View source for Cook County Democratic Party

{{Short description|Political party in Illinois, U.S.}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Cook County Democratic Party
| logo = Cook County Democratic Party logo.png
| headquarters = [[Eitel Brothers#Bismarck Hotel|134 N LaSalle]], [[Chicago, Ill.]]
| chairperson = [[Toni Preckwinkle]]
| vice chair = 
| foundation = 
| ideology = [[Modern liberalism in the United States|Liberalism]]<br />[[Progressivism]]<br />[[Social liberalism]]
| seats1_title = [[Chicago City Council]]
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|48|50|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
| seats2_title = [[Cook County Board of Commissioners]]
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|16|17|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
| regional = [[Democratic Party of Illinois]]
| national = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
| colorcode = {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| website = {{url|cookcountydems.com}}
}}

The '''Cook County Democratic Party''' is an American county-level [[Political parties in the United States|political party]] organization which represents voters in 50 [[ward (politics)|wards]] in the city of [[Chicago]] and 30 suburban [[township]]s of [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]]. The organization has dominated [[Political history of Chicago|Chicago politics]] (and consequently, [[Illinois politics]]) since the 1930s.  It relies on an organizational structure of a ward or township [[Committeemen and Committeewomen (Cook County)|committeeperson]] (until 2018 legal name change, "committeeman") to elect candidates.<ref name=nowCommitteepeople/> At the height of its influence under [[Richard J. Daley]] in the 1960s when [[Patronage#Politics|political patronage]] in employment was endemic in American cities, it was one of the most powerful [[political machine]]s in [[American history]]. By the beginning of the 21st century the party had largely ceased to function as a machine due to the legal dismantling of the patronage system under the [[Shakman Decrees]] issued by the [[Northern District of Illinois|federal court in Chicago]]. The current Chair is [[Toni Preckwinkle]], who is also the elected [[Cook County Board]] president.

==Organization and leadership==
Article I of the [[by-law]]s of the Cook County Democratic Party states that the party exists to "attract, endorse, and support qualified Democratic candidates for office, to develop positions on issues of public importance, to advance the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party, and to seek to improve the lives of the people of Cook County through effective, efficient, and fair government." The by-laws also state that the party must "promote Democratic political activity in Cook County and encourage broad and diverse political participation by Cook County Democrats regardless or race, color, creed, national origin, gender, physical ability or sexual orientation ... and take an active role in county, state, and national political efforts which have an impact upon the people of Cook County."<ref>By-laws of the Cook County Democratic Party: ''Article I: Organization and Purpose'' p. 1</ref>

The party was chaired by 31st ward committeeman [[Joseph Berrios]] from 2007 until April 2018, when Cook County President [[Toni Preckwinkle]] replaced him.<ref name="Chicago Tribune">[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/02/02/democrats-elect-a-new-chief/ Chicago Tribune: ''Democrats elect a new chief'']</ref><ref name=PreckwinkleElected/> The Executive Committee has eight other officers: two Executive Vice-Chairs, First Vice-Chair, City Vice-Chair, Suburban Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant-At-Arms. Each of the 50 wards of Chicago and the 30 suburban townships has its own committee and is represented in the Central Committee by an elected [[Committeemen and Committeewomen (Cook County)|committeeperson]] (until 2018 legal name change, "committeeman").<ref name=nowCommitteepeople>{{cite web| publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]| author=Hinton, Rachel| date=November 25, 2019| title=Is name change for ward bosses a breath of fresh air for Chicago's smoke-filled rooms| url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2019/11/25/20982762/illinois-mark-primary-ward-committeeman-boss-committeeperson-cook-democratic-party| accessdate=2020-02-15}}</ref>

In suburban Cook County, regional groups, such as the Southland Democrats, co-ordinate activities with their local Democratic township organizations and their committeemen.<ref>[http://southlanddemocrats.com/html/party_orgs.html Southland Democrats: ''Democratic Organizations''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203113153/http://southlanddemocrats.com/html/party_orgs.html |date=2013-02-03 }}</ref> Article IV, Section 4 of the By-laws of the Cook County Democratic Party allows the Suburban Vice-Chair (a position currently held by Illinois State Senator [[Don Harmon]]) the authority to "convene caucuses and meetings, solicit support for the organization, assist the County Chair in any matters upon request, coordinate activities concerning recommendations for endorsements of candidate, and bring before the Central Committee issues of particular interest."<ref>By-laws of the Cook County Democratic Party: ''Article IV: Officers, Powers and Duties'' p. 4</ref>

===Committeepeople===
{{Cook county democratic committeemen}}
See also [[Incumbent Chicago Democratic Party Committeepeople]].

