SPRINGFIELD - As the race to represent HD 54 heats up in the final weeks, with wealthy right-wing interests writing big checks to try and shield Tom Morrison from the backlash to his toxic record, members of Forward Illinois - a coalition of major advocacy organizations and labor unions united around a progressive vision for Illinois - will expose Tom Morrison's out-of-touch views and votes in its final mail piece of the cycle. From his votes against marriage equality, choice rights, environmental protections, common-sense gun safety legislation, and raising the minimum wage, it's clear Tom Morrison's values are out-of-step with his district.
"Tom Morrison is the most anti-equality member of the Illinois House. In fact, no current state legislator has done more to try to inflict harm on LGBTQ people than Tom Morrison," said Brian C. Johnson, Secretary of the Equality Illinois PAC ]. "He even voted against marriage equality. Illinoisans don't deserve to suffer through another two years of Tom Morrison's extreme voting record. It's time for leadership in House District 54."
"Voters in Tom Morrison's district won't forget how he opposed raising the minimum wage for Illinois working families," said SEIU Illinois State Council President Tom Balanoff . "It's time the residents of HD 54 have a representative who will work for them, not wealthy special interests."
"We all represent members in the northwest suburbs that want a leader for a better, more fair future, and they are fired up about the chance to elect a state representative who shares their values," said Kady McFadden, Deputy Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. "Even during this pandemic, when we can't have in person conversations with voters, we're reaching people on the phone and online, and finding them eager for the facts on where the candidates stand."
"While gun violence continues to be the leading cause of death for children in Illinois, Tom Morrisson has chosen to stand with the corrupt corporate gun lobby instead of our families," said Kathleen Sances, President and CEO of Gun Violence Prevention PAC . "At every opportunity, Rep. Morrison has opposed gun safety legislation that would end Illinois' gun violence crisis - we must do better by voting him out this election cycle."
"Tom Morrison is the sponsor of some of the most extreme anti-abortion legislation put forth in Springfield. He is firmly committed to taking away a woman's right to choose," said Brigid Leahy, Senior Director of Public Policy, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action . "Illinois must continue to be a leader in access to reproductive health care and education, especially as our neighboring states tighten restrictions and increase barriers to care. Tom Morrison's dangerous views affect not only the next few years — his decisions could be felt for generations to come."
Throughout the 2019 legislative session, coalition partners worked hard to pass major progressive wins like a $15 minimum wage, LGTBQ-inclusive history in public schools, cannabis legalization, and more. Now, the groups are coming together to hold accountable politicians like Tom Morrison whose radical right-wing votes and values are a mismatch for his district.
The mailer builds on a variety of voter contact efforts by progressive organizations that are already underway in the district. Individual groups are mobilizing their respective memberships by notifying them of Morrison's record; running phonebanks to create safe, in-person conversations with voters; creating virtual volunteer meet-ups; and running paid social media ads in an effort to get out the vote.
View Forward Illinois' HD54 and HD81 mail pieces for this cycle at drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vXBBPCPSPZ7QG_ayExJtv8SejNSLQm5z .
Participating members of Forward Illinois include the Equality Illinois PAC, Sierra Club Illinois Chapter PAC, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action PAC, Gun Violence Prevention PAC, Local 881 UFCW, SEIU Illinois State Council and SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana.
