The Political Landscape in Illinois for 2026, and Burlesque Festivals and Events.

We'll take a closer look at the political landscape in Illinois in this election year and bringing the body back to the wickedest city in the cities. At the turn of the last century, Davenport, because of the red light district known as Bucktown, was called the wickedest city in America. Well, a burlesque festival is embracing that this month, and we'll talk about that in a moment. But first, political theater. As the Illinois legislature pushes its way towards the last six weeks of the 2026 session, we take a closer look at the politics in the state as candidates start to pivot now toward the November.

elections. Western Illinois University political scientists, Dr. Keith Beckleman, is a student of Illinois government, and I talked with him from his offices in McComb. You know, the big buzzword for 2026 has been affordability. Democrats really started this last fall. Republicans are using it as well. Is that the huge campaign theme that you're expecting in 2026? Well, I do think that Governor J.B. Pritzker is clearly going to try to run, at least in part, on this. he's adopted a lot of the National Democratic Party ideas around affordability, particularly related to housing and to his own initiatives for the spring legislative session, and I think this will be something that he will emphasize in his campaign as well. And so a lot of the affordability

now comes into question with, you know, higher prices for virtually everything, consumer goods, either because of the war in Iran or the higher tariffs. I mean, it's really hitting, and gas prices as well, as you well know, is really hitting American pocketbooks. The question is whether the hurt that we're seeing now will last into November. Yeah, well, so I think part of this depends on how the war in Iran, plays out, but I think by most accounts, gas prices are still likely to be higher into November, and they're going to probably last for quite a while. I think it's interesting to see how state-level politicians are kind of processing this. So Tony McCombie, the Illinois House Minority

Leader, is emphasizing some of the Republican ideas on affordability, like property tax cuts, no tax on TIFs, which is a national level policy of President Trump, while the House Speaker in Illinois, Chris Welch, is trying to say that some of the things the Democrats are doing, like chronic for mass trans in Chicago's affordability. So to some degree, you can also see this being kind of dovetailed with the party's existing agendas and using affordability to buzzword to try to justify what they're already doing or what they're already advocating. Well, there's always that philosophy that you go back to James Susan Collins.

during the Clinton race for the presidency, where it's the economy stupid. I mean, that holds us true today, I guess, as it did. Wow, I can't believe it's, what, some 30 years ago? It is hard to believe that. But yeah, I think both the state and the national level, the economy is almost always the number one issue for voters. And so, you know, if the economy is not looking good,

I think that creates probably, at least for President Trump and the Republicans. Now, of course, it plays out a little bit differently at the state level where you had the Democrats in charge, but you can also see them making efforts to try to save the economic problems are President Trump's fault. Well, and let's be honest, I mean,

the rural voter, the farm vote, is so strongly conservative and so strongly Republican, and in many ways very much backs President Trump, but yet they're getting hit the hardest by the tariffs as well as the war and the higher prices for fertilizers and gas. Is that a voting block rural Illinois that could swing more democratic? I think it's possible, but I kind of doubt it, honestly. First off, I think that the number of actual farmers, even in rural Illinois is still out

by people living in towns and smaller cities and so forth. But I also think that while some farm groups are criticizing the tariffs and raising concerns about the high price of fertilizer and so forth, I do think that rural voters are really very distrustful of the Democrats. And so I don't see this changing over one election cycle, maybe in the longer term perhaps, but I don't really see that happening in 2026 elections. The legislature's session is, of course, winding down in a couple of weeks. And also the budget is also almost the last major issue, well, is the last major issue,

but sometimes the last issue period of the legislative session. The governor proposing a $56 billion budget. The Illinois policy, it's a conservative group, says the state can expect $21 billion deficit over the next five years. It seems like Illinois is always facing some kind of a budget crisis right now. Well, and I think part of this stems from the unfunded pension liabilities that Illinois has.

I mean, Illinois has the least well-funded pension system of any state in the country. We're spending a lot of money to pay off previous pension debts and previous underfunding of pensions. And so essentially, while the governor in the state of the state address is touting a balanced budget, there are structural factors that make it difficult to balance the budget over this longer time frame, particularly the pension situation. And you mentioned the economy earlier.

We don't know what's going to happen with the economy, but if the economy does go into recession, that obviously harms tax revenues, The Illinois tax structure is very heavily dependent on income taxes, particularly and sales taxes on goods. So particularly the income tax portion can be very sensitive to going into recession, and that compels the problem in future years. So again, the governor's touting a balanced budget this year, but there are a lot of headwind and challenges we could potentially be facing in the out years. Well, and the governor's also creating kind of a boogeyman in a way with President Trump and Republican lawmakers by saying that the White House and the Trump administration is targeting blue states such as Illinois and not funding certain things only because they are Illinois.