==History==
[[File:Roger Sullivan by Bain.jpg|thumb|300px|Chairman Roger C. Sullivan, circa 1913]]

===Early history===
Cook County was created on 15 January 1831 and it was named after [[Daniel Pope Cook|Daniel Cook]]. Cook had been one of the earliest and youngest statesmen in Illinois history and he was a registered [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] in [[Randolph County, Illinois|Randolph County]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://legacy.cookcountygov.com/secretary/about_danielcook.htm |title=''Growth of Cook County'', Vol. I, by Charles B. Johnson, published by the Board of Commissioner of Cook County, Illinois, 1960. |access-date=2013-04-23 |archive-date=2018-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123040400/http://legacy.cookcountygov.com/secretary/about_danielcook.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> By 1837, local Democrats were winning electoral victories under the leadership of [[William B. Ogden]]. Ogden recruited Irish immigrants into the party. Their loyalty to native Democrats was established in return for petty political favors and an occasional elected office.<ref>Holli, Melvin G. and Petre d'A. Jones, editors; "Ethnic Chicago" (1995) p. 414</ref> The careers of Irish Democrats from this period, such as [[John Comiskey (politician)|John Comiskey]] from the [[Blue Island, Illinois|Blue Island area]], were still limited by [[Anti-Irish sentiment|anti-Irish]] discrimination.<ref>Holli, Melvin G. and Petre d'A. Jones, editors; "Ethnic Chicago" (1995) p. 416</ref> Prior to the [[American Civil War]], the city of [[Chicago]] and [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] had created a strong two-party tradition.<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/774.html Encyclopedia of Chicago: ''Machine Politics'']</ref> The local Democratic Party grew stronger in the decades that followed the [[Great Chicago Fire]] due in part to an influx of new immigrants from eastern and southern Europe.<ref>Holli, Melvin G. and Petre d'A. Jones, editors; "Ethnic Chicago" (1995) p. 417</ref> By 1890, [[Roger Charles Sullivan]] had accumulated major influence within the tumultuous Cook County Democratic Party. He would come to dominate the organization for two decades and he was a national figure during the age when urban [[political boss]]es reached the height of their power and prestige.<ref name=morton>{{cite journal |url=http://dig.lib.niu.edu/ISHS/ishs-1998autumn/ishs-1998autumn133.pdf |title='A Man of Belial': Roger C. Sullivan, the Progressive Democracy, and the Senatorial Elections of 1914 |author=Richard Allen Morton |author-link=Richard Allen Morton |journal=[[Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society]] |volume=91 |accessdate=2009-11-19 |year=1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719194724/http://dig.lib.niu.edu/ISHS/ishs-1998autumn/ishs-1998autumn133.pdf |archive-date=2008-07-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>   After his death, he was followed as chairman by [[George E. Brennan|George Brennan]] in 1920.<ref>Holli, Melvin G. and Petre d'A. Jones, editors; "Ethnic Chicago" (1995) p. 433</ref>

Prior to the death of party chairman George Brennan in 1928,<ref>Holli, Melvin G. and Petre d'A. Jones, editors; "Ethnic Chicago" (1995) p. 444</ref> the Democratic Party in Cook County was divided along ethnic lines &ndash; the [[Irish American|Irish]], [[Polish American|Polish]], [[Italian American|Italian]], and other groups each controlled politics in their neighborhoods and municipalities.  Under the leadership of [[Anton Cermak]], a [[Czech American]], the party combined its ethnic bases into one large organization.  With the organization behind him, Cermak was able to win election as [[mayor of Chicago]] in 1931, an office he held until his [[Giuseppe Zangara#Assassination attempt|assassination]] in 1933.<ref>O'Connor, Len; "Clout: Mayor Daley and His City". (1975) pp. 37-39</ref><ref>Holli, Melvin G. and Petre d'A. Jones, editors; "Ethnic Chicago" (1995) p. 451</ref> After Cermak's death, [[Patrick Nash]] and [[Edward Joseph Kelly|Edward J. Kelly]] consolidated the Cook County Democratic Party into a [[political machine]].<ref>O'Connor, Len; "Clout: Mayor Daley and His City". (1975) p. 45</ref><ref name="Holli, Melvin G 1995 p. 437">Holli, Melvin G. and Petre d'A. Jones, editors; "Ethnic Chicago" (1995) p. 437</ref>

