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Down Ballot: How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion
When an obscure primary election met the culture wars

In 1990, a suburban Chicago race for the Republican Party nomination for state representative unexpectedly became a national proxy battle over abortion in the United States. But the hard-fought primary also illustrated the overlooked importance of down-ballot contests in America’s culture wars. Patrick Wohl offers the dramatic account of a rollercoaster campaign that, after attracting political celebrities and a media circus, came down to thirty-one votes, a coin toss to determine the winner, and a recount fight that set a precedent for how to count dimpled chads. As the story unfolds, Wohl provides a rare nuts-and-bolts look at an election for state office from its first days through the Illinois Supreme Court decision that decided the winner—and set the stage for a decisive 1992 rematch.

A compelling political page-turner, Down Ballot takes readers behind the scenes of a legendary Illinois election.

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Down Ballot: How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion
When an obscure primary election met the culture wars

In 1990, a suburban Chicago race for the Republican Party nomination for state representative unexpectedly became a national proxy battle over abortion in the United States. But the hard-fought primary also illustrated the overlooked importance of down-ballot contests in America’s culture wars. Patrick Wohl offers the dramatic account of a rollercoaster campaign that, after attracting political celebrities and a media circus, came down to thirty-one votes, a coin toss to determine the winner, and a recount fight that set a precedent for how to count dimpled chads. As the story unfolds, Wohl provides a rare nuts-and-bolts look at an election for state office from its first days through the Illinois Supreme Court decision that decided the winner—and set the stage for a decisive 1992 rematch.

A compelling political page-turner, Down Ballot takes readers behind the scenes of a legendary Illinois election.

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Down Ballot: How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion

Down Ballot: How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion

by Patrick Wohl
Down Ballot: How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion
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Down Ballot: How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion

Down Ballot: How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion

by Patrick Wohl

Overview

When an obscure primary election met the culture wars

In 1990, a suburban Chicago race for the Republican Party nomination for state representative unexpectedly became a national proxy battle over abortion in the United States. But the hard-fought primary also illustrated the overlooked importance of down-ballot contests in America’s culture wars. Patrick Wohl offers the dramatic account of a rollercoaster campaign that, after attracting political celebrities and a media circus, came down to thirty-one votes, a coin toss to determine the winner, and a recount fight that set a precedent for how to count dimpled chads. As the story unfolds, Wohl provides a rare nuts-and-bolts look at an election for state office from its first days through the Illinois Supreme Court decision that decided the winner—and set the stage for a decisive 1992 rematch.

A compelling political page-turner, Down Ballot takes readers behind the scenes of a legendary Illinois election.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780252087585
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Publication date: 01/09/2024
Edition description: First Edition
Pages: 200
Sales rank: 628,004
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Patrick Wohl is a former campaign staffer on races for president, governor, state senate, and state representative, and on ballot initiatives across the country.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

  1. Amendment XXVII
  2. Rosemary Mulligan
  3. Blood Terrorists
  4. Henry Penny
  5. Two Cents
  6. On the Trail
  7. Raccoons, Reporters, and Rapists’ Rights
  8. GOTV
  9. Dimpled Chads
  10. Heads or Tails
  11. Rematch
  12. Talk of the Town
  13. Goldwater Girls

Epilogue

Notes

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