Does that hold true politically that you make Trump your scapegoat for any budget problems there are in Illinois? Well, I don't know if, I mean, I think there's some truth of what they're. the governor's saying. I mean, recently, for example, the president cut off some food programs to Illinois because he didn't like the state's policies on DEI and immigration. And so I think that there's some truth to what the governor says. Now, will it work politically? I'm not sure if the ability to shift the blame is really there. I think if people start feeling these cuts, they're not always sure who's responsible for him and who to sign the blame to. But I do think it's the government's political interest to try to make the case that this

is Trump's fault, not his fault. And he, you know, the budget and the way the economy is going is going to be an issue, of course, in the gubernatorial race. But J.B. Pritzker, it's a rematch right now with Darren Bailey. So what does Bailey really have to do to improve his standing compared to the last election? Well, I think to win elections, and then all you need to win two of the three regions, basically. So being Chicago, downstate, and the suburbs. And we know that the downstate is going to go for Darren Bailey.

We know Chicago is going to go for J.B. Pritzker. So Bailey needs to make some inroads into the suburbs. And I think the way he does that is focusing on more on economic issues, issues like property taxes, things like that. So if he can pin some of the Illinois' economic. struggles on the governor, that's really his path to victory. Now, Bailey has a brand as a strong social conservative focused on issues like abortion and LGBTQ rights and things like that. And so he's going to have to, and that does not run as well in the suburbs. And so he's going to have to distance himself from his own brand a little bit. And I think he's making efforts to do that. I looked

on his website and it does emphasize these issues like property taxes, more than social issues. But since he has run before, he does have this brand, and that's going to be really his challenge to disses itself from that to convince enough people in the suburbs that he's a more moderate kind of Republican. And in some ways he gave a little bit of Amaya Kulpa about the last run, and as you said, his brand. But you think that he may soften his campaign this time around,

but does that really mean that he's softened? his positions. Yeah, I don't think he's softening his positions, but he can try to soften his brand. I mean, I think his brand is as a strong social concern. If you look him up on Wikipedia, for example, it says something like Darren Bailey is an extreme right-wing Republican or something like that, which is not to say that Wikipedia is unbiased, but it is, I think, an indication of how Darren Bailey is viewed. And so if he had any chance, I think, he knows. I think he needs to, you know, he needs to rebrand himself again a little bit. Now, I will say that sometimes running for the third term can be tricky for a sitting governor, and that's where J.J.B. Pritzker is

right now. Jim Thompson, when he ran for his third term, had a very narrow squeaker of election, I think, won by 7 or 8,000 votes. And so, you know, there could be a little bit of that idea that J.B. Pritzker's been in long enough, but I think it's going to be very challenging in what's shaping up to be a Democratic year for Bailey to beat J.B. Pritzker. The other big race, of course, is for the U.S. Senate with Dick Durbin retiring and Julianna Stratton, the lieutenant governor with the backing of J.B. Pritzker. J.B. Pritzker, almost a kingmaker in this case. Does Don Tracy really have much of a chance in this particular race?

because as you say, you know, midterm elections often swing against the administration, so it could be a Democratic wave. Yeah, I mean, I think there's a lot of things working against Don Tracy. I mean, he's not, in my part of the state, he's somewhat well-known, but he's not necessarily that well-known statewide, even though he was the Republican Party chair. Julianna Stratton, while she's lieutenant governor, which is certainly not the same name recognition as the governor, She has been on the statewide ticket twice now, so she has a little bit of more name recognition from that. And again, I think she has the fact that she's a Democrat and to her advantage of this particular election.

You know, in the primary, both she and Tracy each got about 40% of the vote, but since so many more Democrats voted in the Democratic primary, she got about twice, over twice as many actual votes as he did. So I think that's kind of an indicator that there's more energy on the Democratic side going into this election than on the Republican side. So he, like Darren Bailey, I think has an uphill battle. I don't think he necessarily had. He's in a better position to brand himself than Darren Bailey is because he hasn't run for statewide office before. But I think, again, another thing working against him a little bit is some of the big Republican donors have kind of led to seeing Ken Griffin, We put a lot of money into Republican politicians moved to Florida.

Richard Euline, another big donor, seems to be sitting on the sidelines, a little bit more for this one. So he's gonna have to be able to raise substantial money, whereas Stratton could sort depend on J.B. Pritzker's bank rolling her campaign. One interesting Republican election from the primary was Norin Hammond losing

quite decisively to Josh Higgins. Higgins getting 58% of the vote. Noreen, 33%. She's the deputy Republican leader. I mean, she was the establishment. She survived when Ronner tried to get rid of her a few primaries ago. What do you read into the fact that she lost so badly to a conservative, perhaps more conservative Republican? Well, I do think there was an effort to turn out the more MAGA Republicans,

which she has not really seen as in this primary. there were efforts in Republican primaries across the state to do that, frankly. This was the most successful one upsetting her. But I think part of the issue she faced is that her district used to include McComb, which, of course, includes my university, Western Illinois. And it was easier to justify some of her votes like for the tax increase during the rounder era as helping Western. but now that's not part of her district anymore. And so she's got a very rural district,

and I think the maga presence in the district was not really counterbalanced by some of the elements in her former district. And so I think the redistricting probably hurt her in this case. Well, I thank you for your time. I appreciate your thoughts. Thank you. It's good talking to you.

Our thanks to Western Illinois University Political Science Professor, Dr. Keith Beckleman. Just ahead, bringing a world of burlesque to three stages later this month. But first, some of the events scheduled throughout the cities right now. Thanks to visit Quad Cities. Check out the things to do this week in the Quad Cities. Start your week off with an afternoon of fun on Celebration River Cruises narrated lunche cruise. Next, enjoy a musical celebration of female country music stars.

Check out honky-tonged angels this week. Then enjoy a special program, Performed, by Ballet Quad Cities at the Finky Art Museum. Next, experience a celebration during the Wickedest City burlesque and Variety Festival, happening throughout the Quad Cities. Finally, enjoy ragged records and music while they celebrate Records Store Day. It will be filled with fun gifts and limited items. For more events like these, check out our events calendar at visit Quad Cities.com.

Davenport had quite a reputation in the early 1900s. The Bishop of Davenport Henry Cosgrove, who was once shot at in his bed by burglars and who strongly believed in the evils of liquor, called Davenport the wickedest city of its size in America. Well, now, 123 years later, that wickedness is being embraced. The wickedest city burlesque and variety fest is hitting the stages of the Adler, the Capitol Theater, and the Circuit 21 Speak Easy for a three-day run starting Thursday, April 16th. We talked with one of the organizers, Manhattan, about what we could expect. Wicked a city, burlesque and variety festival. Where did you come up with this idea?

And let's be honest, three different venues. This is a biggie. I came up with that idea because I've been to a couple of different festivals, and I'm like they need it around here, especially the Quad Cities. It's just a thriving area of burlesque. But I've been to a lot of burlesque festivals, and there's not like, a lot of variety like drag circus you know like the different there's just so much that you can do so I'm like well I really want to make a variety fest and you

know have them feel involved and then like the three nights is just because I'm an overachiever well okay let's talk about the first night at the Adler Theatre this is competition that's going on Thursday April 16th is when this is all kicking off yes what type of reaction did you get from the burles community because they're coming from all over they are I got like a huge amount of people wanting to come. I have people coming from Arizona, North Carolina, Seattle, locally here in the Quad Cities, Des Moines.

I mean, like, you just so many people apply for this competition. And I didn't think the competition would do as well as it did. But I just a bunch of people are like, I want to compete. I'm like, cool. That's fantastic. Well, let's, I should back up a bit because Berleska is described as boundary pushing entertainment. Some people, let's be honest, it's adult entertainment. Yes.

But how body does it get? I mean, explain to me what people would be able to see. I mean, you can see anything from somebody doing like a classic burlesque. So, you know, just like a simple, just removal, teasing, stuff like that. Or you can see people doing amazing tricks on like a chair or dress up as a cow or giant Furby. So many different kinds of things. So it's kind of like if you can imagine it, somebody's probably done a burlesque routine to it. Well, what got you involved in it?

What made you go, oh, this is so unique. I got to be a part of it. A lot of convincing from friends. It was, I do photography. So I was like photographing a couple of the performers. And then they were like, oh, you should try this. And I'm like, I'm good. I don't need to do that.

And then, you know, going to the show. and then I took like the classes and stuff and yeah I was just like I have to do this I can do weird stuff I can perform these cool things and yeah what are you thinking when you're on stage um I it's just sometimes it's especially when I'm like giant Furby I'm like I'm adorable I'm a giant Furby or it's like you're just kind of hyping into yourself it's like another character too so but you must bounce off a lot by the audience Oh, yeah. I feed off of the audience reaction so much, especially like doing tricks and stuff and then they scream or the yell and like you just look and you're like, yes, I'm doing it. Have you always been, I would hate to say this, kind of a ham? I mean, does that? Nope. Really? Nope. So this is like a total different persona for you then?

Yes. Very cool. Yeah. I'm definitely one of those people that's like, I'll just chill out over here. You guys have fun. Until the stage lights here. Mm-hmm. Let's talk about day two. The second night is the fandom showcase.