Nash and Kelly were able to bring [[African-Americans]], who had been predominantly [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] since the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], into the Democratic Party.<ref name="Holli, Melvin G 1995 p. 437"/>  Nash died in 1943 and Kelly took over as Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party. The extensive corruption that took place during Kelly's tenure caused him to become unelectable.<ref>O'Connor, Len; "Clout: Mayor Daley and His City". (1975) pp. 54-55</ref> [[Jacob Arvey]] assumed the position of Chairman of the organization after Kelly's ouster in 1947.<ref>O'Connor, Len; "Clout: Mayor Daley and His City". (1975) p. 56</ref><ref name="Holli, Melvin G 1995 p. 457">Holli, Melvin G. and Petre d'A. Jones, editors; "Ethnic Chicago" (1995) p. 457</ref>  Arvey put reformers on the slate, such as [[Martin H. Kennelly]] for mayor, [[Paul Douglas (Illinois politician)|Paul Douglas]] for [[United States Senate]], and [[Adlai Stevenson II|Adlai Stevenson]] for governor of Illinois.<ref>O'Connor, Len; "Clout: Mayor Daley and His City". (1975) pp. 60-61</ref> During the early years of the 1950s, [[Joseph L. Gill]] &ndash; George Brennan's brother-in-law &ndash; replaced Arvey as Chairman of the party. His role was more of a caretaker than that of a political leader.<ref name="Holli, Melvin G 1995 p. 457"/>

===Under Richard J. Daley===
The Democratic committeemen of Cook County elected [[Richard J. Daley]] as their chairman in 1953 and the Democratic committeemen of Chicago slated him as their mayoral candidate in 1955. He served as chairman for 22 years and as mayor for twenty years.<ref name="Holli, Melvin G 1995 p. 457"/><ref name="O'Connor, Len 1975 pp. 11, 12">O'Connor, Len; "Clout: Mayor Daley and His City". (1975) pp. 11, 12</ref><ref>O'Connor, Len; "Clout: Mayor Daley and His City". (1975) p. 121</ref> This was accomplished with the help and support of [[William L. Dawson (politician)|William L. Dawson]].<ref name="Holli, Melvin G 1995 p. 457"/> In return, an African-American "sub-machine" led by Dawson was created under the umbrella of the regular machine.  In the predominantly African-American wards, Dawson was able to act as his own political boss. He amassed a considerable power base by awarding political appointments to his allies,<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000158 ''Dawson, William Levi, (1886–1970)'']</ref> just as Daley did in the larger machine. However, Dawson's machine had to continually support the regular machine in order to retain its own clout.<ref>O'Connor, Len; "Clout: Mayor Daley and His City". (1975) pp. 110, 113</ref>

{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ '''Presidential Election Results 1960–2020'''
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2020|2020]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''74.22%''' ''1,725,973 ''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|24.01% ''558,269''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2016|2016]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''73.93%''' ''1,611,946 ''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|20.79% ''453,287''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2012|2012]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''73.88%''' ''1,488,537 ''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|24.59% ''495,542''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2008|2008]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''76.48%''' ''1,582,973''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|23.05% ''477,038''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2004|2004]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''70.25%''' ''1,439,724''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|29.15% ''597,405''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2000|2000]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''68.63%''' ''1,280,547''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|28.65% ''534,542''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1996|1996]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''66.79%''' ''1,153,289''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|26.73% ''461,557''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1992|1992]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''58.21%''' ''1,249,533''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|28.20% ''605,300''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1988|1988]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.77%''' ''1,129,973''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.36% ''878,582''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1984|1984]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.02%''' ''1,112,641''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.40% ''1,055,558''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1980|1980]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.99%''' ''1,124,584''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.60% ''856,574''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1976|1976]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.44%''' ''1,180,814''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.69% ''987,498''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1972|1972]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.01% ''1,063,268''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.41%''' ''1,234,307''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1968|1968]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.56%''' ''1,181,316''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.11% ''960,493''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1964|1964]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''63.18%''' ''1,537,181''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.82% ''895,718''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1960|1960]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.37%''' ''1,378,343''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.33% ''1,059,607''
|}

