Dan Johnson-Weinberger is a Chicago-based lobbyist and election attorney with his own firm Progressive Public Affairs. He is a frequent guest on the nationally-syndicated radio talk show Beyond the Beltway. He lobbies on too many pro bono causes with a focus on democracy-enhancing reforms. He is also an adjunct professor of law at John Marshall Law School. His favorite cocktail party line is: "Barack was my teacher in law school. And he was a great one."

Blog Entries by Dan Johnson-Weinberger

Chicago's Special Election is a Waste: Fill Vacancies in One Election, Not Two

2 Comments | Posted April 7, 2009 | 12:53 PM (EST)


Today's special general election between Mike Quigley, Rosanna Pulido and Matt Reichel is a waste of time, money and resources. Taxpayers will shell out almost two million dollars to hold an election in the state's 5th Congressional District with only three names on the ballot. And the...

Read Post

Citizens Denied the Vote: Expand Registration Grace Period To Election Day

Posted October 27, 2008 | 04:38 PM (EST)


The deadline to register to vote in Illinois is 28 days before the election. After that day (Oct. 7) the state extends a grace period of an extra 14 days where citizens can register to vote, but they have to do so in the office of the election administrator (no...

Read Post

Meeks, Black Children and a New Trier Education

Posted September 2, 2008 | 11:20 AM (EST)


The best part of Senator Obama's acceptance speech was the second half, when he returned to the theme of his political career. He reminded us that we've lost a sense of common purpose in the partisan wars. We're losing the idea that we are all in this together and that...

Read Post

Chicago Ascendant

Posted August 17, 2008 | 09:21 PM (EST)


2008 is the Year of Chicago.

The core of the Democratic Party is shifting to Chicago where our ruthlessly pragmatic style of politics and governing has produced the next presidential nominee. Only our unique political culture where the patronage-fueled organizations traditionally embrace intellectual reformers at the top of the ticket...

Read Post