That's going to be at the speakeasy, a much smaller venue there right next to Circa 21. Yeah. What's happening at that event? So it's fandom showcase, which is kind of like all the fandoms you can think of. Like from science fiction to fantasy to like comic book to anime, like any kind of super nerd or fantasy kind of like act is going to be there. So it's amazing. We have features of Leachy Minx, who is here in the Quad Cities, and then Betsy Bo Peep, who is from Muscatine, and she actually runs her nerds in heat with Betsy Bo Peep. Linchie mixes with the Luminatis, which is locally here too. And then Macchi Con, Maci Roll is up in D.C. who does the International Nerdlesque Festival and performs everywhere. And then I have headliners Queen Kwan. and Charlie Quinn Starling. Some people might be going, what is this woman talking about?

It's a lot. Well, it is a lot. But I mean, this is something that it's a form of entertainment. As you said, burlesque has been popping up more in the Quad Cities. It's becoming an event that more people are attending. If you haven't been to Burlesk, what are you telling people about this? Don't be afraid, I would think it's one. Oh, yeah.

Burlesque, I mean, it's definitely. So some people have kind of like an attitude towards it. Like they're like, oh, like I'm good. And I'm like actually no, it's very like enriching. It's very like I want to say cultured for a lot of it. Some of it's fun. Like it's just weird. Just off the map.

Yeah. But it's also like cultured and like it shows different like attributes of people, strengths of people or just some people being like, hey, I'm really good looking and I can make you feel all kinds of things. And I think that's fantastic. The third night, the last night is the Grand Showcase. That's going to be at the Capitol Theater. We were talking earlier, that's such a cool venue to use.

Tell me about the Grand Showcase. The Grand Showcase is like the like also wide array, but it's more towards like not in Alaska and not like there's no competition. But the competition winner will be performing that night. So that's like one of the things that they win. But we have our headliners Queen Kwan from New Orleans performing that night with Charlie Quinn Starling, who is originally from the UK but lives in Vegas. And then we have Drop Dead Red, who is, you know, Quad Cities, you know, own amazing performer. And then Kitty Bardot, who's two features.

And then it's like, you know, just big, extravagant, like, good routines. That's just like they've worked really, really hard on these routines. Tickets are available right now. We have the location, your website, on the screen. You describe them as fearless performances. Yes. I like the smile, because it takes something to get up on that stage. Oh, yeah.

And to be something completely, I mean, as you were saying for yourself, completely different, totally out of your wheelhouse. Oh, yeah. I mean, you have to just kind of go out there. There's like something different. So I've done theater, you know, in the, you know, in the past. Sure. You know, I've done that, but it's always been like a small character.

And it's like you have to own everything to be on that stage to be up there. Whether it's like a small bar stage or if it's like a big theater stage like that. Like it's fearless. Like you're doing stuff. Yeah. Like enchanting people and working with people. And it's just, yeah, it's a lot. So what's your pitch now?

Because this is the last few moments that we have for those people that are just kind of going, I'm not sure this is for me. It's for everybody. I mean, like, there's so many different things that you will get from it, that you'll learn from it, that you'll like from it, that you can just be like a moment that you'll think about for like the next six months that you're like, that was really cool. And it's like, you're going to look at your friend that you went with and you're going to be like, hey, remember that just random thing. They're going to be like, yeah, I definitely remember that. I wonder what's the next thing? Yeah.

Wickedest City Burlescan Variety Fest. This is just the first one. Yes. Yep. Yep, just the first one. Hopefully back year after year. Mm-hmm. Trying. I appreciate your time.

Thank you. Our thanks to Manhattan, one of the organizers of the upcoming Wickedest City Burleskin Variety Fest. Once again, it starts Thursday, April 16th. You can get more information at WickedestCityFest.com. The Midwest Writing Conference also once called Bucktown Area, its home. It has since moved to the Rock Island Library, but it still provides budding writers a place to grow. It is led by Ryan Susan Collins. Now as we mark the nation's 250th birthday, we're asking people how they got to where they are and how they are impacting our community.

So we asked Ryan, what's his specific spark? Well, I think writing is important to any society, culture. It's how we capture our history. It's how we express ourselves. It's how we share ideas. It's a cornerstone of education, and that's one of the primary ways we can lift ourselves up and lift each other up.

And so any work that we can do along those lines, I feel like is worthwhile. Our thanks to Ryan Susan Collins, director of the Midwest Writing Center, telling us of his Civic Spark. On the air, on the radio, on the web, on your mobile device, and streaming on your computer,

Thanks for taking some time to join us as we talk about the issues on the cities.