Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Clumns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Toggle search form
  • Congresswoman Robin Kelly official photo
    Robin Kelly details what Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill means for Illinois Federal
  • Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
    Orland Park Police Department Begins Fourth of July Traffic Safety Campaign Crime
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Dad secured important court victory, keeping sons safe at home Dads' Rights
  • Leving Matrimonial Law Seminar: Orders of Protection Pursuant to The Illinois Domestic Violence Act Arthur Kallow
  • Summer Smash Entertainer lineup 2025
    Summer Smash Festival returns this weekend June 20-22 at SeatGeek Bridgeview
  • Fireworks display for the 4th of July. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Orland Park Announces Independence Day Celebration July 3 Events
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Leving team’s court victory protected dad’s daughters from reported danger Dads' Rights
  • Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Madigan sentenced to stiff seven and a half years in prison on corruption case Chicago
  • Attorneys Jeffery Leving Arthur Kallow
    Honoring Fathers: A Father’s Day Reflection Arthur Kallow
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Understanding Cook County Property Taxes: A Guide for Homeowners Blogger
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Two Guys on Politics Podcast on Elon Musk, Trump’s Parade, LA Riots, and Middle East ban Bill Lipinski
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Often overlooked single fathers deserve praise this Father’s Day Blogger
  • Fentanyl drugs Courtesy of the DEA
    Five Defendants Charged in Federal Investigation Targeting Fentanyl Sales in Chicago Crime
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Southland manufacturer receives state funding thanks to Hastings Business
  • Stolen merchandise in the arrest of Isadore House by Cook County Sheriff 06-11-25
    Chicago Man Faces Felony after $400,000 in Stolen Merchandise Recovered Chicago
Congressman Dan Lipinski, challenger Marie Newman, faced-off in the March 20, 2018 Democratic Primary election in Illinois's 3rd Congressional District. Lipinski won by a slim margin with 50.9 percent of the vote.

Illinois Candidates showcase Arab American breakfast event Sunday Feb 18

Posted on February 12, 2018 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Illinois Candidates showcase Arab American breakfast event Sunday Feb 18
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Illinois Candidates showcase Arab American breakfast event Sunday Feb 18

More than a dozen Democratic candidates vying for contested races in the March 20 Illinois primary election have confirmed their appearances at the annual Candidate’s Breakfast hosted by the state’s largest Arab American political organization.

The Arab American Democratic Club will host candidates running for a wide range of offices from congress to governor at the breakfast which will be held at Niko’s Banquet Hall at 76th and Harlem Avenue on Sunday February 18 beginning at 10 am.

AADC Executive Director Samir Khalil said that Arab American voters is expected to reach its highest level of involvement in the election, noting that more than 550 people have confirmed their attendance for the breakfast banquet.

Congressman Dan Lipinski (left), Democratic challenger Marie Newman (right)
Congressman Dan Lipinski (left), Democratic challenger Marie Newman (right)

“Arab Americans are an important voting block but in the past they have been taken for granted,” Khalil said.

“That has changed. Over the last few years, more and more Arab Americans have registered to vote and are expressing their preferences in local elections.”

Khalil said that the majority of Arabs in the Chicagoland area are Democratic, noting some do vote Republican.

“The Arab American Democratic Club is the strongest and most active voice of Chicagoland’s Arab American voters. This year, through candidate’s forums we hosted in which all of the candidates were invited to speak to our community, the community has come together to make several key endorsements in the upcoming election,” Khalil said.

“The Arab American Democratic Club has enthusiastically endorsed Christopher Kennedy for Governor. We invited all of the candidates to speak to us but Kennedy’s platform, his expression of concern for the interests of Arab Americans has resonated with our community.”

Arab American Institute President Jim Zogby addresses the Arab American Democratic Club brunch March 19, 2017. Photo courtesy of Steve Neuhaus
Arab American Institute President Jim Zogby addresses the Arab American Democratic Club brunch March 19, 2017. Photo courtesy of Steve Neuhaus

Khalil said the group approached all of the candidates but only J.B. Pritzker declined to appear before the group.

“We wanted to address our concerns, as we did with Kennedy and others but Pritzker refused,” Khalil said.

“We understand. But we believe that Kennedy’s commitment to support for the rights of Arab Americans moving forward is critical. And, his promise to keep his door open to our community to discuss all of our concerns is something that is extremely important to our community.”

There are about 450,000 Arab Americans living in the six county Chicagoland region with an estimated 80,000 Arab Americans who are registered to vote in Cook County, mainly in the Southwest Suburban region.

