Our campaign shocked everyone in 2004, everyone except, of course, me, my staff, legions of DFAers and other grassroots organization who went out and earned each of the 105,367 people who punched their ballot for me on November 2nd.  That 44.2% of the vote was better than any U.S. House challenger did in Illinois last election cycle, for either party, save one, and that Democrat is now sitting in the House of Representatives.

We haven't stopped working, and neither have many of our volunteers.  While we suspected for some time that Congressman Hyde would not run for re-election, we just didn't know if the next ballots would be cast in 2006, or in a 2005 special election.  The potential of a special election by year's end is still a very real possibility, and we have chosen to campaign as if the election would come sooner, rather than later.

The leading GOP candidate right now to replace Henry Hyde on the ballot appears to be State Senator Peter Roskam.  We are learning more and more about Roskam everyday, but he has been described as "a favorite of religious conservatives." (2/7 Roll Call)  Whoever we face, whenever we face them, my progressive values and ideals will provide a clear distinction between myself and eventual opponent.

So, tonight the election cycle begins anew, and I am going to ask you to join us every step of the way.  Just last week I participated in a conference call with a handful of national and Illinois bloggers where we discussed the campaign, strategy, and ideas for 2005/2006.  Here is how the net/grassroots can get involved tonight:

1.) If you are from Illinois, please sign up to volunteer with the campaign.  It is through pounding the pavement and old-fashioned grassroots politics that we accomplished everything we did in 2004.  We must continue to grow if we are going to win in 2005/2006.

(Pat or Christine - Insert Email Address or sign-up page you are using)

2.) If you are from the Chicagoland area, please consider writing a letter to the editor, tonight, expressing why you support my campaign and vision for the future of Illinois 6th Congressional District.

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Sun-Times

Daily Herald

3.) Please consider contributing financially to the campaign.  Although we have just started the election cycle, our campaign has already raised a full 1/3 of what we did in 2006.  We have a stated goal of reaching 100k by Independence Day, and we are within sight of that goal, please help us get over the top.

http://www.actblue.com/list/cegelis2006

If we are going to re-claim our party, and indeed our country, it starts with us, and continues, here, tonight.

Christine Cegelis