Daley helped turn out the vote for [[John F. Kennedy]] in the [[1960 United States presidential election|1960 presidential election]]. Kennedy won Illinois by 9,000 votes, yet won Cook County by 450,000 votes, with some Chicago precincts going to Kennedy by over 10 to 1 margins.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} Illinois' 27 [[United States Electoral College|electoral votes]] helped give Kennedy the majority he needed.<ref>O'Connor, Len; "Clout: Mayor Daley and His City". (1975) pp. 158-162</ref> Chicago was selected to host the [[1968 Democratic National Convention]]. Political commentator Len O'Connor described this period as Richard J. Daley's "High Water Mark" and described the Cook County Democratic Party at the time as one of the most powerful [[political machine]]s in American history.<ref name="O'Connor, Len 1975 pp. 11, 12"/>

===Under George Dunne and Edward Vrdolyak===
The [[Shakman Decrees]] introduced judicial oversight of City and County hiring, reducing the number of voters who owed their livelihoods to the Democratic party.<ref>[http://www.countyshakman.com/background.htm Cook County Shakman Compliance Administrator: ''Background'']</ref> The 1968 convention had ended in disaster. The [[Walker Report]] concluded that a "[[police riot]]" had taken place at the [[1968 Democratic National Convention]] in Chicago.<ref>[http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/tu_chicago7_doc_13.html Federal Judicial Center: ''The Chicago Seven Conspiracy Trial'']</ref> [[NBC News]] had televised the event and switched back and forth between demonstrators being beaten by the police in front of the convention hall and the festivities over Humphrey's victory inside.<ref>NBC Morning News, August 29, 1968.</ref> Racial tension over issues such as [[urban renewal]] in Woodlawn and [[Lincoln Park]], red lining, open [[housing]] and public school [[desegregation]] alienated African-Americans and Latinos voters. Though Daley himself never faced any criminal charges, a number of his associates did, including [[Thomas E. Keane|Thomas Keane]] and Arvey. After Daley's death in 1976, no mayor has served as chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party.<ref>Oxford Dictionary of Political Biography: ''Jane Byrne''</ref> [[Michael Anthony Bilandic|Michael Bilandic]], Daley's successor as mayor, lost in a 1979 mayoral primary to [[Jane Byrne]].<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-chicagodays-byrne-story,0,7583194.story Chicago Tribune: ''Jane Byrne elected mayor of Chicago'']</ref> In Bilandic's obituary, ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that the operation of the Cook County Democratic Party as a political machine ended during Bilandic's mayoralty.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/17/us/michael-bilandic-daley-successor-in-chicago-dies-at-78.html New York Times: ''Michael Bilandic, Daley Successor in Chicago, Dies at 78'']</ref>

Byrne's base of support was on the Northwest side of Chicago, and to a lesser extent the Southeast and Southwest, and she also benefited from independent African-American electoral support.<ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/84/transcript WBEZ: ''This American Life 84: Harold'']</ref> Originally a Richard J. Daley appointee, Byrne did not have the backing of the influential ward committeemen such as John Daley, [[Michael Madigan]], or [[Thomas Hynes (politician)|Thomas Hynes]]. For a short while after Byrne's election Richard J. Daley's successor as Democratic County Party Chairman [[George Dunne]] supported her.<ref>[http://www.lib.niu.edu/1979/ii790418.html Illinois Issues #18: ''After Byrne's Win'']</ref> In 1979, Oak Park Democratic committeeman and State Senator since 1970, [[Philip J. Rock]] became the [[Illinois State Senate]]'s top Democrat. He would serve as such for the next 14 years and he would retire as the longest serving President of the Senate and Majority Leader in state history.<ref>[http://www2.illinois.gov/alplm/library/collections/oralhistory/illinoisstatecraft/legislators/Pages/RockPhil.aspx Illinois Department of Central Management Services: ''Rock, Phil''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407085043/http://www2.illinois.gov/alplm/library/collections/oralhistory/illinoisstatecraft/legislators/Pages/RockPhil.aspx |date=2014-04-07 }}</ref>