Among candidates confirmed to attend the AADC Candidate Brunch are: Christopher Kennedy (Illinois Governor), Patrick Quinn (Illinois Attorney General), Jesus Garcia (4th District Congress), Congressman Dan Lipinski (3rd District), Congressman Danny Davis, Marie Newman (3rd District Congress), Debra Shore (Water Reclamation District).

Also attending will be several Judges and candidates for judicial office.

Candidates and speakers will be introduced by AADC Officer Miriam Zayed, who herself ran for the school district board in District 230 in the 1990s and has been active in registering American Arabs to vote in local, state and national elections.

The keynote speaker of the event is Jim Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute and a longtime Democratic Party activist, delegate and presidential adviser. Detroit comedian Amer Zahr will entertain. Closing remarks will be present by newspaper political columnist and former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania.

end

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Robin Kelly details what Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill means for Illinois - June 19, 2025
  • Orland Park Police Department Begins Fourth of July Traffic Safety Campaign - June 19, 2025
  • Dad secured important court victory, keeping sons safe at home - June 19, 2025
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
elections, Events, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:Arab American Democrats, candidates, Chris Kennedy, Dan Lipinski, election, Marie Newman, public forum

Post navigation

Previous Post: Chicagoland communities prepare for snow storm impact
Next Post: Madigan dismisses aide accused of sexual harassment

Related Posts

  • The Dinner Club thrives News
  • Official FOIA response sheet from the Chicago Ridge Police Department on Laro Kreczmer
    Kreczmer turns herself in to Chicago Ridge Police breaking news
  • Second Illinois Resident Dies After Vaping Related Lung Injury Business
  • Road construction cement truck. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Construction employment rises in response to labor shortages General Topics
  • The unveiling of the Picasso sculpture in Chicago August 15, 1967. The Chicago Picasso (often just The Picasso) is an untitled monumental sculpture by Pablo Picasso in Chicago, Illinois. The sculpture, dedicated on August 15, 1967, in Daley Plaza in the Chicago Loop, is 50 feet (15.2 m) tall and weighs 162 short tons (147 t)
    Chicago celebrates 50th Anniversary of the Picasso on Daley Plaza Features
  • Police Blotter
    Westmont Juvenile Charged with Shooting Woman in Leg/Hijacking Her Car at Gunpoint Crime

More Related Articles

Police Squad Car, courtesy of Wikipedia Woman dies in river News
A new study has identified the most dangerous states for fatal crashes at high speeds, with Illinois coming third. https://onmyside.com/ High-speed crashes kill third most often in Illinois accident
Cook County Assessor Fritz kaegi Kaegi’s policies impact the middle class and those in serious need Blogger
Photo caption: From left Combat-Do founder Master Bob Schirmer, Mixed Martial Arts Champion Jose “Shorty” Torres, and Cicero Town President Larry Dominick. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero. Cicero honors Mixed Martial Arts Champion Jose Torres breaking news
Chevrolet GM, Chevrolet offer tips for young job hunters Business
Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar Aguilar calls on States Attorney Foxx to take tougher stand on crime Chicago

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Attorneys Jeffery Leving Arthur Kallow
    Honoring Fathers: A Father’s Day Reflection
    June 13, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Understanding Cook County Property Taxes: A Guide for Homeowners
    June 13, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Two Guys on Politics Podcast on Elon Musk, Trump’s Parade, LA Riots, and Middle East ban
    June 12, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Often overlooked single fathers deserve praise this Father’s Day
    June 12, 2025
  • Ray Hanania joins Thom Serafin on The Crisis Cast Podcast this week discussing presidential politics, journalism and how to understand Trump's reality TV persona style
    Podcast: Musk vs Trump and the impact of media distortion on news
    June 11, 2025
  • Opinion: Edgar County Watchdogs continue to exaggerate and lie for political union pals
    June 8, 2025
  • NEWS
  • Congresswoman Robin Kelly official photo
    Robin Kelly details what Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill means for Illinois
    June 19, 2025
  • Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
    Orland Park Police Department Begins Fourth of July Traffic Safety Campaign
    June 19, 2025
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • SPORTS
  • Chicago Wovles play the Rockford Ice Hogs, Feb. 23, 2025
    Chicago Wolves Hockey skate Past Rockford Icehogs 4 to 2
    February 23, 2025
  • Chicago Wolves player Andrew Poturalski. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Wolves. https://www.chicagowolves.com
    The Chicago Wolves dispatched the Iowa Wild 4-1 on Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
    February 22, 2025
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Congresswoman Robin Kelly official photo
    Robin Kelly details what Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill means for Illinois
    June 19, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Leving team’s court victory protected dad’s daughters from reported danger
    June 14, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme