Submitted by Illinoisnoki1 on Sat, 12/08/2012 - 14:50

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Tuesday, 12/4. 

Wanda Rohl’s surprisingly strong showing in the recent congressional race for Illinois’ 16^th district spurred progressives from the DeKalb-Rockford area to form a new PDA chapter.   Eight PDA supporters in Illinois’ 16^th congressional district set chapter goals to: expand the progressive base, advance PDA’s progressive agenda and recruit and elect progressive candidates in a district that is designed to be Republican.

Members of the new PDA chapter in IL-16 discuss issues.

In 2010, the Illinois Democratic Party redistricted the state’s congressional districts, leaving the 16^th a solid Republican strip running from the Wisconsin border 150 miles down the center of Northern Illinois nearly to Bloomington and then turning east to the Indiana border. 

Nevertheless, the unknown Rohl who never held political office and spent less than $45,000, got 110,828 votes out of 290,000 cast, a very respectable result against the Tea Party backed Republican incumbent Adam Kinzinger, who spent $1.5 million.  That comes out to 41 cents per vote for Rohl Vs Kenzinger’s $8.80 per vote. 

Initially the new chapter will focus on issues of gaining universal health care for all and getting corporate money out of politics.  But the main focus articulated at the kickoff meeting was to expand the progressive base in the supposedly Republican district so as to elect progressives at all levels. 

Also attending was PDA-Illinois’ state coordinator, Bill Bianchi and PDA’s national field coordinator, Conor Boylan.

The first official chapter meeting is set for January 9^th.