[[File:Jimmy Carter and Mayor Richard J. Daley at the Illinois State Democratic Convention in Chicago, Illinois.jpg|left|300px|thumb|[[Jimmy Carter]] and Chairman Richard J. Daley at the 1976 Illinois State Democratic Convention, held in Cook County.]]
George Dunne had a falling out with the mayor and in 1982 he lost the party chairmanship to 10th Ward committeeman [[Edward Vrdolyak]], an ally of Jane Byrne. When Richard J. Daley's son [[Richard M. Daley]] challenged Byrne for mayor in 1983, a coalition of African-American, Hispanic, and "[[good government]]" or "[[lakefront liberals]]" coalesced.<ref>[http://www.wbez.org/episode-segments/forging-rainbow-coalition-legacy-harold-washington WBEZ: ''Forging a Rainbow Coalition: The Legacy of Harold Washington'']</ref> Latinos who had been displaced for years from the downtown and lakefront neighborhoods joined the West Town Coalition and the [[Young Lords]], and both groups backed [[Harold Washington]]. He won the three-way primary election with 80% of the Latino vote. The Young Lords leader [[Jose Cha Cha Jimenez]] introduced the new mayor in June 1983 in Humboldt Park before a crowd of 100,000 Puerto Ricans.<ref>Williams, Jakobi; "From the bullet to the ballot : the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party and racial coalition politics in Chicago". (2013) p. 198</ref> For the next three years, the Cook County Democratic Party was divided by crippling [[Council Wars]] in the city of Chicago.<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/02/15/new-council-wars-in-the-offing/ "Rahm Emanuel says he doesn't want a repeat of the Council Wars that once crippled City Hall"]</ref> This was essentially a racially polarized political conflict that blocked the agenda of Washington and his allies.<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/342.html Encyclopedia of Chicago: ''Council Wars'']</ref>

After Washington was elected – and in spite of the fact that African Americans and Latinos comprised 55 percent of the votes in the city's 49 wards – only 15 Blacks and one Latino served as alderperson.<ref name="politicalaffairs.net">[http://www.politicalaffairs.net/harold-washington-the-people-s-mayor/ Political Affairs: ''Harold Washington: The People's Mayor'']</ref> [[Gerrymander]]ing had prevented the Black and Latino majorities from electing candidates from their own communities. Washington's supporters and allies waged an unprecedented and successful battle over redistricting. Their broad, multiracial coalition then used grassroots organizing techniques that resulted in electoral wins.<ref name="politicalaffairs.net"/> Those victories brought an end to the Council Wars that had paralyzed Chicago's city council since Washington was elected.<ref>Fremon, David K., "Chicago Politics, Ward by Ward". (1988) pp. 3-4</ref> Several prominent Democrats, led by Party Chairman Edward Vrdolyak, defected to the Republican Party.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-24-mn-285-story.html Los Angeles Times: ''Vrdolyak Files for Chicago GOP Primary'']</ref> George Dunne, who had aligned himself with Harold Washington during the Council Wars period, was re-elected to the party chairmanship after Vrydolyak resigned following his defeat by Washington in the 1987 Mayoral election. Washington's death in the fall of 1987, a half-year into his second term, fractured the Washington political coalition.<ref>[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/25/413261/-Remembering-Harold-Washington Daily Kos: ''Remembering Harold Washington'']</ref> No subsequent African-American candidate was able to unify the West and South Side African-American communities or mobilize the same degree of support among white liberals as well as Washington had.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theroot.com/views/chicago-power |title=The Root: ''The Root Cities: Chicago's Political Power Brokers'' |access-date=2013-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323034326/http://www.theroot.com/views/chicago-power |archive-date=2013-03-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2008, Vrdolyak, former Democratic Committeeman from Chicago's 10th Ward, Chicago alderperson, and former Cook County Democratic Party Chairman, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud related to the sale of property by the [[Chicago Medical School]].<ref>[http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1257065,ed-vrdolyak-trial-110308.article Former Ald. Ed Vrdolyak Pleads Guilty] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106102052/http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1257065,ed-vrdolyak-trial-110308.article |date=2008-11-06 }} Chicago Sun-Times, November 3, 2008</ref>

===Under Tom Lyons===
Dunne did not seek re-election to the party chairmanship in 1990, amidst a scandal in which he admitted having sex with female county employees who alleged they were pressured into providing sexual favors to him.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/04/us/chicago-is-untroubled-by-political-sex-scandal.html New York Times: ''Chicago Is Untroubled By Political Sex Scandal'']</ref> Following Dunne's departure, [[Thomas G. Lyons]] was elected chairman of the party and would serve in that capacity for 17 years. He had also been the 45th Ward committeeman and was a lawmaker, lawyer and lobbyist.<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/01/14/thomas-g-lyons-1931-2007/ Chicago Tribune: ''Thomas G. Lyons: 1931–2007'']</ref> After the March, 2000 County elections, [[Pulitzer Prize]]-winning ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' editorial page editor R. Bruce Dold wrote in an [[op-ed]],

<blockquote>Nobody wants to be the chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, the job once held by Richard J. Daley, the job that made George Dunne a powerful man. Nobody wants it because the Democratic Party of Cook County has become nothing more than a distraction for the one Democrat who counts, Mayor Richard M. Daley. ... The Democrats, though, they had a thing of beauty, a big, genuine, political machine. But then it became a victim of Jane Byrne. And then it became a victim of Harold Washington. And now it's a victim of indifference.<ref name="ReferenceA">[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/03/26/is-cook-countys-democratic-party-becoming-a-joke/ Chicago Tribune: ''Is Cook County's Democratic Party Becoming A Joke?'']</ref> </blockquote>

Richard M. Daley's political operation was largely separate from the county organization.<ref name="Chicago Tribune"/><ref>[http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2878950-418/daley-richard-mayor-chicago-political.html Chicago Sun-Times: ''The two mayors Daley: Son about to pass father for time in office'']</ref> His power bloc included the growing Hispanic community, through a "powerful and feared patronage army" known as the [[Hispanic Democratic Organization]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110813033234/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-07-03/news/0807020857_1_shuts-hdo-mighty Chicago Tribune: ''Once Mighty Political Group Shuts Down'']</ref> Unlike his father, the younger Daley also reached out to those who initially opposed him, and primarily through negotiated apportionment of city funds for alderpersons' local projects, was able to gain control of the City Council to a degree that only the elder Daley ever enjoyed.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/07/mayor-daley-will-not-seek_n_708062.html Huffington Post: ''Mayor Daley Will Not Seek Another Term, Chicago's Political Landscape Changes Enormously'']</ref>{{failed verification|reason=referenced content not in source|date=November 2015}} In July 2005, the federal court-appointed Shakman monitor reported widespread abuses of a previous court decree against patronage hiring.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}  On July 5, 2006, Robert Sorich, formally, Daley's director of the Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and, informally, Daley's [[patronage]] chief, and Timothy McCarthy, Sorich's aide, were each convicted on two counts of mail fraud connected to rigging blue-collar city jobs and promotions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Daley jobs chief guilty; Jury convicts 4 in city hiring fraud; feds say, 'Stay tuned' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/07/07/daley-jobs-chief-guilty/ |first1=Rudolph |last1=Bush |first2=Dan |last2=Mihalopoulos |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=2006-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/us/07chicago.html | title=Chicago Officials Convicted in Patronage Arrangement | date=July 7, 2006 | accessdate=December 1, 2012 | author=Ruethling, Gretchen | newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/05/08/chicago-rebuilt-machine-us-says/ "Federal prosecutors are poised to call dozens of witnesses from City Hall to describe a revived model of the Democratic machine."]</ref><ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/05/08/chicago-rebuilt-machine-us-says/ Chicago Tribune: ''Chicago rebuilt machine, U.S. says'']</ref>

In 1995, Mel Reynolds, Democratic congressman from [[Illinois's 2nd congressional district]], which includes parts of the south side of Chicago and south suburbs in Cook County and parts of [[Will County, Illinois|Will]] and [[Kankakee County, Illinois|Kankakee]] Counties, was convicted on 12 counts of sexual assault, obstruction of justice and solicitation of [[child pornography]], and while serving his sentence, was convicted on 16 unrelated counts of bank [[fraud]], misusing campaign funds for personal use and lying to [[Federal Election Commission|FEC]] investigators.<ref name="UPitt Clinton Commutations">Clinton Commutation Grants, January 2001, University of Pittsburgh Law <{{cite web |url=http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/pardons6b.htm |title=Presidential Pardons |accessdate=2008-06-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514151712/http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/pardons6b.htm |archivedate=2008-05-14 }}></ref><ref name="Chicago Reporter Reynolds Interview">Interview with Mel Reynolds, Chicago Reporter, January 2001 <{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagoreporter.com/2001/1-2001/sentencing/Mel.htm |title=The Chicago Reporter: Interview with Mel Reynolds |accessdate=2016-02-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928075028/http://www.chicagoreporter.com/2001/1-2001/sentencing/Mel.htm |archivedate=2007-09-28 }}></ref>

Lyons died in 2007. Shortly after Lyons death, 13th Ward committeeman [[Michael Madigan]] said, "The party's been going through transition for a long time. This is a completely different Democratic Party than the one I joined in 1969."<ref name="Chicago Tribune"/> Richard M. Daley retired in 2011.

[[File:Pat quinn governor of illinois.jpg|thumb|200px|"It's really important to see that the Democratic Party made great inroads in suburban communities and I think that's healthy for our democracy in Illinois." – [[Governor of Illinois|Illinois Governor]] [[Pat Quinn (politician)|Pat Quinn]], November 2012<ref name="pantagraph.com">[http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/elections/illinois-democrats-could-have-supermajorities-in-statehouse/article_5ee8ec72-291a-11e2-9466-001a4bcf887a.html Bloomington Pantagraph: ''Dem Majorities Remake Ill. Legislative Landscape'']</ref>]]

===Under Joseph Berrios===
On February 1, 2007, [[Joseph Berrios]] was unanimously elected Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party and headed the organization until April 18, 2018.<ref name="Chicago Tribune"/><ref name=PreckwinkleElected/> Berrios is the first Hispanic to serve as Party chairman.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.electjoeberrios.com/view.php?idnum=14&category=press |title=Press Release: ''Berrios Gets Backing from African-American Elected Officials'' |access-date=2013-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407104218/http://www.electjoeberrios.com/view.php?idnum=14&category=press |archive-date=2014-04-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2010 [[Cook County Board President]] [[Toni Preckwinkle]], a Berrios political ally, said, "When Joe came in, for the first time, African-Americans, Latinos, women had a real opportunity for leadership in the party and had a real opportunity to be slated by the party."<ref>[http://articles.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010-09-23/news/28517897_1_keats-and-tresser-republican-roger-keats-joe-berrios Chicago Tribune: ''Preckwinkle praises Berrios to Tribune editorial board'']</ref>

The party has recently won several notable elections in suburban Cook County. At the county level, the Democratic committeeman of Wheeling Township, [[Patrick Botterman]], engineered Brendan Houlihan's successful campaign for Commissioner of Cook County Board of Review in 2006.<ref>[http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2008/03/11/patrick-botterman Chicago Reader: ''Patrick Botterman'']</ref>

Berrios has been the subject of numerous investigations and legal proceedings involving ethical violations, corruption, [[fraud]] and [[nepotism]]. He has defended his right in the press and in courts to hire and promote family members and friends to taxpayer funded positions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/18/joe-berrios-nepotism-con_n_825278.html |title = Joe Berrios Nepotism Continues: Lays Off 53 Workers, Keeps Family And Friends On Staff (VIDEO) {{!}} HuffPost null| website=[[HuffPost]] | date=18 February 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/15/joe-berrios-cook-county-a_n_1280138.html |title = Joe Berrios, Cook County Assessor, Gets 'Valentine' For Nepotism {{!}} HuffPost null| website=[[HuffPost]] | date=15 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/chi-cook-county-inspector-general-wins-round-over-berrios-on-subpoena-20140825-story.html| title = Cook County inspector general wins round over Berrios on subpoena - Chicago Tribune| website = [[Chicago Tribune]]}} </ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/827074/assessor-joe-berrios-top-job-goes-to-top-tax-lawyers-nephew |title=THE WATCHDOGS: Assessor Berrios gave key job to top tax lawyer's nephew &#124; Chicago |access-date=2015-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804232007/http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/827074/assessor-joe-berrios-top-job-goes-to-top-tax-lawyers-nephew |archive-date=2015-08-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Under Toni Preckwinkle===
On April 18, 2018, [[Toni Preckwinkle]] was unanimously elected Chair of the Cook County Democratic Party. She became the first woman and first African-American to hold the position.<ref name=PreckwinkleElected>{{cite web |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/now-its-madame-chairman-preckwinkle-makes-history-as-new-cook-county-dem-chief/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419002726/https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/now-its-madame-chairman-preckwinkle-makes-history-as-new-cook-county-dem-chief/ |archive-date=2018-04-19 |title=Toni Preckwinkle elected chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party}}</ref>

