assure us, and I think that’s what it is. She’s gotten to the heart and soul of people.’”

“Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering is a “Kamala OG,” as in original backer, and has been wearing a beaded bracelet that says so. Rotering was a slated delegate for Harris’ short-lived first presidential campaign.”

“‘I watched her as an attorney general in California when I was running for attorney general,’ Rotering said. ‘I felt a camaraderie with her. When she moved to the Senate, as Sen. Durbin mentioned, on the Senate Judiciary Committee, she’s just bright, she’s authentic, she gets it done.’”

Daily Herald: “‘Positive energy’: Democratic stars mingle with Illinois delegates:

“As a host of VIPs popped into the Illinois contingent’s breakfast Monday, local delegates at the Democratic National Convention said they are energized about the election but victory is not a given.”

“‘Are you fired up?’ Gov. J.B. Pritzker asked the crowd at The Royal Sonesta hotel in downtown Chicago.”

“‘Here in the land of Lincoln, the birthplace of Hillary Clinton, the home state of Barack Obama, we are launching our federal candidates for president and vice president for a victory — so in just 78 days we get to say the two words we’ve been waiting to say for 248 years, ‘Madam President,’ Pritzker said.”

FOX32: DNC in Chicago: Tim Walz’ wife makes surprise address to Illinois Democrats:

“Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’ wife Gwen Walz received a standing ovation when she was introduced as a speaker, during a high-energy program that featured addresses from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker.”

“’I can’t think of a better team than Kamala and team,’ Walz told the crowd. ‘They’ve been spending their entire career fighting for the middle class.’”

“Walz thanked Pritzker and Illinois for hosting the convention and mentioned that she and her family traditionally spend New Year’s Eve in the city. She asked the delegates in the room to canvas, make calls and work to elect the Harris Walz ticket in November.”