==List of chairs==
{{Expand list|date=March 2013}}
{| class="wikitable" border="10" style="background-color:#white"
!'''Name'''
!'''Ward'''
! '''Years served'''
|-
|[[John McGillen (Illinois politician)|John McGillen]]
|21
| (''[[Floruit|fl.]]'' 1893)
|-
|[[Thomas Gahan]]
|29
| (1895–1902)
|-
|[[Thomas Carey (American politician)|Thomas Carey]]
|29
| (''[[Floruit|fl.]]'' 1904)
|-
|[[William L. O'Connell]]
|6
| (''[[Floruit|fl.]]'' 1909)
|-
|[[John McCarthy (Illinois politician)|John McCarthy]]
|2
| (''[[Floruit|fl.]]'' 1912)
|-
|[[Roger Charles Sullivan|Roger C. Sullivan]]
|14
| (1915–1920)
|-
|[[George E. Brennan]]
|32
| (1920–1928)
|-
|[[Anton Cermak]]
|12
| (1928–1931)
|-
|[[Patrick Nash]]
|28
| (1931–1943)
|-
|[[Edward Joseph Kelly]]
|11
| (1943–1946)
|-
|[[Jacob Arvey]]
|24
| (1946–1950)
|-
|[[Joseph L. Gill]]
|46
| (1950–1953) 
|-
|[[Richard J. Daley]]
|11
| (1953–1976)
|-
|[[George Dunne]]
| 42
| (1976–1982, 1987–1990)
|-
|[[Edward Vrdolyak]]
|10
| (1982–1987)
|-
|[[Thomas G. Lyons]]
|45
| (1990–2007)
|-
|[[Joseph Berrios]]
|31
| (2007–2018)
|-
|[[Toni Preckwinkle]]
|4
| (2018–present)
|-
|}

== Public corruption convictions ==
Examples of high-profile cases which have resulted in the conviction of members of the Cook County Democratic Party include [[Rod Blagojevich]], [[Isaac Carothers]], [[Arenda Troutman]], and [[Jesse Jackson, Jr.]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gradel |first1=Thomas J. |first2=Dick |last2=Simpson |title=Corrupt Illinois: Patronage, Cronyism, and Criminality |publisher=University of Illinois Press |edition=1st |date=January 20, 2015 |isbn=978-0252078552}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/December-2010/Why-Is-Illinois-So-Corrupt-Local-Government-Experts-Explain/ |title=Why Is Illinois So Corrupt? |first=Shane |last=Tritsch |date=December 9, 2010 |accessdate=December 4, 2015 |magazine=[[Chicago (magazine)|Chicago]]}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Cook County Republican Party]]
* [[Political history of Chicago]]
* [[Shakman v. Democratic Organization of Cook County]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=25em}}

==Further reading==
*Cohen, Adam and Taylor, Elizabeth, ''American Pharaoh: Mayor Richard J. Daley — His Battle for Chicago and the Nation'' (2000)
*Grimshaw, William J, ''Bitter Fruit: Black Politics and the Chicago Machine, 1931–1991'' (1992)
*Morton, Richard Allen, ''Roger C. Sullivan and the Making of the Chicago Democratic Machine, 1881–1909'' (2016)  
*Rakove, Milton L, ''Don't Make No Waves, Don't Back No Losers: An Insider's Analysis of the Daley Machine'' (1975)
*Rakove, Milton L, ''We Don't Want Nobody Nobody Sent: An Oral History of the Daley Years'' (1979)
*[[Mike Royko|Royko, Mike]], ''[[Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago]]'' (1971)

==External links==
*[http://www.ildems.com/ Democratic Party of Illinois]

{{Cook county democratic committeemen}}
{{IllinoisPoliticalParties}}
{{Cook County Democratic Party chairs}}
{{U.S. Democratic Party state parties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cook County Democratic Party| ]]
[[Category:Political machines in the United States]]